No one enjoys co-parenting during the holidays. Even young children remember holiday seasons past when their parents were together. And while co-parenting over the winter has its low spots, there are ways to put a brighter spin on things that can coax kids’ smiles back on their faces.
Read on for a few tips on co-parenting over the winter holidays.
Prioritize your children’s happiness
Accept that you may get down in the dumps this holiday season. If this is your first time co-parenting during the holidays, it’s OK to feel less than chipper.
But if both parents commit to making their kids enjoy this winter break, the magic of Christmas can still shine through.
Communication is key
It’s hard to speak to exes during the throes of a divorce. Harsh words may have been exchanged and insults hurled. If you don’t trust yourself to engage civilly during the holidays, there are special parenting apps that are designed to keep exchanges between former spouses from morphing into arguments.
Agreeing to keep your comments strictly about the kids’ arrangements lets you avoid the verbal landmines that divorced co-parents often trigger. These apps can be a godsend for those in contentious divorces.
Learn the art of compromise
This year, Hanukkah arrives before the start of Christmas. If you were half of a mixed-faith couple, agreeing to let your kids celebrate with their Jewish side of the family can be the trade-off for an extended Christmas break with you and your own family members.
But even non-religious couples benefit from compromising. Agreeing to send them off on a Colorado ski trip could pave the way for spending spring break with you down in the Dominican Republic. You have to give a little to get a little.
