Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced a couple of months ago that they were separating after 8 years of marriage. Around the holiday season it gets really difficult because even though mom and dad couldn’t make it work, the children love their parents equally and want to spend time with both of them.
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Both Jen and Ben decided that even though they’re not together, the holidays are all about family time and spending time with their loved ones. They are planning on spending the holidays together because being a family is the most important thing.
During big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, most families gather and catch up during dinner. When you are recently separated and even for those that have been separated for a long time, this can make things awkward. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are things you could do ahead of time to prepare for the holidays, so that things don’t become awkward or uncomfortable for your family and friends.
- Communicate with your husband, wife and children that holiday celebrations will continue, but differently. This is a good opportunity to create new holiday rituals and traditions. Get input from the children to see what they would like to do.
- Plan ahead. Talk to your spouse about where the celebration is taking place.
- Ask for help from your family or friends. Many times the holidays can bring feelings of depression or sadness, especially when dealing through a divorce. Have a strong support system and allow them to help you and listen to you when you are feeling this way.
- Schedule time for yourself. Just because things are a little different and your kids might not be with you during a holiday, doesn’t mean you have to spend it alone. Give yourself some relaxation time, find an activity that you enjoy and do it. This will keep you busy and away from thinking about things that are constantly on your mind.
It’s the holiday season, so make sure you enjoy it!