When parents in Pennsylvania divorce during the holiday season, it can color the family’s perception of this time of year indefinitely. For a child, it may be stressful spending time with multiple families because of an arrangement that their parents made. However, embracing family could help some to regain their holiday cheer.
Spending time alone during the holidays is not healthy for those who have just gotten divorced. Therefore, parents should be as accommodating as possible when it comes to allowing their children to spend time with as many family members as possible. Even if a parent doesn’t like his or her former spouse, the child shouldn’t suffer because of it.
If necessary, start new traditions or create new events with the kids. Even if they don’t take place specifically on Christmas day, the time spent together is what matters more than when it occurs. Regardless of how a parent chooses to spend the holiday season, they should understand that it is about making the children happy even if they have to make sacrifices.
The end of a marriage can be difficult regardless of when it takes place. However, divorcing during the holidays may make it an especially emotional time. Therefore, it may be wise to talk with an attorney before going through with a divorce. The lawyer could offer helpful guidance as well as an objective view of what the divorces process entails. If one parent feels that a custody arrangement is unfair, then the attorney could help apply for a modification. For the most part, judges make custody decisions based on the best interests of the children involved.