Navigating Holiday Hassles: How to Handle the Hard Stuff with America’s Favorite Parenting Expert, Christina McGhee #267

With the flurry of holidays right around the corner, it's time for a Special Bonus Episode to help you handle those Holiday Hassles and deal with all the hard stuff when it comes to your children and divorce.  Susan is joined again but America's Favorite Parenting Expert and Best-Selling Author, Christina McGhee for deep dive into what really matters for your kids as you navigate two homes as a family.  The episode tackles the really tough stuff that includes having to practice radical acceptance of what is as well as facing the fact that in some instances, well-meaning parents can actually bring additional strain on their children at what is supposed to be the happiest time of year.

Christina shares so many Golden Nuggets in this episode that it is hard to narrow it down to just a few but some key points she makes are:

Start with the question, "what needs to stay the same and what needs to change?"

Don't forget what it feels like to be a child during the holidays - it is easy to get caught up in our own feelings of loss but what is truly important?

Remember that when you emphasize being "fair" about the timeshare during holidays, kids can feel like a commodity.

Sometimes we have to accept that it is what it is and focus on making what we do have the best that it can be.

Different doesn't have to mean devastating.

Why the term "for now" needs to be your mantra.

This is THE episode that will help you face and deal with all the hard stuff about the holiday season head on so that you and your kids CAN have a happy holiday season!

*****************************************

About this week's special guest: Christina McGhee

Christina McGhee is a speaker and divorce parenting expert who believes divorce doesn't have to equal devastation for families.  

While splitting up is undeniably hard, with the right kind of information and support, she thinks parents can be children's absolute best resource as life changes.  

As a coach with 20+ years of experience, Christina is dedicated to providing parents with the tools and practical support they need to get it right for their kids. 

She is also the author of the highly acclaimed book, Parenting Apart: How separated and divorced parents can raise happy and secure kids.  

As a child of divorce and as a bonus mom (aka step-mom), Christina gets plenty of opportunities to practice what she preaches. 

Together she and her husband have four “adultish” children (2 bonus, 2 bio), an ever-growing community of rescue dogs/cats, and an obscene number of chickens. You can nd out more about her at divorceandchildren.com 

Website: www.divorceandchildren.com 

Co-Parenting Specialist (CoPS) Certification Training with Mosten Guthrie Academy:  https://mostenguthrie.com/co-parenting-specialist

Parenting Apart: How Separated and Divorced Parents Can Raise Happy and Secure Kids:

https://amzn.to/3PpdW3m

Instagram: http://instagram.com/divorceandchildren

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divorceandchildren

Also mentioned in this episode: 

Christina's previous holiday episode with MORE great advice for a happy holiday season: https://divorcebeyond.com/Avoid-Holiday-Mistakes

Bella Duncan's Episode: https://divorcebeyond.com/Kid-with-Two-Homes

Ellen Bruno's Episode on Split: The Film:  https://divorcebeyond.com/How-Kids-Feel

***************************************************

If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode!

*******************************************************************

MEET OUR CREATOR AND HOST:

SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is a member of the Executive Council of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way® which provides