The holidays are a festive and jolly time of year. Unfortunately, the season is particularly hard on people going through a divorce, especially when children are involved.
This will be the first time the family unit will not be together, bringing an end to many holiday traditions. While getting through the season may be complicated and difficult, there are several ways to still make the holidays joyful for yourself and your children.
The following are some tips on how to deal with divorce during the holiday season:
Try to work together with your spouse - While the last thing you may want to do is talk to your soon-to-be-ex-spouse, as parents, both of you want what’s best for the kids. You still want them to enjoy the holidays, time away from school, and time with friends and family. Decide if you want to spend the holidays together or alternate days to avoid conflict and miscommunication.
Create new traditions - Attempting to follow the regular holiday traditions may feel too awkward or painful. Instead, you should create new ones. Perhaps, take a vacation out of town and spend a few days with extended family or even in a hotel with just you and your children. Ask your kids if they have any suggestions, like a Christmas movie night, gingerbread house contest, etc.
Surround yourself with loved ones - When we are feeling sad or depressed, we tend to isolate ourselves and shut everyone out. However, you need the support of your family and friends and to spend time with them. If your other spouse has the kids for some of the holiday season, create other fun plans with your loved ones.
Take care of yourself - Trying to manage the stress of divorce while ensuring your children have a great holiday season can be a lot to handle, which is why you must leave room for rest and self-care. Maintain a healthy diet and avoid overindulging in food and alcohol, exercise often, and get plenty of sleep.
Make a New Year's Resolution - Rather than thinking about holiday memories and how things used to be, it’s time to start making plans for the future and stop dwelling in the past.
If you are interested in filing for divorce in Chicago, IL, call the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. at (312) 487-2795 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a phone consultation. Let our experienced legal team protect your rights and best interests from start to finish!