Parents going through a divorce will have to go through the first year of holidays while trying to help children adjust to the new way of life. Having a plan when you’re going into this situation is important because you need to be able to explain what will happen to the kids.
One important thing to remember is that the children will pick up on your attitude and outlook for the holiday season. Besides having a positive and festive attitude, consider these three tips for thriving in the holiday season:
1. Check the calendar
Look at the parenting plan and the calendar to know when you will have the children with you. This helps you to plan activities with them and lets you know when you can take care of other tasks, such as shopping for gifts.
2. Work with your ex
There are times when the holiday schedule may need to change. Work with your ex to ensure the children can spend meaningful time with both sides of the family.
3. Set new traditions
Holiday traditions that your child counted on before might not be possible now. Instead of trying to force those to happen, create new ones with your children. Try to find something that you can do at any time during the holiday season, such as looking at holiday lights before having peppermint hot cocoa.
Make sure you have the terms for holidays included in the parenting plan. This helps to ensure that both parents know exactly what to do during the holidays. As the children grow up, you may find that you need to have the agreement modified. Working with someone who can help you to come up with solutions to the issues you’re facing can make this less stressful.