We are heading into the Holiday Season – Thanksgiving, Chanukah and Christmas are just weeks away. And yes, there are presents and parties, but there is also an enormous amount of stress for families going through a divorce, or already divorced or separated. There are ways, however, to make it less stressful.
- If you have your children for one or all of the holidays, make sure you share your plans with your ex. Where you are going, when you are going, hotel and flight information.
- Don’t let your feeling about your ex interfere with your children. Keep those feelings to yourself. Don’t use your holiday time with your children to vent. That’s not a present your kids want or need.
- If you don’t have your children for a specific holiday, make sure to designate a specific time to speak with them during their time with your ex. Don’t call unexpectedly and expect them to drop everything.
- If your vacation plans conflict with a school schedule make sure that whichever parent has the authority to make decisions about school gives permission for your child to miss classes, and that the school is made aware of the situation.
- The most important thing – consider how your actions will impact your children. Your children should never be caught in the middle, they should always be the priority.
The best way to deal with the holidays is to plan ahead so that these memorable times are painless for your children.
