Getting Through Your First Thanksgiving After a Divorce

The first year after a divorce is always the hardest for you and your children, especially when the holidays arrive. Every event requires more flexibility than ever, as your kids will share parenting time and have to say goodbye to some old traditions, while creating some new ones along the way.

Below are a few tips to help you get through your first Thanksgiving after a divorce:

• Show your kids you know how they feel: Your children are likely to have some strong feelings about the divorce, and the anger or sadness could become especially severe around the holidays. Don’t feel like you always have to put a positive spin on things. Acknowledge the difficulty and show them that this is something you all have to heal and move forward from.
• Try to maintain some traditions: If you have some Thanksgiving traditions that are meaningful to you and your children, try to hold on to as many of them as possible to give a sense of continuity during what is undoubtedly a rough time for you. Even if a family member is missing, it’s still a tradition that they care about and will help them cling to positive memories.
• Create some new traditions: Beyond keeping some traditions that you and your kids enjoy, you should try to create some new ones that will reflect your new family life. Give your kids some control over building these traditions, as it is important for them to feel like they have at least some sort of grip on their lives and the holidays when it feels like everything is changing.
• Keep the other parent involved: As much as possible, co-parent the holidays together as a team, and get both parents involved with the kids during the holiday. Bring in extended family members as well to give your kids some additional love during the holiday season.

For more tips related to navigating the holidays after a divorce, contact an experienced Long Island family attorney with Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.