Dealing with holidays and vacations when you divorce

Katherine Sellwood, PsyD Psychologist, shares advice for parents on how to best go about splitting time with the kids during holidays and vacations
Divorce And Children | Dealing With Holidays And Vacations
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Dealing with holidays and vacations when you divorce

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Dealing with vacations and holidays is something that needs to be discussed as soon as possible, particularly when it comes to vacations. Typically, holidays are predetermined in the divorce stipulation or the divorce agreement. With the holidays like Thanksgiving, those tend to be every other holiday – one with mom, one with dad. For things like Christmas, that’s such a special time for families that both parents want a share in it. So what’s typically done is one parent will have Christmas Eve and Christmas morning and the other parent will have Christmas Day. And again, that will alternate the next year. Parental birthdays, actually the child gets to be with you on your birthday and when it comes to the child’s birthday, that has to do with your level of conflict and whether you can cooperatively co-parent and come together for the sake of your child, which is best, or whether you’re going to need to do two birthday celebrations. The date doesn’t actually matter when it comes to that. As far as ancillary holidays, such as 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, those tend to be dictated by whoever’s custodial weekend it is – they’ll just extend that. And the pick up and drop off time would be after school like a normal custody arrangement.
ALL PARENTS, Divorce, Co-Parenting

Katherine Sellwood, PsyD Psychologist, shares advice for parents on how to best go about splitting time with the kids during holidays and vacations

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Katherine Sellwood, PsyD

Psychologist

Dr. Katherine Sellwood is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Encino, California, who specializes in child, adult and forensic family psychology. She began her Master's Degree training at Pepperdine University, continuing her education at C.S.P.P. to obtain a Doctoral Degree in the field of Clinical Psychology. Since entering the field in 1996, Dr. Sellwood has garnered a diverse professional background that includes working as an elementary and middle school counselor, college and regional center disabilities specialist, executive director of a non-profit organization in psychology, consulting psychologist at hospitals and in-patient medical facilities, and an academic Professor of Psychology at several graduate schools. Dr. Sellwood has been a guest lecturer presenting topics that include: anger management, early childhood development, play therapy techniques, taking a stand against teenage violence, developing resilience, treating children of divorce, loss and grief, adolescent girls and disordered body images, understanding behavioral difficulties.

Dr. Sellwood holds a license in clinical psychology through the state of California. She is on the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, and is a Diplomate with the American Board of Professional Psychology. Her professional affiliations also include The American Psychological Association, The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and The American Academy of Clinical Psychology. She has received professional honors and recognition through the Psy Chi National Honor Society of Psychology, the California Senate for excellence in school counseling, student nominated Who’s Who of America’s Teachers, and peer nominated Sierra Tucson’s Gratitude for Giving.

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