Coping with Divorce during Thanksgiving

By Sheryl Rentz on November 15, 2012

Beginning a new chapter of your life after a divorce and moving forward can be difficult, but it can be exceptionally challenging during Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Feelings of sadness or distress are certainly common if you are newly divorced, but with the following tips and support from loved ones, the Thanksgiving holiday can be a happy one and you can create new traditions to celebrate year after year. Courtesy of WomansDivorce.com, here are some tips to make your holiday a festive one:

1. Talk to supportive friends and family: Do your best to strive for a holiday atmosphere, free from unhappy feelings. If you need to vent or need a shoulder to cry on, try and grab a friend or family member and let it all out! This will help you try and enjoy the holiday.
2. List what you are thankful for: Thanksgiving is the best time of year to remember what you are thankful for, so take some time to make a list of these things and what you’d like to give thanks for. Divorce is a life-changing event, so being thankful for the good things in your life can help you get in the spirit of the holiday!
3. Be flexible with scheduling: If you have children, Thanksgiving can present some unique issues as you figure out where the child will spend the holiday. Try to be flexible and civil when making transportation and scheduling arrangements with your ex. Also, try to not to speak ill of your ex or complain about “sharing” your kids for the holiday, as you don’t want anger to color the holiday for your child.
4. Cope with feelings of nostalgia: Thanksgiving after divorce can be filled with memories of previous holidays and traditions, so this holiday is a great opportunity to create new traditions! Have dinner with friends, or consider volunteering at a soup kitchen; simply take the time to not think about how things were, but how things could be now.

Life transitions such as divorce are never easy, but with patience and understanding, Thanksgiving can be a celebratory holiday filled with new memories and traditions. The process of divorce, both during and after, can be difficult, so for help coping with this life-changing event, contact experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney Sheryl R. Rentz. With compassion and experience, Ms. Rentz can help you move forward with life.

Call (610) 645-0100 for a no-cost consultation or use our online Contact Form for assistance.