[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/how-to-survive-the-holidays-without-kids\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/how-to-survive-the-holidays-without-kids\/","headline":"How to Survive the Holidays Without Kids","name":"How to Survive the Holidays Without Kids","description":"Maybe this is your first year after your separation and you are alone for some or all of the holidays. Maybe this is a repeat event, and you are getting pretty tired of missing one of the most joyous days and experiencing one of the most painful days. How can you cope? Create a Plan […]","datePublished":"2019-12-13","dateModified":"2025-09-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/author\/james-kraayeveld\/#Person","name":"James Kraayeveld","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/author\/james-kraayeveld\/","identifier":29,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f327c36375f93cacc1f5818cbd6ca5f9c1c362ddf86682a8d1f0adac2b1f6198?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f327c36375f93cacc1f5818cbd6ca5f9c1c362ddf86682a8d1f0adac2b1f6198?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Kraayeveld Family Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Kraayeveld-Logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Kraayeveld-Logo.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cta-image-attorneys.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cta-image-attorneys.jpg","width":454,"height":599},"url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/how-to-survive-the-holidays-without-kids\/","about":["Parental Alienation"],"wordCount":567,"articleBody":"Maybe this is your first year after your separation and you are alone for some or all of the holidays. Maybe this is a repeat event, and you are getting pretty tired of missing one of the most joyous days and experiencing one of the most painful days. How can you cope?Create a PlanEspecially guys often relied on their wife or significant other to plan the holiday happenings. If you are alone this year, you have to come up with a plan, what to do and with whom you will spend time. Do not stay home alone, moping, watching TV, eating and drinking your sorrows away.\u00a0Most friends and family understand your plight and will invite you or accept your request to be included.\u00a0If they don\u2019t, find new and real friends in a hurry!\u00a0Alternatively, this is a great time to volunteer.\u00a0Local homeless shelters especially need volunteers on and around the holidays.Plan to Celebrate With Your ChildrenJust because your children are not with you on Christmas Day, or even all of Christmas break, consider planning a celebration after the holiday.\u00a0No child objects to late gifts, and it eases your pain on the big day if you have a celebration waiting for you.Plan Alternate Contact With Your ChildrenVery few court orders include a prohibition against contact, such as FaceTime, Skype, a phone call or sending a card or gift.\u00a0Start this process by reviewing your court orders to make sure that such contact is allowed. Then send a quick text to the children\u2019s other parent asking for an agreed upon time for the contact. First, it is respectful of their time to not impede on their day. Secondly, if the other parent is going to be uncooperative, you are better off knowing this in advance, and you may use the lack of cooperation in later court proceedings (and having your request in writing in advance will be helpful).\u00a0When you call, don\u2019t cry or don\u2019t guilt-trip the children about their joy of being with the other parent.\u00a0It\u2019s just poor parenting and no one will benefit from it.Plan- to Seek Help if NecessaryIf you just cannot imagine how you\u2019ll manage those days without your kids, it\u2019s time to seek professional help from a counselor.\u00a0It\u2019s perfectly normal to have a sense of loss, and just like any other medical issue, our bodies and minds need some help sometimes.Plan to Seek Legal Help After the HolidaysIf you weren\u2019t alone because of a shared parenting time schedule, but you ended up without your children because the other parent was uncooperative or even denied parenting time, it\u2019s time to talk to an attorney. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. In limited circumstances, an attorney can seek emergency enforcement of a court order if you anticipate a denial of parenting time. In most cases, the wrong must be fixed after the holidays. The Friend of the Court can assist you with enforcement of a specific parenting time order.\u00a0If the other parent consistently denies your parenting time or the FOC suggests a \u2018slap on the wrist\u2019 fix, it is time to contact an attorney to request sanctions that will prevent a repeat occurrence.No matter what happens, may you treasure the gift of family and friends this holiday season."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Survive the Holidays Without Kids","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/how-to-survive-the-holidays-without-kids\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]