Helping Children Through the Holidays After Divorce

Give Them a Great Season

Divorce is difficult for everyone, but it can be incredibly hard on children. They may feel like they are caught in the middle, and don't understand why their parents can't get along anymore. The holidays can be an especially difficult time of the year for them. Here are a few tips to help children through the holidays after a divorce.

Create New Traditions

As a parent, it is crucial that you do everything you can to help your child navigate this challenging time. One way to do this is by creating new traditions.

Discuss what your child would like to try during the holiday season. Maybe they want to spend Christmas Eve with one parent and Christmas Day with the other. Perhaps they want to start their own traditions, like making gingerbread houses or decorating the Christmas tree together as a family.

Whatever your child wants to do, try to make it happen. This will help them feel more comfortable during an otherwise stressful time of the year.

Try to Keep a Sense of Consistency

While it is important to create new traditions, keeping a sense of consistency is also essential. This can be a bit challenging if your child spends time with both parents during the holidays. However, there are some alternatives you can try.

For example, if your family always celebrates Christmas on December 25th, try to stick to that date even if it means your child spends Christmas Eve with one parent and Christmas Day with the other. This can give your child the consistency that they need during an otherwise chaotic time in their life.

You can also try to keep other holiday traditions alive, like decorating the Christmas tree together or baking cookies. Small gestures like these can do a great deal in helping your child feel comfortable and loved during the time you and your spouse were together.

Get Help from an Attorney

If you have trouble navigating the holidays because of a child custody issue, you should speak with an attorney for guidance. At Verner Brumley Mueller Parker, our team can help resolve a child custody issue to ensure you and your children have a wonderful holiday season.