Parenting Time During the Holiday Season

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Child Custody

Divorce is hard - that is no secret. But divorce is even harder during the holiday season. The holidays are all about spending quality time with your family, but when your family is split up, you have to find other ways to celebrate and make the season special. When you are divorced with children, you typically have a parenting plan that outlines where your child will be during certain times of the year and which holidays the child will spend with which parent. One of the hard truths that you must come to realize is that you will not always spend every single holiday with your children. While it can be difficult, it is something you must get used to. Here are a few tips you can follow to survive the holidays without your children

Do What You Want to Do

One of the best things you can do during the holiday season without your kids is whatever you want to do. If that means that you want to stay home, decorate your house for the holidays and host a big holiday party, then do it. Maybe you might want to take that warm beach vacation for the holidays but never wanted to make your children sacrifice holiday traditions. A year without your children during the holidays is a perfect time to do whatever your heart desires.

Practice Self-Care

Any time you know there will be outside factors affecting your mental health, it is always a good idea to make sure you are practicing self-care and keeping yourself in tip-top shape. Make sure that you are eating well and drinking plenty of water, along with getting plenty of sleep and exercise. You should also make sure you are taking care of your emotional health. If you are not spending holidays with your children, make sure you are spending it surrounded by your side of the family or with your friends.

Celebrate with Your Children Before or After the Holiday

Even if you cannot spend the actual day of your holiday with your children, you can still celebrate with them - just move it forward or backward, depending on what works for you. This way, you still get to spend time with your children and practice your traditions, but your spouse also gets their turn to celebrate.

An Aurora, IL Parenting Time Lawyer Can Help You Create a Sound Parenting Plan

Though you cannot expect to spend every single holiday with your children every year, you can make sure that your parenting plan outlines which specific holidays you spend with your children. A DuPage County parenting time attorney can help you draft your parenting plan so that it meets both you and your children’s needs. The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. can help you with all aspects of your divorce, including your parenting plan. Call our office at 630-409-8184 to schedule a consultation.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/family-law-attorney/divorced-children/200812/managing-divorce-and-children-during-the-holidays

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-tips-to-celebrating-you_b_4508761