Think Outside the Gift Box
Start a New Tradition This Christmas
3 Tips to Avoid Drama and Keep the Peace Navigating the Holidays After Divorce One of the most exciting parts of Christmas is when everyone gathers to open gifts. The Christmas box gives you an opportunity to create a new tradition around gift-giving. Fill a medium- or large-size gift box with smaller items you like to give each year. You can stuff it with Christmas pajamas, mugs, books, movies, and other small gifts you know your family or friends will love. Refill the box with different versions of these items every year. You can also do this with your friends in place of a Secret Santa gift exchange. Set a budget and draw names to determine whom each person will give their box to. Christmas is built on tradition. Many families celebrate the holiday by waking up bright and early to open presents, attending church, having a delicious meal, and closing the day with “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Elf,” or another Christmas classic. Some families have been doing this for so long that they’re starting to look for new traditions to throw in the mix to spice up the season a little more. There are plenty of ways to change your holiday traditions without losing the meaning of the season! You could go caroling or try out a white elephant gift exchange with the entire family. If you’re looking for something unique, try one of the following activities this year. THE CHRISTMAS BOX
From there, you go to local garage sales, dollar stores, and thrift shops to fill the box with things the person will like. A REMINDER OF PAST CHRISTMASES Do you buy a real tree every Christmas? Most of us bring our old trees out to the curb when the holiday passes. Before you do so, cut off the very bottom of the tree trunk. Write the date on it and include any extra information you want, such as a child’s or pet’s first Christmas. After a few years, you’ll have a collection of tree trunk rounds that help you reminisce about one of the happiest days of the year and all the memories you made.
The holidays can be the most beautiful time of the year for many, but for families going through a divorce, they can be some of the most stressful. Between coordinating visitation schedules around festive plans and deciding which parent the kids will spend the holidays with, the season can be rife with co-parenting drama. But while this transition may be challenging, there are ways to keep it from spiraling. And, of course, it does take two to co-parent, but you can help prevent unnecessary drama during the holidays by using these co-parenting tips. COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND CLEARLY. This is a busy time of year and texts or calls to the other parent informing them of plans might get missed. So, as you make schedules for the holidays and new year, set aside some time each week to inform the other parent of your plans. Yes, even plans you have that don’t include the kids. While it may feel unnecessary (and annoying), doing so will help you avoid additional disagreements and give the other parent a clear idea of your schedule. This way, they know when you’re
opportunity to spend time with both sides of their family, and if there are disputes between you and their other parent,
be sure to keep them out of it.
Plus, putting your children first takes some of the emotion out of decisions that may need to be made around this time. It’s easier to be agreeable and more flexible with something they want than something that sparks an argument with a co-parent. KEEP IN MIND YOU MAY NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE. Of course, as a parent, you’d love to spend certain days with your children, take them to events, or have a specific amount of time with them. But sometimes, kids get sick, the weather makes travel impossible, or relatives from the other side of the family may come into town at the last minute. Being open to adapting your plans can go a long way for your relationship with your co-parent and children, too.
available and when you’re not. CONSIDER YOUR KIDS FIRST.
The best interests of your children should always be your main priority because, to them, the holidays are an exciting time. Allow them the
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