One of the most difficult adjustments that children have to make when their parents get divorced is the family not being together during holidays. Sometimes, they have to make a choice of which parent they will spend the holidays with, or they are shuffled back and forth to get some time with both parents.
Children thrive on routine and stability and this change really affects them. The best that parents can do is put their children first and try to give them a sense of stability and normalcy during holidays.
One way to do this is to alternate the different holidays on an annual basis. This means they spend one holiday with one parent this year and with the other parent the following year. The idea is to have the children spend all the different holidays with each parent even and for them to have the stability of knowing what the plans for the holidays are.
In the early days following the separation, it is recommended that the parents make the effort to spend holidays together with the children. Hopefully, both parents can work together and be civil and courteous enough to have Thanksgiving or Christmas lunch or dinner together. Perhaps plans can be made to do this at a neutral place like a restaurant if one parent does not wish to have the other one in their home. Once the children have had the time to process the separation and divorce, then the parents can have them for the different holidays.
The Law Office of Michael P. Doman Ltd. has a team of understanding Chicago divorce attorneys who know the effects a divorce can have on children. With this understanding, the Chicago divorce attorneys at The Law Office of Michael P. Doman Ltd. will endeavor to reach the other party with requests to have the children for alternative holidays. We don’t only formalize divorce but also do what we can to help both parties move on amicably as co-parents.