Article Categories

»	Arts & Entertainment
»	Automotive
»	Business
»	Careers & Jobs
»	Education & Reference
»	Finance
»	Food & Drink
»	Health & Fitness
»	Home & Family
»	Internet & Online Businesses
»	Miscellaneous
»	Self Improvement
»	Shopping
»	Society & News
»	Sports & Recreation
»	Technology
»	Travel & Leisure
»	Writing & Speaking

Reprint Article Code

Category: Articles » Home & Family » Article » Article Code

A Family Christmas After Divorce

The popular saying goes like this: "Breaking up is hard to do." Yet, when it comes to marriage in the U.S., a large percentage of us do it. Divorce, however unpleasant, is commonplace in today's society, and dealing with it during the holidays is a fact of life with which adults and children alike must deal. A divorce - especially a fresh one - can be particularly trying during the holidays. The Yuletide season is one of giving and family, and the dissonance of a divorce can greatly threaten the joy of the season. The challenge to adults ... read more

Article Title:

Article Body:

The popular saying goes like this: "Breaking up is hard to do." Yet, when it 
comes to marriage in the U.S., a large percentage of us do it. Divorce, however 
unpleasant, is commonplace in today's society, and dealing with it during the 
holidays is a fact of life with which adults and children alike must deal.
A divorce - especially a fresh one - can be particularly trying during the 
holidays. The Yuletide season is one of giving and family, and the dissonance of 
a divorce can greatly threaten the joy of the season. The challenge to adults is 
to keep Christmas spirits high for the children. Just because a relationship has 
been ruined doesn't mean a child's Christmas has to be ruined as well. Here are 
some tips for making sure that doesn't happen this holiday season.
Put Your Kids First - Christmas is a selfless season. It's a time when we 
focus on charity. Keep it that way. Think not of yourself or how to "one-up" 
your ex-spouse. Instead, focus on the needs of your kids. Ask yourself what you 
can do to ensure the holidays are happy and productive for them. Then do it.
Buy Your Ex a Gift - As much as kids love getting gifts, they also want to be 
part of the giving. They revel in the opportunity to give both mommy and daddy a 
gift or two, and it's up to you to help make that possible. Your little one has 
no money and no transportation, so the only way they're getting your spouse a 
gift is if you suck it up and take them Christmas shopping. Don't be the parent 
that's too proud to buy your ex a gift. It's the child you'll end up hurting 
anyway.
Don't Hog the Kids - There may be a custodial agreement in place where the 
kids spend Christmas with mommy one year and then with daddy the next. Everyone 
loses when that happens. Unless mommy and daddy live too far apart, there is no 
reason the kids can't see both. Perhaps they spend the majority of Christmas Eve 
at one place, then move to the other to spend the night and wake up on Christmas 
morning. Next year reverse roles so that both parents have the opportunity to 
watch the little ones wake up on Christmas morning and see what Santa left them. 
See what you can work out with your spouse. Remember, do what's in the best 
interest of the child.
Don't Take the Phone Off the Hook - When it isn't possible for one parent to 
see the children on Christmas for whatever reason, don't shut them out 
completely. Let the kids call them to say "Merry Christmas." 
Old Habits Die Hard - Since Christmas is about family traditions, a divorce 
naturally fractures those traditions. That's especially hard on the kids. When 
it's possible to maintain an old tradition, such as helping mommy make cookies 
or helping daddy select a tree, do so. When it's not, start new traditions with 
your kids. They need them.
Don't Bad-Mouth Your Ex - If you need to complain about your ex, do so to 
your adult friends - and don't do it in the presence of your children. No matter 
how you feel about your ex, your children still love them and look up to them. 
Don't hurt your kids by badmouthing their mommy or daddy.

Author Bio:

Some other recently published home & family articles

Infertility in Women and Men by James Kronefield
Have you and your partner been trying to conceive a baby? Have you been unsuccessful for at least a year? If so, then it is possible that one or both of you are suffering from problems ...

Benefits of a Home Security System by David Johnson
Anyone who lives in a home and has personal valuables and a family should have the protection of a home security system. There ...

Home Security Monitoring Systems by David Johnson
The majority of homeowners do not have any type of home security system installed in their homes. Some may think they are too ...

Home Alarm Systems by David Johnson
Crime affects all businesses and residential areas regardless of where you are located or how the local crime rate is. The ever growing number of crimes in the ...

Home Security Basics by David Johnson
When it comes to securing your home you must start with the perimeter and the possible points of entry. Look at ...

Home Security Is Important by David Johnson
It is important to keep up with your area's local crime rate and inform your neighbors and co workers on how to prevent themselves from falling prey to one of these criminals. It is important for everyone ...

Publisher Guidelines

You may reprint this article electronically in your newsletter or on your website, free of charge.

If you reprint this article from our site, then you must keep everything intact. This includes the articles title, author name, articles body, authors bio / resource box, the links contained within the article, all copyright notices and the link pointing back to our site. All links within the article must also be made active / hyperlinks.