The holiday season that starts in the month of November and lasts until the beginning of the following year can be some of the most looked-forward to but also some of the most stressful times for residents in New Jersey. If you are the parent of a minor child and you have recently gotten divorced from your child’s other parent, you may be expecting this coming holiday season to be one of the hardest for you and for your child.
However, as Psychology Today suggests, there are ways that you and your former spouse can work together to help both your joint child and yourselves navigate this sometimes challenging season with grace despite the changes that will be inherent in the experience. Perhaps one of the most important things you can do is to plan ahead. Make your schedules now for where the kids will be on which day so everyone including extended family can prepare for events.
Another golden rule is to avoid getting into a contest with your child’s other parent when it comes to gift giving. The focus should always be about the child, not about the two of you. You might consider setting a budget cap on individual gifts or the total amount to be spent so that there is no attempt at playing favorites simply by spending more money.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to provide useful guidance to newly divorced parents in New Jersey about how they may help their children enjoy positive holidays when sharing time in two homes.