How to Co-Parent on Halloween
Halloween can be a stressful holiday for parents, especially when the day is not expressly addressed by the family’s parenting plan. However, for two-household families, there are tips and steps that co-parents can follow to help make Halloween as enjoyable as possible for both parents and children.
Plan Out Halloween in Advance
If your family’s parenting plan does not expressly address Halloween as a holiday, you and your ex should begin planning how you want to plan your parenting schedule for the holiday as early as possible. For younger children, Halloween activities are often spread across several days beyond October 31, as they may have the opportunity to participate in costume pageants at school or attend municipal fall carnivals.
If you and your ex have an amicable relationship, you might consider attending events together with your child or children. However, if it is better that you and your ex stay separate, you will need to determine which parent gets to attend which events with your children. Alternatively, you and your ex may decide to alternate years in celebrating Halloween with your children.
Split Responsibilities
When your children are younger, there are a number of tasks that need to be completed for Halloween, especially with two households. In addition to buying or preparing costumes for your children, you and your ex may also need to decorate your homes and buy candy or treats for trick-or-treaters. If you and your ex have an amicable relationship, it can be helpful to split up responsibilities for both your children and respective households depending on each parent’s skills and availability. For example, one parent may choose to handle preparing the children’s costumes, while the other parent handles decorations for both households.
Alternatively, if there are Halloween activities that either you or your spouse are not fond of, you can split up Halloween based on activities. If you don’t enjoy chaperoning trick-or-treating but your ex does, you can agree that you will take your child or children on other Halloween-related activities such as apple picking or hayrides, while your ex takes the children out trick-or-treating on Halloween evening.
Agree on Rules
Halloween is a holiday where children both young and old get to let loose a little more than they otherwise would get to on any other day. You and your ex should agree on uniform rules around Halloween so that there’s no risk that either of you becomes the “cool” parent. This includes agreeing on candy intake, appropriate costumes, or whether your child can attend Halloween parties being thrown by friends. Even if you and your ex have a less than amicable relationship, you should try to work out a compromise that serves your children’s best interests.
Share Your Child’s Halloween Experience
Finally, if you and your ex do experience Halloween separately with your children, you should be considerate about your ex missing out on important experiences with your children. You can help avoid any raw feelings by taking copious photos and videos of your children’s Halloween activities and sharing them with your ex.
Contact a Cherry Hill Family Law Attorney for a Consultation About Child Custody in New Jersey Today
If you are thinking about filing for divorce, or if you have already started the divorce process and are dealing with another matter such as child custody, child support, or division of assets, you need to speak with a qualified attorney. Family law lawyer, Lois Garber Schwartz, Esq. represents clients throughout the state, including Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Marlton, and Mt. Laurel. She understands how challenging this time can be for you, which is why she will fight hard to protect your interests, and the interests of your loved ones, throughout the legal process. Call her at (856) 482-8799 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a consultation. She has an office conveniently located at 1040 Kings Hwy. N., Suite 202, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.
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