Home > News
The holidays are traditionally a time for family and friends to celebrate together; however, with the numbers of divorces that are occurring annually, many couples are having to cope with the loss of companionship during this time.
This can make the holiday season more about adjusting to change then about celebration.
As a result, traditions that once defined a family could be more painful then joyous under certain circumstances.
Changing Traditions with the Times
According to divorce experts, the key to changing traditions is to reconfigure them in such a way that they will still keep their meaning but also center around the new form that the family has taken.
“There's comfort in old traditions, so to adopt new ones may elicit anxiety,” explains Priscilla Singleton, a social worker and family therapist at the Center for Families in Transition at the Council for Relationships in Paoli, PA.
It is also important for parents to cope in such a way that their children aren't going to be hindered by their personal grief and sense of loss during the holiday season.
Helping Children Cope
Children are often most affected around the holidays when they don't have the family surrounding them that they are used to.
“When there's been a change in the family unit and the holidays are rolling around, one of the first things that pops into kids' minds is, ‘How is this year going to be different?'” says Singleton.
Giving kids extra responsibilities and activities whether it be helping more to decorate or assisting in the baking, has proven to be beneficial in helping them cope through what can be a difficult period.
(Source: Detroit Free Pess)
Are you considering getting a divorce? Contact a divorce attorney today to find out how you and your family can get through this emotional time.