For those recently divorced or separated parents out there who will be without their children for the first time during a portion or all of the holidays this season, this could be an ideal time for you to recharge your batteries and gain proper perspective on life and what you would like to accomplish for the New Year.
That is not to say that being without your children on Christmas Eve or Christmas won’t be difficult, but if you go into the holidays with an open mind and positive attitude, the time off could make you an even better parent and more cheerful person moving forward. Below are a few tips the Tulsa family law firm of Fry & Elder has put together for divorced or separated parents going through the holidays without their children.
Plan Your Holiday Celebration on a Different Day
Not many children are going to have a problem with receiving Christmas presents on two separate days. If you have the children up until Christmas Eve, plan to have a dinner, gift exchange and some other family activity on one of the days leading up to Christmas Eve. If you are not going to see your children until after Christmas do the same thing. Either way, your children and you will have a fun and memorable time.
Skype of FaceTime on Christmas Day
Even if you cannot be physically present with your children on Christmas Day, technology has made it where you can come pretty close. Try and set up time with your ex when it would be appropriate for you to Skype or FaceTime in and say hello. They obviously will have a lot to talk about and will want to hear from you on Christmas day.
Get out and do Something Different
That’s right. Take advantage of the year off and treat yourself. This might mean going on a quick a getaway trip – chances are you will meet some people in the same spot as you – or it might mean reacquainting yourself with family members you have not seen or spent the holidays with in a long time. Either way, the important thing for you to do is to be active and do something.
Experience the Fry & Elder Difference
Whether you are going through a tightly-contested divorce or child custody issue this holiday season, the Tulsa divorce and child custody attorneys at Fry & Elder have the experience and background to assist you with your legal needs. Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr., is one of only 19 attorneys in the state to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and was also named by Best Lawyers® as the Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Tulsa for 2016 . Fellow Fry & Elder trial lawyer and partner M. Shane Henry was named the 2016 Oklahoma Family Law Attorney of the Year by the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section, while Aaron D. Bundy and T. Luke Barteaux, along with Fry and Henry also garnered Super Lawyers® accolades earlier this fall.
The firm’s James R. Elder, Fry, Henry and Bundy are all AV-rated attorneys, while Kirsten Bernhardt has been successful in trying both criminal and family law cases. Bernhardt’s work on a current Tulsa murder trial has been well documented.
Additionally, the firm’s Lorena Rivas has drawn praise for her work in immigration law and Katie Egan and Melissa Fell round out a talented staff of acclaimed attorneys that have helped Fry & Elder be named to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms list each of the past four years. Contact Fry & Elder today.