Co-parenting after a divorce is not easy even in the best of times. Finding ways to manage your parenting responsibilities during the pandemic can be even more challenging. With the holidays coming up, finding ways to put a little bit of cheer into your parenting practices can ensure the best results for everyone involved. Here are three strategies that could help in providing your children with stability and safety during the holiday season.
Be Flexible
It may not be possible to adhere to the strict letter of your parenting plan during the pandemic. Making some modifications to the joint custody arrangement can make it easier for you and your former partner to manage issues associated with the current crisis. Working with your co-parent rather than against each other is critical to ensure that your children receive the best care possible now and in the future. Making allowances for plans altered by the pandemic will help everyone to enjoy a truly happy holiday season.
Enforce Health Precautions
Modeling good behavior for your children is a practical way to keep them safer during the pandemic. This includes the following activities:
- Maintaining a safe distance of six feet or more from others outside your household is recommended by medical authorities to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Making sure that you, your co-parent and your children are aware of this new requirement and adhere to it will help keep all of you safer during the pandemic.
- Face masks have been shown to provide some protection against virus transmission both for the wearers and for those with whom they come in contact. Fun and colorful face masks with holiday themes can make this more fun for your children. By wearing face masks faithfully whenever you go out, you and your co-parent can show the importance of this step.
- Washing your hands and using hand sanitizer when hand-washing stations are not available can also provide added protection for you and your children. Each of your children should have their own individual hand sanitizer for use when they cannot easily wash their hands.
Working with your former partner to instill these good health habits in your children will pay off in a reduced chance of contracting COVID-19 for all of the members of your family during the holidays.
Plan for Family Time
While it may not be feasible to spend in-person time with members of your extended family or that of your co-parent, modern technologies will make it much easier to share special events and to stay close with the ones you love. Video chats and phone calls can help your children stay connected to family members who might be vulnerable to some of the worst side effects of COVID-19. Taking advantage of these methods of communication will typically result in a more stable environment for your children and happier holidays for every member of your family.
These tips can make it easier to navigate the pandemic while co-parenting your children this holiday season. Taking a little time out for yourself is also helpful in managing the stress of the pandemic and making sure that a good time is had by all.