[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/when-its-not-going-to-be-a-very-thankful-thanksgiving-this-year\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/when-its-not-going-to-be-a-very-thankful-thanksgiving-this-year\/","headline":"When It\u2019s Not Going to Be a Very Thankful Thanksgiving This Year","name":"When It\u2019s Not Going to Be a Very Thankful Thanksgiving This Year","description":"If this is the first year that you are going to be alone, without a spouse, or without your children during the holidays, it\u2019s time to prepare so that you will survive this as well as possible. Let\u2019s be honest, the holidays will be difficult.\u00a0It will be difficult on so many levels. We\u2019d like to […]","datePublished":"2021-10-19","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\/when-its-not-going-to-be-a-very-thankful-thanksgiving-this-year\/","about":["Visitation"],"wordCount":451,"articleBody":"If this is the first year that you are going to be alone, without a spouse, or without your children during the holidays, it\u2019s time to prepare so that you will survive this as well as possible. Let\u2019s be honest, the holidays will be difficult.\u00a0It will be difficult on so many levels. We\u2019d like to discuss a few of the difficulties that some of our clients faced and what you or our firm can do about it.When You Thought You Were Going to See Your Kids and Last Minute You Don\u2019t.Clients end up in this boat for two reasons.\u00a0First, because they don\u2019t have a specific court order, or secondly, the other parent has decided to violate the court order.If you don\u2019t have a court order, you have nothing that can be enforced. Some parents have a court order that orders holiday parenting time \u201cas the parties agree\u201d.\u00a0If this is your situation and parenting time during the holidays is unreasonably denied, it\u2019s time to obtain an order for specific parenting time.If you have a specific parenting time order and the other parent denies the parenting time (\u201cshe is sick\u201d, \u201cgrandma is in town on that day\u201d), you will need to pursue an Order to Show Cause. The judge will require the other parent to give a good reason why they should not be held in contempt of court.\u00a0The judge may sanction the other parent for violating the court order and provide you with make-up parenting time.When You Can\u2019t Afford Christmas Presents Like Last Year.If you were a two income, one household family prior to separation, things have changed.\u00a0You are now a one-income-same-expenses household.\u00a0Of course, you may have heard this before, the greatest gift you can give your children during or shortly after the divorce process (or any time really) is your love, time, and attention.\u00a0Children have increased rates of depression and anxiety when their parents divorce.\u00a0Use these months to pay attention to them; go for a hike, spend your money on a craft or something that you can do together.\u00a0They value that more, and your pay off will be significant in the long run.When It is Just Lonesome, Tough and Miserable.It will be.\u00a0Go find companionship, support, and help. Many divorce care support groups have meetings specifically focused on the holidays.\u00a0You can find more information at\u00a0Divorce Care.\u00a0If you are not sure whether you have a\u00a0parenting time\u00a0order that will provide you with time with your children this holiday season, call us at\u00a0616-285-0808\u00a0so that we can review your situation with you."},{"@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":"When It\u2019s Not Going to Be a Very Thankful Thanksgiving This Year","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/when-its-not-going-to-be-a-very-thankful-thanksgiving-this-year\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]