The holidays are a time for fun and family, but having a divorced family can have both positive and negative affects on the holidays. The time from Thanksgiving to Christmas can become the busiest and sometimes most stressful time for anybody, but when you have extended family from both of your parents the holidays can be a bit more full, to say the least. Here are eight tips to surviving the holidays with divorced parents!
Basic Holiday Tips:
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First and most important is: Don’t stress! The holidays with divorced parents can be busier than others, but they are just as equally full of love. They are definitely not something that should cause stress.
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Alternate: This may be an obvious tip, but it is one of the most useful. It can be hard to give equal attention with a split family. By alternating between each parent’s family (Thanksgiving with Mom one year, the next year with Dad) you give a consistent amount of time to each. This can also limit your stress about time.
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If alternating is not an option then schedule your day. It can be as easy as spending three hours at either house or giving a fixed time on Christmas with each side of your family.
*A personal example is Christmas Day with my family. It consists of presents and breakfast with my mom then lunchtime with my dad. This system of scheduled times has worked for my separated family and continues to relieve the stress at Christmas.
Food Tips:
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Pick YOUR Dish: If you are responsible for a dish at Thanksgiving with each family, make the same one for both. You may like to switch things up, but it will make your life easier to stick to one. So make that cranberry sauce, just make two equal batches.
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Two Dinners: Celebrate dinner a night early with one side of your family and one on the actual holiday. For example: Spend the night before Thanksgiving with one parent and Thanksgiving day with the other. This means two great meals for you and two equally happy parents!
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Same night, two dinners: If tip #2 is not a possibility then only eat half a plate at each house OR have dinner with one side and dessert with the other. It may also help if you have smaller meals before dinner to keep yourself from getting too full and sleepy too fast!
Gift Tips:
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More giving: Divorced parents can mean having multiple siblings on either side. This may call for a larger gift list than others may have. To budget gifts for siblings, parents and step parents, it is a good idea to assign them a budget and request a list. This makes your Holiday shopping less of a hassle and makes your budget last.
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Avoid repeat gifts: Do NOT give the same Christmas list to both sides of your family. You can not control what each person buys and can not expect them to communicate with each other the gifts they got for you. To save yourself from awkward gift opening and from having to exchange a bunch, give separate lists.
Beginning in November, the time spent with your family becomes even more important. The Holidays are special because they bring greater meaning to celebrating family. To be from a divorced family means double the gifts and double the food, but it also means double the families to share your love and time with.
Photos Courtesy of: Pexel.com