Holiday Planning

Holiday’s are an important family event.  It’s a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving that the entire family should enjoy.  It’s a bit different when you’re fathering a child on your own or you’re enjoying your child(ren) for the holidays for visitation.

We’re quickly approaching the holidays.  2007 has flown by, it seems!  What plans do you have for the merriment with your children or family?  Does your visitation agreement make you squirm?  What other visitation agreements do you have?  Do you send your children to be with their mom this time of year?

I can tell you how it is for me.  My visitation is “simple.”  I use the term loosely.  I have joint-legal custody with my daughter.  It’s hard to get physical custody when your job involves too much travel.

For the summer I have eight glorious weeks with my girl.  My ex-wife and I alternate Spring Break and Thanksgiving break.  Christmas is generally split into halves and we each retain physical custody for our half.  Luckily I make out with Father’s Day since it falls in the summer.

My daughter lives in San Antonio, Texas while I live in Omaha.  It makes visitation more memorable, but also more stressful.  In the end it’s all worth it.  The first Christmas she was down there I drove down two weeks before and celebrated early in my hotel room.  We had a good time and she opened lots of Christmas loot.  Last year she was up here and we had a great time with presents and family and friends.  I ended up driving her back down to San Antonio the day after Christmas and driving back the day after that.  You can just imagine the back pain.

I’ve been procrastinating my plans this winter.  I need to make up my mind.  What would you all do?