Long-Distance Holidays Stepfamily Style: 5 Ways to Connect When You Can’t Be Together by Heather Hetchler, MA
Holidays and family go together. Except when they don’t. There are many reasons stepfamilies aren’t together for the holidays. Sometimes, it’s a legal decree. Other times, one parent changes plans at the last minute or won’t allow the kids to come over. Kids may even choose (or be forced to choose) not to come to your home for the holidays at all.
It can be heartbreaking to have plans changed, children withheld or not be chosen as the home where the kids celebrate. A stepmother’s soul is exhausted by watching her husband lose out on his kids at the holidays and by having little to no control over schedules and finances.
The reality is we cannot control the legal document outlining holiday schedules, whether the ex-wife keeps the kids or whether the kids choose to stay away. We can, however, choose to celebrate the holidays with the kids even if they are not in our home.
Here are some practical and inexpensive ways to stay connected at the holidays: If you’re a long-distance stepfamily, give them the gift of your voice, your words, your time, virtual hugs and new traditions! …To read the rest of this article, log in to your account and download the December 2015 issue. Don’t have an account? Click here to subscribe.