The holidays are for the children, especially after divorce

The holiday season is upon us, and with it the many family traditions parents and children in Kentucky enjoy, such as parties, gift giving and, for some, attending religious services. For many, the holiday season is a time to come together as a family. However, when parents divorce this can throw a wrench in their holiday traditions. That being said, there are some ways that parents and children can enjoy the holidays following a divorce.

During the holidays, it is important for parents to focus on the needs of their children. If possible, they should take into account how the children would want to spend the holidays. For some families, this may mean having a quiet celebration at home rather than traveling to visit distant relatives simply because it is that parent's turn to have their child over the holidays per their custody plan.

If the divorce was amicable, it may even be possible for each ex-spouse to come together to celebrate the holidays with their children. Even if this is not the case, it is still important to remain cordial with one's ex-spouse, in order to avoid putting too much stress on the child. Similarly, spouses may need to be flexible during the holidays, again putting the interests of the children first. Also, parents should not attempt to gain favor with their child by trying to provide more gifts than their ex-spouse. Discussing gift giving beforehand can help spouses make sure they reach an agreement that is fair to all.

While a custody plan can delineate who gets the children on which holiday, this doesn't mean that all traditions should end. Instead, each parent can seek to create new traditions with their children post-divorce. In the end, having a happy holiday season can provide a child with positive memories as they grow up, even in the midst of a divorce.