SPECIAL OFFER: - Limited Time Only!
(The ad below will not display on your printed page)
2 FULL YEARS of Parents® Magazine plus a FREE GIFT! Order NOW to take advantage of this great offer! Get 2 full years (24 issues) for just $7.99! Plus you get our new Ultimate Birthday Party Planner ABSOLUTELY FREE! HURRY this offer won't last! (U.S. orders only)

Email:

First Name:

Last Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

100% Money-Back Guarantee: You must be pleased, or you may cancel any time during the life of your subscription and receive a refund on any unserved issues – no questions asked. Parents® Magazine is currently published 12 times annually – subject to change without notice. Double issues may be published, which count as 2 issues. Applicable sales tax will be added. E-mail address required to access your account and member benefits online. We will not share your e-mail address with anyone. Click here to view our privacy policy.

How to Handle the Holidays

holiday_divorce_art
 Anders Wenngren

Having divorced parents can be particularly hard for children during the holidays. So "you want your gift to your child to be one of cooperative parents," says Edward Teyber, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at California State University, San Bernardino, and author of Helping Children Cope With Divorce. To protect your child from conflict, he suggests these strategies:

  • Talk to your ex about how much to spend on gifts and who'll buy what.
  • Be accommodating with your schedules. For instance, your child can have a holiday breakfast with one parent and a special dinner with the other.
  • Establish your own tradition if you don't have your child during the holidays.
  • Let your child know she doesn't have to choose between you and your ex: "I know your mom misses you. It's okay to call and tell her you miss her too."

Copyright © 2001. Reprinted with permission from the December/January 2002 issue of Child magazine.

Parents.com Parents.com

© Copyright 2013, Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved.