8 Holiday Tips for Divorced Parents
For most families, the holidays can be a stressful time. Between coordinating hectic schedules, traveling, and making plans, parents rarely have time to relax. If you share custody of your children with an ex, juggling the holiday schedules can be even more exhausting. Here are a few tips to help keep holidays exciting and fun.
Try These Tips to Help Enjoy Your Holidays
1) Make a Schedule and Stick to it — This might be the easiest way to keep complications from arising. Make a schedule for the holidays, and coordinate with your ex. Make sure your ex understands your plans, and make sure you understand his or hers. Be clear and dependable.
2) Be a good communicator — Don’t play head games or make your ex guess what your plans are. Remember that the person you’ve divorced is still the father or mother of your children, and hopefully he or she is just as concerned about their well being as you are.
3) Be respectful of your ex — If your ex-husband or wife celebrates the holidays differently than you do, be respectful. Don’t damage the other parent’s reputation or attack their beliefs and traditions. Your children deserve to admire both of their parents.
4) Be open about gift giving — Talk to your ex about what to give your children so you don’t buy the same thing. This conversation might even give you some helpful insight when you’re deciding what to buy.
5) Let your kids call — Since you’re not all together, encourage your kids to reach out and call the other parent. It can be hard on a child to miss a parent on the holidays. Encourage communication; this shows your kids that you’re committed to their happiness.
6) Don’t sabotage a celebration — Don’t show up at a party your ex has planned for your child. Allow them to celebrate happily without divorce tension. For kids, having a birthday with dad and another with mom can be twice as much fun.
7) It’s Not A Contest— If your ex makes more (or less) money than you do, remember that gifts and holiday trips aren’t a contest. When your kids are adults, they’re not going to remember the gaming system you bought them: they’re going to remember how much time you spent with them.
8) Remind yourself to be loving — Even though you’re divorced, show your children that their family experiences can still be wonderful. Be loving, and allow your children to love and enjoy time with both of their parents.
Contact Our Caring and Experienced Atlanta Family Law Attorneys Today
If you or someone you know has experienced these divorce warning signs, schedule a consultation to discuss your situation with an experienced family law attorney. You don’t need to go through the divorce process alone. The Atlanta family law attorneys at Stearns-Montgomery & Proctor will help you discuss your case, understand the Georgia divorce process, your options and rights, and help guide you through this process. With three offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta, and Marietta, we proudly serve our clients throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Schedule a consultation today by calling us at 678-971-3413 or completing a contact form
