17
Dec
2024

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!

Except it’s not…well at least for KIDS (Kids of Divorce and Separation).

When Christmas comes around, for children from a divorced or separated family it is usually sugar coated with “You get double the amount of gifts” but let’s be honest here, yes, this may work for a five year old and trust me gifts are great but that doesn’t replace family waking up on Christmas morning and jumping on mum and dad’s bed until they begrudgingly get started on handing out presents. Despite the promises, gifts don’t quite fix the emotional burden of having your family, the only thing you know, ripped apart.

Christmas for most is a joyous time of celebration, a time of unity within the family. This is not necessarily the case for A LOT of families, not even just separated or divorced families, I mean even a family with a conventional mum and dad. Sometimes Christmas just SUCKS, so it is no surprise that it is a time of high emotion and tension.

For some it could be there first Christmas without a partner and whether you have children or not here are some tips i have:

1. Take a break – Swamping yourself in work in order to distract yourself from emotional pain and distress could work … .only for a short period of time though. It is best, especially if you have children to continue to spend time with them, acknowledge that there is an obvious change but continue to uphold certain traditions. Just because you get divorced doesn’t mean that all traditions stop and that all joy ceases to exist, it is just in a different form.
2. Communication is key – Despite the pain of reaching out to your ex, if it is appropriate to do so make sure that there is somewhat of a line of communication about Christmas arrangements so that Christmas for the kids is as smooth sailing as possible.
3. Breathe – I know that this is the most annoying piece of advice ever known to man but it is true. You need to take a moment and just reflect so that you can grasp whether what you are doing is the best for your kids and the best for yourself.

Overall Christmas has its ups and downs but it is up to you to make the most of it so Merry Christmas and happy new year!!

And that is a wrap for 2024 KIDS!! See you in the New Year!