Halloween is one of the most exciting annual traditions for many young children. Halloween costumes, free candy, spooky decorations and tricks or treats are all part of the thrill of Halloween. For children with separated parents, Halloween is usually one of those special occasions that mom and dad are fighting about if they do not get along very well. Some parents need a court order to determine who should pick out or pay for the Halloween and who can spend time with their children on Halloween and for how long it should last.
The biggest issue with Halloween for children with separated parents is that the children can’t be in two places at the same time. Mom and dad need to work together to celebrate Halloween with their children at the same time, or they need to divide Halloween in half or they need to alternate who gets to celebrate Halloween with their children each year. If mom and dad suck at working together to figure it out amongst themselves, the children usually lose out on spending time with either their mom or their dad on Halloween until the Honourable Court can grant an order to let the children spend Halloween with both parents.
Without a court order that specifically includes Halloween parenting time, one parent might refuse to let the children spend a single Halloween with their other parent, siblings or any other friends or family members from the other side. A parent that refuses to voluntarily share even a single Halloween is a total witch. There is no reason whatsoever that one parent should have every single Halloween, especially with young school-aged children, if both parents are willing and able to create enjoyable memories for their children on Halloween. If one parent feels entitled to each and every Halloween no matter what, that parent is either not considering their children’s point of view or that parent simply does not care.
If you are co-parenting with a total witch, do not count on your co-parent sharing Halloween voluntarily. We have seen it time and time again – witches don’t share Halloween. If you are co-parenting with a witch and you want to see your children for Halloween, the Edmonton Family Network recommends speaking with a family lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options on how to lock down a parenting plan or court order that includes Halloween.
The Edmonton Family Network was designed to be used as a resource for anyone dealing with a difficult family situation. The Edmonton Family Network is familiar with the current limitations of the legal system and the barriers many people face trying to access and afford legal services. The Edmonton Family Network aims to educate and connect people with affordable resources and service providers that can help.
