CO-PARENTING DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Making Schedules Work and Putting Kids First
The holiday season can be a stressful, anxious time for divorced and separated families. With the arrival of the end-of-year festivities comes hard decisions about where the kids will spend important days. Adding to the difficulty is that fact that holiday media, from movies to advertisements, often promotes the idea of a unified, happy family. However, these pressures don’t mean that you can’t have a great holiday seasons for your kids simply because you’re separated or divorced. As a parent, you should focus on creating new traditions and putting your kids first.
provided that distance isn’t a concern, and handoffs can be amicable. If you have a child for an entire holiday, be sure to give them a chance to speak with their other parent. Conversations between parents should be open and focused on compromise. Don’t spring a holiday trip on a co-parent without giving them any input. All plans should be discussed before they are confirmed, especially when they deviate with established holiday norms. If you want to take a weeklong trip during Thanksgiving, you may have to concede some extra time during Christmas or New Year’s. These may not be easy conversations. They can often feel like negotiations. But, you can almost always reach a fair solution. As important as it is to establish fun traditions, don’t overlook the importance of relaxing during the holidays. You should avoid trying to engage in a game of one-upmanship with your co-parent. Sitting on the couch watching a movie can be just as enjoyable for kids as an extravagant adventure. Even better, once a schedule is established, ask your kids what they would like to do on a holiday. As long as you keep an open dialogue and don’t put pressure on your kids, you can have a great holiday season no matter your visitation schedule.
With younger children, you should never ask them to decide where to spend a holiday. This method will only create resentment between parents and is unfair to the child. Instead, refer to visitation schedules and try to create a fair balance between major holidays. You can also split a holiday between parents,
HAVE A LAUGH!
Recipe courtesy of CookingLight.com. SAUSAGE AND BARLEY SOUP
It’s a great time of year to warm up with a cup of soup, and this comforting, guilt-free dish comes together in a flash.
INGREDIENTS
• Cooking spray • 6 ounces turkey breakfast sausage • 21/2 cups frozen bell pepper stir-fry • 2 cups water • 1 (141/2-ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped • 1/4 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach 1. Heat a large saucepan over medium- high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Remove from heat. 2. While sausage cooks, place stir-fry and 2 cups water in a blender; process until smooth. DIRECTIONS
3. Add stir-fry puree, tomatoes, and barley to sausage in pan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts.
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