The holiday season following a divorce can be rough. While it comes with joyous festivities, it can also be a brutal reminder of how much the family dynamics have changed. As much as it is a special time centered on the value of a complete family, it can also amplify the pain of lost or broken relationships.
Long winter nights also add to the overall somber mood. This depressive mood shift matching seasonal patterns is known as seasonal affective disorder. As temperatures drop, so does the production of “feel good” hormones, such as serotonin.
However, despite these emotional challenges, ex-spouses can still proactively work together to make the holidays a wonderful time for themselves and their child.
Managing the holidays
When facing holiday issues, it is essential to recognize that family circumstances differ. The following are expert recommendations to manage the season’s overwhelming emotions and stress:
- Patient acceptance: Embracing that things are different now can take time. The discomfort is only temporary and routines can stabilize over time.
- Planned activities: Preparation reduces confusion and frustration over unrealistic expectations. With the help of their Texas legal team, both parties can develop a parenting plan outlining how each of them can celebrate with the child as smoothly as possible.
- Positive outlook: To continue clinging to previous traditions can only prevent present and future possibilities to succeed. Instead, building new memories can help everyone move forward.
Following these tips can make the holidays a fresh and exciting experience for divorced families. Instead of dreading and merely surviving from it, they can learn to look forward to how they can spend it each year.
Adapting to a new normal
The first year of welcoming the holidays after divorce may be immensely difficult. However, as in all things, time has a way of healing wounds. If families respect each other and are willing to make necessary compromises, the holidays can bring them peace.