Parenting
back to MANNET
  Surviving Christmas by Bernard Denner
back / index / next

Christmas Survival Tips

Family

  1. Plan your Festive Activities - NOW
  2. Share the planning process with your family
  3. Plan for adult and children activities
  4. Discuss and Plan the extended 'family' visits to reduce 'tension'
  5. Do the Christmas decorating together as a family
  6. Plan Christmas Day and Dinner together, don't leave dad out of the cooking and setting the table
  7. . Make sure Christmas Day is special, not just with presents but as a family together. Use "mistletoe" to break the ice if things have been strained
  8. Be casual, more relaxed, and fair about the 'relatives' - remember its about family and kids
  9. If you are holidaying away from home - pack early with a tick-off list based on your last holiday
  10. During the break take time out for yourself, make time for your partner and spend family time based around what the kids would like to do within your financial boundaries


Non Custodial/Non Residential Parents

  1. Plan now what you are capable of achieving for Christmas with the kids around your circumstances - financial or otherwise
  2. Contact the costodial/residential parent and propose your options. If the custodial/residential parent rejects your Options ask what options they have
  3. If you have a new partner - discuss your proposed plans and negotiate options with them
  4. Accept all options available, alert your current partner to the situation and plan accordingly
  5. Organise a weekend prior to Christmas to do decoration with the kids
  6. Ask the kids what they would like to do on their stay within your financial boundaries
  7. Enjoy Christmas Day or/and Holidays with your kids - no matter what the circumstances - have fun with them and make their time with you special


If you do not have your kids for Christmas

  • Write them a card/letter
  • Get permission to drop off a present or send one
  • Keep a diary of your thoughts (good ones) to share with them when they are older
  • If you don't have a partner ring a friend, don't be lonely around the Holiday Season
  • No matter what your circumstances invest your energies in a future with your children. Don't damage the relationship you have with them by doing something stupid or 'behaving badly'


Christmas is a very Emotional Time for all Families,
whether together or apart

Plan your Christmas to be a Happy one

Don't stress out

top
 
Want more like this?   click here to go to the new wantachat site