All I Want For Christmas Is…time with family!
As we reach the end of an extremely challenging year, the excitement of a fast-approaching Christmas is building. Sophie Hamilton Pike, Family Law Associate at Balfour + Manson takes a look at what Christmas 2020 may look like.
Unfortunately, special occasions such as Christmas often highlight tensions within families and this year could be the trickiest of all to manoeuvre. Whilst Christmas is bound to look different this year, it doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of the time we are able to spend with our families, whether it is virtually or in person.
The Scottish Government has produced guidance for arrangements over the festive period which should help with some practical information.
Between the 23rd and 27th of December, people residing in Scotland can form a bubble of up to three households, one of which can be an extended household. The recommendation is that this should be kept to a maximum of eight people, but children under the age of 12 do not count towards the total.
More importantly, the guidance states that children can move between parents’ homes in different bubbles, both for supervised and unsupervised contact arrangements.
"So, how to divide up the time? There is no one size fits all rule for Christmas arrangements and there may need to be compromises on both sides to ensure your children are able to enjoy Christmas with both sides of the family. If you are struggling, here are three top tips which might help:
1. Prioritise the children - Christmas is primarily a time for children – try to put aside any lingering disputes and consider what would be best for the children during the festive period. Focussing on the children provides common ground and reminds everyone of what is most important.
2. Be flexible – this year there might need to be a little more flexibility to ensure children can see extended family during the larger bubble period. Remember that there are many factors and families are trying to make arrangements in very difficult circumstances. What might be right for this Christmas may not be what has come before, so don’t be afraid to make arrangements which are a little different than in previous years. Try viewing this as Christmas Time instead of a singular day and don’t forget about the additional time either side of the Christmas bubble period as this can still provide fantastic family time.
3. Communicate – if possible, try to have an open conversation with the other parent about Christmas this year. If you are able to reach an agreement, write it down so there is no misunderstanding. Depending on the age and maturity of your children, you may agree to involve your children in these discussions. Giving consideration to their views is important, but remember that they should not feel pressure to pick one parent over the other.
Having said all of this, we entirely appreciate that reaching an agreement is not always going to be possible. If you need some help with coming to an agreement, you may want to involve a solicitor. Balfour + Manson are skilled at helping clients sort out contact arrangements and we understand how tricky these conversations can be. We will do our best to provide practical support for you in moving matters forward and are happy to help wherever possible.