Divorce and the Holiday Season
The Holiday Season is stressful enough during the best of times, but for people recently divorced or going through divorce it can be the worst time of the year. But it doesn’t have to be. A little planning, flexibility and most of all, communication and conciliation, can go a long way to turn what could be an emotional roller coaster, into days of hope and happiness.
Not that this will be an easy process. But here are a few tips to smooth out the rough spots during the Holidays:
· Work out a schedule with your ex-spouse so that one of you can have the kids on Christmas while the other gets New Year’s Eve and/or day.
· Remember that Christmas and Chanukah are inclusive holidays for everyone to enjoy. See friends. Visit family members.
· If possible, try and spend the holidays with your ex-spouse and the kids. People sometimes can actually put aside feelings of acrimony for the good of the children.
The fact is that, in some cases, no amount of planning and communication can make the Holidays feel right. Although you should be extra sensitive to your children’s needs, do not neglect yourself. The Holidays come but once a year, and whether you are married or not, each of us deserves some time off to enjoy one another and look forward to the New Year just around the corner.
