Help Your Family Have a Happy Holiday

 Posted on December 21, 2016 in Main

The winter holiday season is a time that is meant to be shared with friends and loved ones. For some families, however, spending time together can be a challenge due to divorce, child-related legal matters, and other concerns. No matter what you may be going through, you and your children deserve to enjoy the Christmas season, and there are some steps you can take to help make that happen.

Be More Flexible

Shared parenting time is often a major point of contention for divorced parents around the holidays. You want to see your children on Christmas, but so does their other parent. It is important to keep in mind that fighting with your ex-spouse will do nothing to promote a happier holiday for you or your children. Try to compromise on a parenting time schedule that affords you both the opportunity to share in the joy of the season with your children, even if you do not get as much time as you would like.

Unexpected delays can easily occur during family celebrations, so if your ex is a few minutes late dropping off or picking up your child, try to let it go. Focus on the things that make you happy rather than minor annoyances; it is not worth the added stress and aggravation this time of year.

Offer a Truce

While not all divorced parents are in a position to do so, you may even consider making a concerted effort toward reconciliation with your ex-spouse during the holiday season. If your children are relatively young, you and your former partner will be co-parenting together for years to come, and cooperation is much easier if there is mutual respect between you. When your ex comes to drop off your child, you could start by inviting him or her in for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Rebuilding a cooperative relationship with the other parent will take time, but it can start this Christmas. Eventually, you may reach the point where you consider celebrating the holiday together with your children.

By fostering an attitude of friendliness and respect, the benefits may begin to show in your relationship with your ex throughout the rest of the year as well. You can also demonstrate to your children that while your marriage may not have worked out, you and your former spouse are a parenting team dedicated to your children and their well-being.

Happy Holidays from MKFM Law

As 2016 draws to a close, the entire team at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC would like to wish all of our clients, colleagues, business associates, friends, and their families a happy and safe holiday season. Our experienced DuPage County family law attorneys are proud to serve you, and we look forward to continuing to do so in the future.

Source:

http://lisaherrick.com/a-good-problem-to-have-family-togetherness-post-divorce/