Holiday Tips for Custodial Parents

The first year after a divorce will have many uncomfortable milestones; it can be difficult to face the first birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and holidays since your family drastically changed. If you will have custody of your children during any of these events, you may be particularly concerned about how they will handle it. Fortunately, your first holidays post-divorce do not need to be disastrous.

Holidays are often one of the most contentious topics during a child custody hearing. If you are having difficulty securing a fair shared custody arrangement, the law firm of Marshall & Taylor, P.C. can help. Call our offices at 919-833-1040 to speak with one of our experienced Raleigh divorce lawyers.

Making the Transition

Celebrating any religious or social holiday without one parent can be hard on kids. The sad truth is that nothing you can do will make this transition completely painless. There are, however, steps you can take to make it a little easier. Here are some tips commonly recommended by therapists and other professionals:

• Let your kids know that whatever they feel is okay. During a special event, people can easily feel pressured to put on a happy front, pretending that everything is fine. This repression of true feelings can have bad consequences down the road, however. Let your children express both their positive and negative feelings.
• Try to simplify. When you are already coping with the stress of divorce and new custody arrangements, the last thing you need is the stress of cooking elaborate dishes, decorating your entire home, or cleaning up after dozens of guests. Try a simplified version of your holiday traditions this year, and don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help.
• Try to arrange contact with the non-custodial parent. If this is an option for your family, your kids would probably love to hear from their other parent over the holidays. Try to pre-arrange a phone call, in-person visit, or whatever works for your family.

Many divorced families alternate custody over the holidays, but it is not always easy to agree on the best arrangement. Our Raleigh custody dispute attorneys can help you protect your parental rights.

Contact Us

Holidays tend to bring out high emotions and poor behavior during divorce proceedings. To make sure your rights are being protected, contact the Raleigh shared custody attorneys of Marshall & Taylor, P.C. at 919-833-1040.