Welcome
To my newsletter,
Divorce is A Shit Sandwich
(Because it is, right?!)
Does divorce stress make you want to hide from the holidays? Try these five steps to make them more manageable for you and your kids.
If you’re reading this and saying to yourself, “It’s only October!” I understand. It seems like decorations are in stores and pumpkin flavored everything starts showing up earlier each year. 😰
However you feel about the timing, the holiday season is coming. If it’s already causing you stress, you’re not alone! This can be one of the toughest aspects of divorce – whether it’s brand new or you’ve been dealing with it for years.
🤔 What if you gave yourself permission to look at things differently this year?
➡️ What do you really want this season? Is it a vacation, some alone time, to visit a friend?
➡️ Can you identify your triggers and make a plan to manage them?
✅ In this week’s blog post I share these and other steps you can take to change your perspective and get through the holidays with confidence. 💝💪
TIMELY
2024 HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITY:
Register today for a special Holiday Survival Workshop
- Wednesday, November 6, 6:00 – 8:00 pm MST.
- In person (Denver area) and virtual attendance available
- Learn specific tips and strategies and make a plan to manage holiday social situations, changes in schedules, emotional triggers & self-care
- Hosted by me and fellow divorce coach Temple Trigg, MA, CDC
- $225 new clients | $175 existing clients
Details below 👇
Do you have a tough question? Ask away. I’ll find the right experts to weigh in and make sure you’re getting the input you need.
Question:
My kids’ dad makes more money than me and I know he’ll give the kids more expensive gifts than I can this season. Can I ask him not to do that? How do I “compete?”
Answer:
This is something so many people deal with post-divorce. Here are a few options:
- If you and your coparent / ex can communicate you can suggest a similar approach to gift giving: i.e. you each buy one “bigger” present for a maximum agreed-upon amount and a few smaller gifts.
- Alternatively, you can agree that you’ll each stay within a budget range, or even go in together on something the kids want so it comes from you both.
- If you aren’t able to discuss the situation with your coparent, consider giving your kids an experience together that is different and special. Ask them what they would love to do and create a special day or adventure that you all enjoy together.
I know it doesn’t feel good to think about dad wooing the kids with gifts, but kids see through that, even if it takes some time. Chances are he would trade all those fancy presents for the relationship you have with the kids. Focus on enjoying each other and building your relationship to create a holiday that is meaningful in the ways that truly matter.
Here I’ll share some of the books, websites, podcasts and experts to help make your journey a little less shitty!
We all know how difficult it can be to get through the holiday season – even when things are going well! Add in complications like schedule changes, social events, family expectations and all the emotional triggers, and the holidays can quickly become filled with stress and overwhelm.
It doesn’t have to be this way!
Join me and my colleague and fellow divorce coach, Temple Trigg, MA, CDC, on Wednesday, November 6 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm MT for a special Holiday Survival Workshop.
In person and virtual attendance available. Pricing and registration here.
I am a corporate communications VP turned Certified Divorce Coach, and I created the Better Than Before Divorce™️ program for those early in the divorce process who want to reduce the impact of divorce on themselves and their children, minimize conflict and come out BETTER on the other side. Throughout my career I have worked to help executives, teams and individuals communicate succinctly, with clarity, intention, and impact, and I love using these skills to provide support and confidence to women and men tangled in the web of divorce.
My Better Than Before Divorce™️ clients benefit from my 25+ years of experience in crisis communications, branding and marketing, as well as my calm strength and commitment to tangible results. I am also a trained mediator, I’ve completed Colorado’s Collaborative Divorce Level I and II trainings, and I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an M.S. in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.
I hope you found this information useful. Please share your feedback HERE anytime, and visit the rest my website, betterthanbeforedivorce.com, for more information on private coaching, or the Better Than Before Divorce™ online course.