3 Tips for Surviving the Holidays after Divorce

1. Acknowledge that it will look VERY different this year. Prepare for an emotionally difficult day. Try not to cling to the past! If you only have your kids for 1/2 the day, plan out what it will look like: when you’ll eat or open gifts. Kids leave at 2 pm? Eat your meal at noon. Kids arrive at 5 pm after eating at their dad’s? Serve pie and play board games- they probably don’t want to eat again!

2. Start new traditions! Out with the old, in with the new. Old traditions will not work for your new life. Tweak them! Skip the long lines at the grocery store and order a meal from a restaurant or grocery store like Sprouts! Or if you are local, check out La Mesa Dream Dinners for their holiday meals! (I did this 6 years ago when my daughter was born!) it was budget friendly and a huge weight off my shouleders. Go on a morning hike. Bike ride with your kids. Play. More fun, less stress!

3. Finally, remind yourself that it’s just 1 holiday. There will be SO many holidays to share with your kids as they grow. Life is constantly changing. Is it easy? NO- DEFINITELY NOT. But you’ll get through it.