For Divorced Parents, How to Keep the Peace Over the Holidays

The Brian Lehrer Show | Dec 16, 2015

The holidays can be a time to reflect with loved ones and spend time with family, but for recently divorced parents, the season could bring a new wave of friction regarding children, presents, and split time.

Valerie Jules McCarthy, an attorney with the family law practice at Pashman Stein in Hackensack, New Jersey, offers advice for divorced and separated parents in handling holiday time with children while keeping the season bright.

A few specific tips from McCarthy: lay out a plan about how to share and split time, and definitely discuss gifts with your co-parent to avoid one-upmanship.

@BrianLehrer Growing up w. divorced parents was fine w. me bc they were good to each other. 2 Xmases, no arguing.
— Thomas Chapman Wing (@tcwing) December 16, 2015

@BrianLehrer Children should not be split like the dishes and paintings. All the back and forth takes a toll socially and emotionally.
— Lauren Foley (@LNFole4) December 16, 2015

@BrianLehrer my parents (divorced) celebrated the holidays with us together.
— Lauren Foley (@LNFole4) December 16, 2015

@BrianLehrer we figured it out - my daughter's Newsweek easay. https://t.co/T6C0yf6E2x
— Lydia Robertson (@LydiaBBH) December 16, 2015

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