The holidays are just around the corner, and for many families, the festivities may be a source of stress instead of joy. This is especially true for couples going through divorce right around the winter holidays. Even uncontested divorces can be tough to navigate when the focus is on spending time with the family. Though it’s impossible to escape the stress entirely, there are a few things you can do to help take the stress out of the holiday season while you wait for your divorce to be finalized. Here are some tips your Virginia uncontested divorce attorney wants you to keep in mind.
Create a Plan for Telling the Family
If you and your spouse are getting divorced, you likely won’t be attending the same holiday parties and events together. That’s okay and can be beneficial for your relationship in the long run. But it may trigger some questions from friends and family members. Talk to your spouse and come up with a plan for handling those questions. Ideally, you’ll be aligned in your approach and can share the news in a way that works for both of you, if you choose to share information about your divorce at all. Remember, it’s up to you to decide how much you want to share and when you want to share it with others.
Put Your Kids First
If you have kids, navigating a divorce during the holidays can be even harder, even if you’re divorcing on good terms. Be sure to prioritize your kids throughout the holiday season. If they have school events they’re participating in, try to attend them whenever possible. Encourage your spouse to attend as well so your children can feel a sense of normalcy and understand that they’re still important to both of you. You may also want to ask your children which traditions they want to continue this year. By letting them choose activities and events, you can help them continue having fun and keep the holidays from becoming a source of stress.
Take Time for Yourself
Even an uncontested divorce can be a major life change that can be especially difficult during the holidays. Give yourself permission to grieve and to come to terms with your new normal. You may also want to treat yourself to something special like a concert, a night out with friends, or a party that you otherwise wouldn’t go to. By taking time for yourself, you can start to adjust to the idea of doing things independently while still prioritizing your own happiness.
Start New Traditions
An uncontested divorce can be a fresh start for both you and your spouse. Use this as an excuse to start new traditions for the holidays. If you have kids, you can involve them and establish new fun activities that you can do year after year. If you don’t have kids, you can take the opportunity to create traditions that bring you joy. This can be something as simple as baking a few specific holiday treats or as extravagant as taking a winter trip to the destination of your choice.
Communicate With Your Soon-to-Be Ex-Spouse
It’s normal to want to separate yourself from your spouse when you’re navigating any kind of divorce during the holidays, but things may come up, and communicating with your spouse can help you avoid delays with your divorce. Set clear parameters about what you’re comfortable talking about and follow up with each other as needed to keep things from falling through the cracks.
Get Help Finalizing Your Uncontested Divorce
Though you don’t need to work with a Virginia uncontested divorce attorney to file for divorce, it’s always a good idea to have an expert represent your case. AC Rieman can help you reach a fair settlement with your spouse and keep your uncontested divorce on track so you can start fresh in the new year. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.