There is no doubt about it, coping with the holiday season when you are a divorced “Targeted Parent” can be summed up in one word: maddening. Deciding where the kids are going to be and with whom can be very difficult to manage. In addition, your children are feeling pulled between two different homes. Everyone’s stress level in through the roof and you don’t know how to get through this difficult time. Does this sound familiar to you? It should if you are a targeted parent experiencing “parent alienation” during the holidays.
It is the time of year in my coaching practice where the phones are ringing off the hook with divorced parents in need of help and guidance during the holiday season. No surprise to me here. The holidays bring up a great deal of feelings for alienated parents. Many alienated parents report feeling, depressed, stressed and hopeless. Other parents are hoping for a miracle where they will make a major breakthrough with their children.
I cannot promise you that a miracle will occur with your children this holiday season. What I can do is urge you to have a positive impact on your children’s lives in a different way. Even though the holidays are really difficult for you, remember you are a survivor and you can survive this time of year.
Here are 5 tips to survive the holiday season as an “Alienated Parent”
As I have always said, when it comes to parent alienation, it is always the alienated parent that has to do more of the repair work to reconnect with their children. I wish there was another way to bridge this gap but unfortunately, other methods do not seem to work.
Remember during this holiday season to reach out to your kids even if they say, “I hate you.” Most of the time, they are just repeating what they are being told. Please try to find some comfort in knowing that you are doing everything in your power to reunite with your kids.
To get more great parenting tips tune into “The Dr. Sue Show” every Thursday at 9pmest on http://www.streamcity.org/.
3 Comments
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?
There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content.
Please let me know. Cheers
Go for it! Please share!
Dr. Sueeeee
I’ve been alienated from 3 of my children and the 4th child is teetering. We’re to split holidays. Would it be a bad idea to show up on Christmas to the alienators home to see the children?