Now that the holidays have come and gone, did you find the post-divorce holidays to be terribly difficult? In addition, for many parents, when there are children involved, it can really be a struggle. We would like to help you with these post holiday struggles by reviewing five mistakes that divorced families often make after the holidays. By being mindful of them you can be sure to avoid them as the holiday season comes to an end.
1. Not finding counseling for yourself and your children. It is important for divorced parents to find counseling for, not only their children, but also for themselves. There are even opportunities to find co-parenting counseling. This type of counseling may help both parents to be sure that they are in tune with their children during this holiday season.
2. Too many gifts. Understandably, many divorced parents feel some level of guilt that their children are celebrating holidays in a different way now that there has been a divorce and may choose to compensate by giving lavish, over-the-top or just too many gifts. Even if the gifts are well-intentioned, this can be viewed as an effort to buy love, especially with older children.
3. Criticizing the other parent’s gifts or traditions. A definite mistake to avoid during the holidays is to criticize the gifts or traditions of the other parent. Making fun of a co-parent can not only hurt your child’s relationship with your co-parent, but can also hurt your own relationship with your child.
4. Never make children feel guilty for being with the other parent. Do not in any manner make children feel guilty for being with the other parent during the holidays. This added guilt can definitely have a negative impact on the emotional well being of your children.
5. Not making an appointment with your divorce attorney and seeking their advice. Finally, too often divorced parents do not seek the advice of their lawyer after the holidays. For instance, the holidays may highlight flaws in current custody arrangements and it is important to talk to your lawyer about how to make any necessary changes.
For assistance navigating the divorce process and related legal issues, please feel free to reach out to our office to schedule a meeting time. At the Law Offices of Suzanne St. Luce, P.A., our staff is qualified to offer a wide range of legal services. Our attorney has over 20 years of experience and we want to help you with your case. We take all cases… Personally. Please contact us for questions related to your specific situation.