Make This Holiday a Treat Despite the Circumstances
The first holiday following a divorce typically carries a great deal of pressure along with it. With the additional factor of a global pandemic limiting the ways in which you can help your child celebrate and enjoy a Halloween even remotely similar to the one they enjoyed last year, the onslaught of anxiety is undoubtedly skyrocketing.
Leave the frights to the skeletons and ghosts this season. With a few considerations, you can make this holiday just as enjoyable as in years past.
Adopt New Traditions
While it’s likely your children will miss the past years where your family trick-or-treated together, you can adapt these past festivities to your new living arrangement while also incorporating new events for the children to look forward to. Keeping in mind the limitations the coronavirus presents, perhaps you could adopt a movie night with your favorite Halloween films, complete with spooky snacks for you and your children. You could also throw a personal Halloween costume party for you and the kids.
Coordinate with Your Co-Parent
Communicating with your co-parent gives you the opportunity to understand how they intend to celebrate the holiday with your children. This gives you both an opportunity to ensure your children are able to partake in some of their favorite festivities at least once this season.
Celebrate Throughout the Month
If you and your partner have decided that the children will spend this Halloween in just one household, take advantage of the other festivities in your community as they occur throughout the month. While in-person offerings may be limited due to the pandemic, be on the lookout for movie marathons on cable and streaming services, Halloween activity kits you can purchase and complete at home, socially-distanced pumpkin patch visits and carving, and more.
Consider Celebrating Together
If you and your former spouse are on decent terms, it may help your children slowly adjust to your changing family structure if the two of you celebrate, even just partially, together. Trick-or-treating at both parents’ houses provides the children with an opportunity to see their parents continuing to act civil with each other and model healthy behavior, while also providing them with double the candy. Score!
This Halloween will undoubtedly be different. But, by making an effort to provide your children with their favorite holiday activities, you can ensure it will be just as enjoyable for you and your children.
If you and your co-parent need assistance establishing a child custody arrangement that better suits your family, contact our attorneys. We will apply our knowledge and experience to help you work toward a fruitful agreement.