Being newly divorced or separated around the holidays is difficult. How do you go on putting a smile on your face and cheer in your voice when you are still healing on the inside? Without any visible signs your inner wounds often go unnoticed and end up buried by the chaos everyone else is experiencing with the normal ins and outs of the season. Not only is this time of year difficult for you but also your children who will be experiencing a completely new experience too. No matter how hard you and your ex work to create a normal holiday your children will still be keen to that missing person on Christmas morning.
Below you will find some survival tips to help you and your family make it through the holiday with a smile and your sanity.
When you are feeling negative emotions from your separation or divorce you need to deal with them, feel them fully and find a way to let them go. This process is different for each and every divorcee I have ever met. One thing that is the same is that the negative emotions drag individuals into a private abyss that harbors resentment and anger that will eat your spirit alive if not dealt with and thrown out. There is no reason to hold on to resentment and bitterness. It will make you sick which in turn will affect your children and their wellbeing. Getting the help you need will allow you to pack your negative emotions up and send them away for good. This alone is the best holiday gift you can give to not only yourself but to everyone around you.
The next thing that you can do is to force yourself to get out there are relay positive energy to everyone whose path you cross. This may be incredibly difficult given the situation you are experiencing but it is important to consider what they too may be going through. Even if you are not feeling the merriment of the season pay for the coffee of a stranger, mail a thank you note for something that you may not normally send one for or start a tradition with your kids. Whatever it takes get out there and bring joy into someone else’s life. Taking the focus off of your hurt and bringing positive thoughts into your day will help you to remember the joy that is a part of the holiday season.
Consider taking time, either on your own or with your children to help someone who is less fortunate then you are. It doesn’t matter how difficult your situation is, I guarantee you can find someone who is worse off. Work to supply meals to those that will be without, give your children money to go buy toys, clothes and books for children living in shelter or visit the elderly. Making someone else’s situation better is bound to bring the spirit to you.
Take some time for yourself to explore the new you. After a divorce you no longer have to compromise with anyone. It is time to do things the way you want to. Embrace your own opinion and move forth considering what is healthy and right for you. When children are involved this may not be as simple as it sounds. You will need to consider them in all major decisions that affect their lives just as you would have before.
The divorce attorney’s may no longer be in the picture, the fighting may have settled and assets been split but the hurt may still exist even during the holiday season. The best thing you can do is to fake it till you make it. This not only encourages you to move on to a healthy new life but also helps to promote balance and positive energy to your children. The holiday season is something new and exciting after a divorce. You can create new traditions to replace ones you weren’t so fond of and keep those you want without having to think about your ex’s feeling or their family either.
Longton DM, a subsidiary of Longton Law Offices is a divorce attorney specializing in Men/Dad’s in divorce. For experienced representation throughout the divorce process in Trenton, Michigan and the surrounding area you can find more information at http://www.michigandivorcelawyerfordad.com.