When your ex derails Xmas, bite your tongue and think of the kids

When it comes to children of divorce, as hard as it may be, you don’t want the holidays to be a time that they dread.

“Yeah, the holidays have a rich tradition with my family. It’s when Mom and Dad argue over every possible thing and always put me in the middle so that I get so tense I get have my annual holiday anxiety rash.”

We all want it to be a special time. But because the holidays are freighted with emotion, nostalgia and guilt, they can be tough to navigate. When parents are living in separate homes – often not getting along – conflicts severely dampen that festive spirit, and a vindictive spouse can quickly turn what is supposed to be a happy time into one of true unpleasantness and stress.

via When your ex derails Xmas, bite your tongue and think of the kids - The Globe and Mail.