Thanksgiving Custody

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Learn how you can help make this Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season work the best for a Divorced Dad. Single Parent Advice on SingleDad.com

Thanksgiving Custody

November is the month that begins the holiday season for
most families. For some single parents, it marks the beginning of the holiday
child custody
wars that often create more stress and anxiety than holiday
cheer. Learn how you can help make
this Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season work the best for a
divorced Dad.

Holiday Custody
Schedule

Single parent life after divorce is a challenge when it
comes to child custody and the holidays. Thanksgiving is one of the Top 3
holidays where custody battles are drawn out in court, (Christmas, Birthdays
are the other two). Most final
divorce decree’s these days allow both Moms and Dads to alternate custody
schedules on the major holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving; that way
both parents have the opportunity to plan family events and count on spending
quality time together. In some cases, these holidays are left open for the
Mother to decide if the divorced father can spend time with their children. For
those Single Dads in this situation, SingleDad is going to give you the best
advice on how to keep cool under holiday stress and make the most of your Thanksgiving
holiday with your children.

Dad with Son

How to be a Better
Dad: Negotiate

For some Dads, spending time with their kids over
Thanksgiving has to involve creativity and flexibility. For example, if you do
not have this year’s Thanksgiving allocated to your custody schedule, you may
have to be creative and negotiate time with your ex-spouse. Here is one way to
increase your chances to spend time with your kids.

Host Dessert

First, step up and offer to host a “Dessert” party. This
means that Dad is offering to bring or host the dessert course of the post
thanksgiving dinner. Being part of the thanksgiving festivities is important to
your children and showing up with a variety of fruits,
cakes or pies give everybody something to look forward to. If you and your ex
are getting along well in front of the children, there is nothing wrong with
bringing the dessert and serving the meal at Mom’s house without causing
confusions amongst the kids. Just make sure you are clear with your intent to
be part of the children’s thanksgiving and explain why you are there for
everyone.

Now, if you don’t get along with your ex, and you have a
less than amicable relationship; take the children over to your house or a restaurant
that serves dessert. The point is simple; make a difference and be present with
your children on Thanksgiving. It’s not the size of the pies or cakes; it’s the
fact that you are there for your kids and the time you spend with them will be
remembered.

Go Big, Host the
Dinner

If you have the opportunity in your custody schedule to see
your children this Thanksgiving, offer to host the dinner. These days, there
are a variety of ways you can pull off the big dinner without spending a lot of
money on groceries or time in the kitchen. The best advice for any Divorced Dad
hosting a Thanksgiving dinner is to have a game plan. You need to set the time aside
to figure out what you want your dinner to look like. Do you want to invite
friends? How many people do you plan to have over?

Based on these answers, you will need to recruit help with
your guests and ask them to bring something for the dinner. This is a great way
to save you time cooking and also keeps your grocery bill down. For more
cooking tips and easy to follow recipes, check out CookLikeADad.com to learn
some easy side dishes and Thanksgiving recipes.

Dad with Baby

Ask SingleDad :
Holiday Q&A

A couple answers to some commonly asked questions about
Thanksgiving Custody:

Question: Do I invite my Ex-Spouse to my Thanksgiving Dinner with
my kids?

Answer : Are you at the stage where you and your ex-spouse can
carry an adult conversation without having an argument? If “Yes” is your answer, and both parents
have established their households and are emotionally and mentally moving
forward in their lives, then it is fine to share the event together.

Remember, Thanksgiving is a holiday where families sit down
and reflect on their lives and what we are all thankful for. It can be a time
of positive reflection for some and a emotional experience for others. Make
sure you put your children first and always make choices that are in their best
interest. Children of divorce are fragile and Thanksgiving memories last
forever. Make a positive difference tis holiday season and be a better Dad.

Richard JaramilloRichard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com, a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children. RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents “Make Life Happen…Again!”

Richard JaramilloRichard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com,
a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children.
RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents
“Make Life Happen…Again!”

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Richard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com, a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children. RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents “Make Life Happen…Again!”