The winter holidays are upon us. It is a time for family traditions, cherished memories and giving to others. Most parents want their children to have a magical holiday season, so if this is their first (or second, or third) holiday season post-divorce, they may be concerned about how their child is going to handle it. The following are some tips for Virginia parents who find themselves in this situation.
First, keep in mind that little eyes are always watching. Children will pick up on the cues of their parents. Therefore, parents should not put down their ex, or lament that the holidays will not be the same. By keeping a positive attitude and working to cooperate with your ex, children will see their parents willing to work together even after a divorce to make the holidays happy.
Also, don’t be afraid to start new traditions. After all, there will be times during the holiday season where only one parent or the other will have the child in their care. Starting new traditions in the two separate households is a way to help children move on to what will be the new normal.
In addition, parents need to stay flexible during the holiday season post-divorce. They may be able to agree for one parent to have the child for a morning celebration, and then for the other parent to have the child for an evening celebration. Sometimes, parents can even make special holiday arrangements that go against the grain of what would be their normal parenting time.
Ultimately, it is often in a child’s best interests to be able to have a meaningful holiday season with each parent. Moving forward after divorce has its challenges, but, by keeping the best interests of the child in mind when it comes to child custody and support issues this time of the year, parents in Virginia can help foster a season of joy.
Source: Long Island Press, “How To Handle The Holidays When Faced With Divorce or Separation,” Allison Davis, Accessed Dec. 11, 2017