Helping Your Children Through the First Holiday After Your Divorce

 Posted on December 01, 2020 in Divorce

After Thanksgiving, the holiday season is officially in full swing, but with the “most wonderful time of the year” comes what can also be considered the most stressful time of the year. When you are going through the divorce process or have just freshly finalized your divorce, there are many changes to which you and your family must adapt. The stress of these changes can be exacerbated during the holiday season, especially the first year after your divorce. With the holidays being so family-oriented, it can be difficult to cope, especially for your children. However, there are things that you can do to help your children have a happy and peaceful holiday season.

Discuss Your Parenting Time Situation in Advance

A good rule of thumb about holiday parenting time is to plan for it well in advance. Do not wait until the week before the holidays to begin discussing how you want to split the time with your co-parent. Many parents already have holiday parenting time schedules built into their parenting plans, but not all. You should be sure to communicate with your co-parent ahead of time so as not to spring plans on him or her at the last second.

Flexibility Is Important for a Successful Holiday Season

In any co-parenting relationship, flexibility is important, but when it comes to the first holidays after your separation, it is especially important that you are willing to be adaptable to most situations. Being rigid and unmoving will only create conflict between you and your spouse and add to everyone’s stress, including your children’s.

Do Not Be Afraid to Make New Traditions

One of the lovely parts of the holiday is that they are usually based on traditions. However, this can also make it more difficult when those events are no longer able to be carried out. This does not mean you should stop making traditions, it simply means you should make new ones. Let your children help you come up with ideas for new holiday traditions that you can do with them for years to come.

Contact a Kane County Divorce Attorney

The holiday season is a magical time of year, but it can also be stressful for both parents and children, especially on the heels of a divorce. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we have helped clients solve their parenting time issues for more than 15 years and strive to help you form a parenting time plan that works for everyone. To schedule a confidential consultation with our highly qualified Aurora parenting time lawyer, call our office today at 630-409-8184.

Sources:

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ho-ho-ho-can-happy-holidays-and-divorce-40852/

https://childmind.org/article/divorced-for-the-holidays-what-to-give-the-kids/

https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/blog/facing-holiday-season-after-divorce