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Imagine a calendar on the wall. It is splashed with red and green marks. For most families, December is a blur of activity. For divorced families, it is a puzzle. Jos Family Law invites you to visualize the holiday schedule not as a battleground, but as a choreography. When done correctly, the dance of custody allows a child to experience the magic of the season twice, rather than feeling torn in half.

When parents ask What is 50 50 custody regarding the holidays, they often fear the "empty chair." They picture waking up on Christmas morning without their child. But visualize the alternating schedule. In "Year A," you have the child from Christmas Eve until Christmas morning at noon. Then, the exchange happens. The child goes to the other parent for the rest of the day. In "Year B," the schedule flips. This creates a rhythm. You know that if you miss the morning this year, you get it next year.

Visualize the new traditions this opens up. If you celebrate Hanukkah or have a specific family gathering on Christmas Eve, the schedule can be customized to lock those dates in permanently. We encourage parents to see the "off" years not as a loss, but as an opportunity to celebrate on a different day. To a child, Christmas is when the presents are opened. If that happens on December 26th at your house, the magic is just as real. The date on the calendar matters less than the joy in the room.

The visual you want to avoid is the "tug of war." Imagine the child standing in the doorway, sensing the tension as parents argue about pick-up times. Contrast that with the visual of two parents coordinating the gifts so Santa doesn't bring the same bike to both houses. That is the visual of a successful 50/50 holiday. It changes the memory from one of conflict to one of abundance.

Design a holiday season that is defined by presence, not absence.

To visualize a holiday plan that works for your family, contact Jos Family Law. https://josfamilylaw.com/