Why Holidays Are Usually Addressed Separately
A regular parenting time schedule generally covers the typical week, but holidays and special occasions tend to be addressed as a separate layer in a parenting plan, since they often don't fit neatly into a regular weekly rotation and can carry significant emotional and family importance for both parents and children.
Common General Approaches
A few general patterns tend to come up. Some families alternate specific holidays year to year (one parent has the child for a given holiday in even years, the other in odd years). Others split a holiday itself, such as part of the day with each parent. Still others designate certain holidays as consistently with one parent, particularly where a holiday has specific cultural or religious significance to one side of the family. See our guide to creating a parenting plan for how these choices generally get documented.
Vacation Time With Each Parent
Separately from specific holidays, many parenting plans generally include a block of vacation time each parent can use with the child, often during summer or school breaks, sometimes with advance notice requirements so the other parent can plan around it. Vacation time generally takes priority over the regular schedule when it applies, which is part of why it's generally addressed explicitly rather than left to interpretation.
Handling Schedule Conflicts
Because holiday and vacation provisions generally override the regular schedule when they apply, clearly written terms matter. Specifying exact dates and times, rather than vague terms like "the holiday period," tends to reduce disagreements. Where a dispute does come up despite a written plan, many families turn first to direct discussion or mediation before considering a motion to resolve a specific, time-sensitive scheduling conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do holidays automatically override the regular parenting schedule?
Generally, yes, where the parenting plan says so — which is part of why holiday provisions are generally written with specific dates and times to avoid ambiguity.
How are major holidays typically split between parents?
Common approaches include alternating by year, splitting the day itself, or consistently assigning certain holidays to one parent based on family or cultural significance — there's no single standard.
Is vacation time separate from the regular parenting schedule?
Generally, yes. Many parenting plans include a dedicated block of vacation time for each parent, often with advance notice requirements, that takes priority over the regular schedule when used.
What if parents can't agree on who gets a specific holiday?
If the parenting plan doesn't clearly address it, direct discussion or mediation is often the first step, with a court motion generally reserved for more serious, time-sensitive disputes.
Should religious or cultural holidays be addressed specifically?
Generally, yes, if they matter to the family — being specific in the parenting plan about which holidays are included, and how they're split, tends to prevent confusion later.