On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in child custody on Sunday, November 18, 2018.
Keeping family conflict at bay during the holidays is a real concern for divorced couples. However, doing so is important for a few reasons, including proper stress management and maintaining optimum mental health for you and your children. In this case, VeryWellFamily.com recommends the following advice to ensure your holiday season is free of needless battles.
Prepare yourself for conflict
In some family situations conflict is a given. In this case, prepare yourself for potential strife before setting out. While you can’t control the actions or statements of others, you can control your response. If you’re met with rude statements, nosiness, or general bad behavior, try to take it with a grain of salt and maintain a humorous perspective about the whole thing.
Host your own holiday party
Of course, if the stress is too much to bear consider hosting your own holiday get together. Invite those people who make a positive impact in your life, including friends and family. That way you retain a little control over the situation while also having a place where you and your family can celebrate. This also a good option for large blended families, which may have trouble getting together in one place during the holidays.
Take turns on each holiday
Holiday scheduling is typically challenging for divorced couples. You can alleviate some of this stress by taking turns on each holiday. For instance, you children can accompany you to your family’s Thanksgiving gathering while accompanying your ex for Christmas or other celebrations. That way both parents can spend time with their kids and respective families without worrying about stopping at many different houses on the same day.
