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With the holidays approaching, there is one sad reality which has become a Christmas tradition. Namely, the flood of applications to courts by parents throughout the province, and assuredly the rest of the country, regarding Christmas access. Undoubtedly, there are good reasons in certain situations to restrict or deny Christmas access to a parent, particularly, if the safety of the children is at risk. However, there are undoubtedly more situations which are principally motivated by the parent’s animosity towards each other than for any other legitimate reason.
As a consequence, it is invariably the children caught in the middle of access batd s between feuding parents who suffer the most. I’m asking at this time of the year, if this sounds like you and your spouse, that you put aside your personal feelings for one another, and think of your children. Children need and deserve the care and attention of two loving parents.
Who knows, perhaps this cooperation will continue the rest of year. It’s certainly the most valuable and most loving gift your children will ever receive.
With apologies to the original author, I have penned the following alternative version of the Christmas classic.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Courts,
Applications were piling, with time running short;
Frantic parents consumed in a flurry of faxes,
With lawyers and spouses all disputing Christmas access.
No stockings yet hung by the chimney with care,
Since no children would be coming,
No cheer in the air.
When out of Judges’ Chambers there arose such a clatter,
I rose from my chair, to see what was the matter;
He was dressed in all black, as he bounded the stairs,
And I knew when I saw him, his judgements were fair.
He surveyed all before him, and pronounced while he sat,
That children deserve access, it’s a simple as that;
Now is not the time to argue and fight,
Over which parent is more loving, more deserving, or right,
And perhaps this trend will continue the rest of the year;
With children and parents sharing love that most dear.
And after such wisdom, the Judge sprang to this feet,
To return to this Chambers until next time we meet.
But I heard him exclaim as he turned out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, treasure your children tonight!”
Scott Taylor, Family Law Lawyer/Mediator
Offices in Langley 604-534-6361 and New Westminster 604-521-6895
