My ex and I split in Jan 25 and he’s been dragging out the finances so we’re still living together.
Last Xmas we split Xmas as follows:
Xmas Eve - he was meant to have the kids until 2pm but handed them over at 11am as he felt ill. I then took them 2-6 to my parents to spend time with their cousins and were back at 6.30 to share bedtime
Xmas Day - we shared present opening and he was meant to have the kids until 2pm but again handed them over at 12 so he could get ready to go out. I took the kids to my family 2-6.30pm and bought them home to share bedtime but my ex didn’t get home till gone 10pm
Boxing Day - he had the kids all day as my family don’t celebrate it.
I was hoping it would be a lot easier this year as I’d hoped we’d be in separate homes and we could do blocks of days but alas not. I want to suggest the same arrangement this year but I know he will kick off about the 2-6.30 Xmas dinner stuff with my family. He’s American and so has no family over here and because of that I’ve agreed to him having to the kids for major UK and US holidays this year including New Year’s Eve, Easter, Halloween, Diwali and Thanksgiving. I just feel so sad that he’s going to demand the 2-6 slot on Xmas day not because of the children but out of principle.
I’d totally understand where he was coming from if we weren’t in the same house as it would be unreasonable of me to demand the same time each year but he still has the opportunity to do the Xmas Eve rituals and Xmas morning present opening with them and Boxing Day
What do people think?