Keeping the Holiday Spirit Alive During Separation

Separations are unfortunately common during the holidays. Whether it is from the added stress, expectations or a buildup of personal issues, separation is rarely easy, especially if children are involved.

The holidays are meant to be full of joy, magic and happy memories, so when parents separate it can be difficult for children to understand or accept. It can even bring the spirit of the season down for them.

To help you keep the spirit alive for your children, even during difficult times, we have compiled some tips to help you manage and make the holidays fun.

Managing Emotions And Stress During The Holidays

The separation of parents can be overwhelming for children at any time of the year, but especially during the holidays when everything is meant to be happy and perfect. This can cause big emotions to arise that they may not know how to handle. It can also cause stress if they feel like they have to choose between their parents.

Here are a few ways you can help them manage their emotions and stress:

Acknowledge and Accept Feelings

When children have not felt such strong emotions before they may feel like they have to hide them or they may be scared by them. Some children may also try to conceal their feelings to protect their parents if they can see they are already stressed or sad.

The best way to manage this is to acknowledge their feelings and your own and tell them it is okay to be sad, angry, scared, or any other emotion they may feel. Make sure they understand that they don’t have to accept everything right away and give them space to feel and express their emotions.

But most of all, make sure they know you are there for them if they need it and that they are not alone.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Part of managing big emotions is learning how to relax and manage them. During the holidays it may feel as though you should be doing lots of fun activities, but during tough times it can be more beneficial to take some time.

Amidst all the activities, schedule some time for self-care. This could be meditation, kids yoga, a spa day or having a few quiet movie nights at home. Self-care is anything that helps to recharge your mental and physical batteries so you can manage emotions and stress.

Seek Support From Friends, Family, Or A Therapist

Managing these emotions on your own can be difficult, but the fact is you don’t have to. During the holidays you are generally surrounded by loved ones and friends you can trust. You can lean on them for support for you and your children.

If you have any friends or family who have gone through a separation and have children it can sometimes help to connect them. This allows them to know they’re not alone and allows them to find joy together.

Additionally, professional therapy can help. Friends and family are great, but therapists are trained to provide the support that families and children need during tough times. While many services break for the holidays, some will be operational or offer telephone support as they know how difficult this time of year can be.

Tips For Keeping The Holiday Spirit Alive During Separation

All these big emotions and the sadness of not having both parents together can take away some of the holiday spirit for children. But there are a few things you can do to help keep the spirit alive and ensure they have a good time.

Focus on the Positive Aspects

When children are feeling sad, everything can feel like the end of the world and depressing. While it is perfectly normal and okay to feel and express these feelings, you don’t want them to ruin the whole holiday for them.

Instead, take some time to focus on the positive aspects and remind them that you are still there. Support them and find ways to cheer them up and get them back into the spirit of the holidays.

Create New Traditions and Memories With Your Children

One way to focus on the positives and bring back the spirit is to create special new traditions and memories with your children. While you likely have a range of family traditions that you and your ex created, this is a time that you can research new places to go and experiment with new activities.

As you will likely be splitting your time with your co-parent, make the most of the time you have with your children. Go to fun new events or start new traditions that are specific to their time with you.

Engage In Fun Activities

Having fun and making happy memories can distract your children from the separation, if only for a little while. Getting out of the house or even doing fun activities at home like baking, playing games or decorating the house can add a sense of stability or normalcy to your children’s holidays.

This can help to show them that everything will be okay eventually and that the holidays can still be fun.

Communicate Effectively With Your Ex Or Co-Parent

Co-parenting stress and conflict can impact your children. When co-parents disagree it can make the children feel like they have to choose or like they are disappointing one of their parents.

By communicating clearly and effectively with your ex, you can create boundaries and arrangements that work for both parties and keep the children happy and supported. This ensures that you both will get quality time with your children over the holidays and get to make special memories with them.

If you feel like you are unable to communicate effectively or make plans that work for everyone involved, you may need to consider professional mediation or Family Law services. Family Law Practitioners can help resolve parenting disputes and create mutually beneficial arrangements.

Enjoy the Festive Spirit Through the Difficult Times

With these tips, you can keep the festive spirit alive and ensure your children enjoy their holidays despite the separation. Remember that your children’s well-being should come first and providing support is the most important thing when going through a difficult separation.

If you require any legal advice or mediation services to get you through this difficult time of the year, reach out. Our friendly and experienced Family Law practitioners can help ensure a smooth separation process for your whole family.