.jpg)
Halloween might not be one of the holidays you and your spouse fought over during the divorce process. However, your children might disagree with you on the importance of this spooky holiday. After all, this is their one chance during the year to binge on sugar while dressed up in fun costumes, so it should be no surprise to learn that many children favor this holiday above most others. Although it might have been easy to celebrate this day before your divorce, celebrating it in the aftermath might be somewhat challenging. Luckily, we have some tips that will make this day a little less “scary.”
Ensuring Your Kids Have a Ghoulishly Fun Time
Kids love celebrating Halloween. Choosing the perfect costume, carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and telling ghost stories are all time-honored Halloween traditions, but if you and your spouse are not together anymore, you might be wondering how to go about sharing these events with your kids.
We compiled a list of helpful tips to guide you through shared custody this Halloween:
- Take them trick-or-treating together: Even if you and your ex are not on the best of terms, trick-or-treating generally only lasts for a few hours, at most, and it will make your children happy. It will also give you both the chance to bond with your children and ensure a safer Halloween. Two pairs of eyes are better than one, so if something seems suspicious or they try to cut across the road, you can keep them safe.
- Split the day: If trick-or-treating together is impractical due to logistical or emotional reasons, you can split your trick-or-treating time in half, so each parent gets a chance to take them out. You should let your children know ahead of time, however, so they know what to expect.
- Divide the month’s activities: Many of us celebrate Halloween on more than one day. For some, it is a month-long event. One of you can take them trick-or-treating on Halloween while the other can take them to other Halloween-themed festivities throughout the month. For example, you could visit the pumpkin patch, take a trip to a haunted house, tell ghost stories, or plan a day at a Halloween-themed amusement park. Alternate years to keep it fair.
- Talk to each other: To make your Halloween plans work, you will need to communicate effectively, which means you will need to have a conversation about your plans for the day. Decide who will take them trick-or-treating, who will help them choose a costume, and which safety measures are necessary.
- Be nice: Horror movies can be fun to watch around this time of year, but leave the scary stuff for the movies. Try to be civil with your spouse and avoid arguing in front of your children. Focus on your children and remember to put their interests before yours.
Halloween can also be fun for adults, so treat yourself after taking the kids out for trick-or-treating by watching a scary movie and eating some of that well-earned chocolate.
Discuss Your Case with a Family Law Attorney Today!
These tips and tricks can help alleviate contentious custody disputes, but sometimes families require additional support. For help from an experienced attorney, we encourage you to reach out to our family law firm. We can provide the personalized solutions and one-on-one attention you need during this difficult time.
Get started today and contact us at (405) 294-1511 to schedule a consultation.
