With the holidays in full swing, there’s going to be a plentiful amount of food, family, and stress. For some, it could be relieving to not have to spend this time with the family. For others however, these gatherings can be extremely stressful, especially for children of divorced parents. Each parent might have certain expectations for the day and how it’s supposed to play out that are impossible for a child to fulfill. Here are a few tips that might help reduce the anxiety that the child may feel.
Share a meal. Try cooking with your child and making something that they can bring to the other parent’s house. For example, you could make a pumpkin pie or some turkey stuffing together the day before or day of that the child can bring to the other house. This allows the child to show the other parent that even when away, they aren’t leaving the other parent behind.
Be understanding. Try to sympathize with your child and realize that there’s nothing worse for a child than if they think they are going to leave one of the parents alone on a holiday. If it’s a split location holiday and they have to go to the other house, be strong, understand they feel torn too, and keep your emotions in check. Let them know you’re going to be fine and that you want them to have a good time.
Avoid competition. Try to not duplicate holiday meals or activities where the intent is to outperform the other. As difficult as it may be to accomplish, everyone wants to relax during the holidays. If each parent tries to outshine the other with overly extravagant meals or activities, it can add pressure to reassure the parents that they are having a good time. Sometimes, less is more.
Start new traditions. This can also be a perfect time to start new traditions. Adding a new and unique activity or even rearranging an old routine can open the day up for all kinds of possibilities. That new thing can become something the child attaches new memories to.
Try to incorporate some of these tips into your holiday season, and help your child create memories they can cherish forever.
- Author
- Recent Posts
John Schutz
Partner at John F. Schutz, P.L.
Representing clients exclusively in family law cases for the past 24 years, Mr. Schutz is widely regarded as a marital and family law expert. He is Board Certified in marital and family law by The Florida Bar. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Mr. Schutz is committed to elevating the standards and improving the practice of family law.
Latest posts by John Schutz (see all)
- Is a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage a Viable Option? - October 29, 2019
- What are the Types of Alimony in Florida? - October 19, 2019
- Property Division In Florida - October 8, 2019
Mediation and Collaborative Divorce Law
Couples going through the process of divorce and hoping to[...]
What Happens When A Custodial Parent Wants To Move?
It is often not easy trying to juggle schedules to[...]
Social Media & Divorce
An aspect of divorce that often goes unnoticed, until it[...]