Not Just Another Christmas Dinner

​The holiday season has finally wound down for this year, but for the families I see at The Mediation Table holidays are something we talk about every day, all year round.  Part of creating any good Parenting Plan is a discussion about how the holidays will be celebrated going forward.  Most families need the structure of a good Parenting Plan, at least to get them started.
 
For those of you following this blog, you’ve met our Modern Family.  After an initial acrimonious divorce, Modern Family Mom and Dad learned how to work together for the good of the Modern Family Children (day-of-reckoning.html).  In the beginning they followed their Parenting plan to a “T.” The Modern Family Children are older now and although Modern Family Mom and Dad don’t really follow a formal Parenting Plan anymore, they still talk and coordinate time to maximize everyone’s enjoyment for each of the major holidays.  This year, Modern Family Dad celebrated a boisterous Thanksgiving gathering that included the Modern Family Children, friends, neighbors, and an especially cute visiting dog. He also enjoyed time with the Modern Family Children and their far-flung visiting cousins over New Year’s week.  Which, by agreement meant the Modern Family Children celebrated Christmas with Modern Family Mom.  
 
But Modern Family Dad knew he wanted to see their children around Christmas too, if at all possible.  So, in the spirit of what our Modern Family has developed over the years he called Modern Family Mom and invited ALL of them out to dinner in the few days before Christmas.  Yup, ALL of them.  And the truly Modern Family Christmas dinner was born!  Modern Family Mom, her husband, his daughter, Modern Family Dad and all the Modern Family Children enjoyed a lovely restaurant dinner before they all went their separate ways for Christmas.  And because of the trust they had rebuilt over the years, and the hard work they had put into their co-parenting relationship, everyone had a terrific time - TOGETHER.  And that new photo on Modern Family Dad’s Facebook page with him and the Modern Family Children?  It was taken by Modern Family Mom’s new husband!
 
How can mediation help? 
 
Certainly not every family will be a Modern Family, but each family has its own goals about what they want their future to look like after the transition of divorce - including how holiday time will be celebrated.  Mediation is a great place to talk about these and other goals and decide for yourself what you want the future to hold for you and your family.  The possibilities are endless.  Let’s talk.