Easter is fast approaching, what should I do?
It is hard to believe how quickly Easter comes around each year. It is not uncommon for disputes to arise between separated parents when trying to work out parenting arrangements and time to spend with other family members for special family occasions such as Easter.
Below are some tips to help you navigate your Easter plans and reach agreement about Easter arrangements to ensure your children have the most time enjoyable time possible.
Tip 1 – Consider the best interests of the child/ren.
There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to special occasions and the time your children spend with you. However, you must consider what is best for your children. This is the most important factor to be considered in your planning and decision making.
Tip 2 – Plan early.
To ensure Easter progresses as smoothly and enjoyably as possible for your children, make sure that you start planning for Easter, and other special occasions, early. This will help to avoid disappointment and conflict in future.
Tip 3 – Communicate effectively.
Communication is key to ensuring that you and the other parent are on the same page. There can be nothing worse than to assume that your children are spending a special occasion with you, only to find out that the other parent has assumed the same thing.
To ensure communication is effective, remember to be respectful, clear, concise, solution and child focussed.
Tip 4 – Be flexible and willing to compromise.
There are many different options available for families in the process of working out what is best for their children at Easter. Some examples of these options are listed below:
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Children spending time with one parent from Good Friday until Easter Saturday, and with the other parent from Easter Saturday to Easter Sunday, alternating each year.
This type of arrangement works best if both parents live close to each other. This will allow the children to spend time with both parents over the Easter period. It is common for time over Easter to be split this way so that the children can spend time with their extended family and have the benefit of both sides of their family. - Children spending time with one parent over the day of significance for the family such as Good Friday or Easter Sunday, but spending a few hours during that significant day with the other parent, alternating each year.
This might work if both parents have the same day of significance during the Easter period or if the children typically live with their primary carer and spends time with the other parent. This arrangement allows the children to spend time with both of their parents on the one special day. - Children spending the entire Easter period with one parent, alternating each year.
This arrangement may occur where the parents live a significant distance apart from each other, if the parents often travel and go away for the Easter period or if Easter is not an important holiday for one parent. If you and the other parent do not live in the same location, you may wish to consider that the parent not spending time with the children get some additional time at some other period during the year such as Easter. The parent not spending time with the children over Easter may also be able to communicate with the children via video or telephone.
Another example where this arrangement may work well is if the parents have different religious beliefs and one parent may celebrate Easter and the other parent may celebrate Orthodox Easter. As these occasions generally fall on different dates, the children could spend time with the parent who celebrates the specific occasion. - Spending time together as a family.
If you and the other parent have an amicable relationship, and Easter is an important occasion for the family, you may wish to consider spending Easter together. This may suit families who continue to have an amicable co-parenting relationship after separation. - No special arrangements for Easter.
For some families, there is a preference not to make any different or special arrangements for Easter. This may suit families who have non-Christian beliefs. It may also suit families who do not celebrate Easter or are not particularly concerned about when they celebrate Easter. For example, some families may be happy to have an Easter celebration with their children when they are next in their care.
Tip 5 – Enjoy!
Enjoy this special time with your children making memories, creating new family traditions or continuing with the same traditions.
My former partner and I can’t reach an agreement about arrangements for Easter, what should I do?
If you and your former partner are having difficulty reaching an agreement about who the children should spend time with at Easter, reach out to us and one of our experienced lawyers will provide you with advice, your options and a plan to move forward.
My former partner and I have now reached an agreement about arrangements for Easter, is there anything else that I should do?
Once you and your former partner have agreed upon a parenting arrangement for Easter that is in the best interest of the children and works well for your family, contact us and discuss formalising the arrangement with one of our experienced lawyers.
The above is an example of some options that may be suitable for you and your family. The options may not be suitable or appropriate for your family, especially if there are issues of risk to the children and/or family violence.
It is important that you have the right legal team to guide you through your family law matter. Our experienced family lawyers can provide you with tailored family law advice.
If you’d like to plan ahead and obtain further advice for Christmas, you can find a helpful article on Christmas holidays care arrangements on our website here.
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Article By: Felicity Francis
Family Lawyer
Felicity is a passionate family lawyer who has spent most of her career in private practice, while also volunteering at the Women’s Legal Service Victoria for many years. She is experienced in complex property matters involving businesses, companies, self-managed super funds and trusts as well as high conflict parenting matters. Felicity was born and bred in a small country town near Echuca/Moama. She loves the big city life in Melbourne but also enjoys escaping back to the country for a change of pace.