Divorce and the Holidays in Pennsylvania

By Sheryl Rentz on November 15, 2016

The holiday season is a time of celebration that is typically defined as the period beginning on Thanksgiving and continuing through until New Year’s Day. The holidays do potentially bring on a fair amount of stress and anxiety also. In a situation where you are amid the process of divorce, the holidays can be particularly difficult for some of these possible reasons.

• New or changing traditions: Perhaps your in-laws have hosted Thanksgiving each year during the marriage and now you will no longer be attending that gathering. This can bring about feelings of sadness, indecision and even regret.
• Enhanced financial concerns: The holidays are usually a period of time where you can expect to spend more income as you may be hosting family gatherings, spending on items such as holiday lighting, Christmas tree(s), and gifts. If you and your spouse are in the middle of a divorce, this can be more financially stressful as you may be now living off of a single income, incurring moving costs, furnishing or re-furnishing for the new living arrangement, and incurring legal costs.
• Considering the feelings of children: If children are involved in “the middle” of a divorce, the holidays can be increasingly stressful and you will probably feel obligated to maintain traditions, many of which are no longer a reality.
• Establishing a holiday parenting schedule (if applicable): There may be disagreements involving where the children will be spending time during the different holiday gatherings; also, you may have heightened pressure associated with supervising your children who are on vacation from school.
• The New Year: This is a transitional time that typically is a time of reflection and optimism. This may be a difficult stretch of time as the reality sets in that you will be entering next year without your spouse.
• Dealing with possible loneliness: There is potential for feelings of loneliness as you proceed through the holidays without your spouse; if this is the case it is important to spend more time with friends and family.
• Spend time developing new goals: This time of year is when many people make resolutions or commitments to change. The divorce is likely magnifying your recognition of the changes that you are experiencing. It is important at this time to create a positive outlook moving forward and perhaps define a manageable list of objectives or goals that you will seek to achieve in order to improve in areas of concern.

If you are in the midst of a divorce, it is critical to have a committed Pennsylvania divorce attorney managing your case. At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., we recognize how this may be a difficult time, especially during the holidays. Please call the office to schedule a consultation at (610) 645-0100.