NewsTalk 1010: Families, Holidays, and the Pandemic - Featuring Alyssa Bach, Shulman & Partners

Holiday schedules can be stressful for any separated family, and the pandemic adds an extra layer of uncertainty. In this interview with NewsTalk 1010, Alyssa Bach, Associate Lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP, discusses how COVID-era restrictions can affect parenting time, holiday traditions, and decision-making between co-parents living in separate households. She explains why this season can trigger new disputes even when families already have detailed agreements in place, and why assumptions about the other parent’s level of caution often lead to conflict. The segment also highlights practical ways parents can reduce tension by planning early, focusing on safety expectations, and keeping children’s needs at the centre of every decision in Ontario family law.

“Unless there's a reason to show that the other parent isn't safe or isn't practicing proper COVID protocols, parenting schedules are supposed to be followed.”
- Alyssa Bach, Associate Lawyer, Shulman & Partners LLP

Alyssa speaks about the challenges separated and divorced parents face during the holidays when public health restrictions limit gatherings, travel, and household mixing. She notes that tension around holiday parenting time existed even before the pandemic, but COVID has created new points of disagreement, particularly when co-parents have different comfort levels about exposure and safety.

A key point in the interview is that many parenting agreements already include detailed holiday schedules. Alyssa explains that it is common to see arrangements that divide Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, or rotate holidays like Christmas and New Year’s, sometimes alternating between even and odd years. Because those schedules are often set up to create predictability, many families enter the holiday season expecting the agreement to guide them.

Alyssa emphasizes that what Ontario courts have generally reinforced during the pandemic is that existing parenting schedules should continue unless there is a specific and credible reason to believe the other parent is not being safe or is not following COVID protocols. Where conflict tends to arise is when one parent believes precautions are being ignored, or when parents have different expectations about who will be seen over the holidays, what activities are planned, and what the child’s exposure risk might be.

To avoid last-minute disputes, she encourages parents to plan ahead and start discussions early rather than assuming the other parent will behave the same way. She notes that what feels safe for one family may not feel safe for another, especially where a parent or household member has health complications. She also points out that a plan that worked in a previous year might not be workable now, given changing restrictions and the evolving nature of the pandemic. The goal is to address concerns early and reach a workable solution through communication and compromise.

Alyssa also cautions parents about social media. She advises that anything posted publicly should be viewed through two lenses: how a co-parent might interpret it, and how a judge might view it if the matter ends up in court. Posts that suggest a parent is not following public health guidance can raise concerns about judgment and may affect parenting time decisions. She adds that negative posts about a co-parent are also risky and unhelpful. Even where conflict exists, parents are encouraged to keep matters private, remain child-focused, and avoid turning public platforms into another source of tension.

Listen to the full NewsTalk 1010 segment here.

This media appearance is part of Shulman & Partners LLP’s ongoing contributions to Canadian family law discussions. Explore more of our media features in our In the Media  archive.