Children of Divorce and the Holidays
Originally published: December 2016 | Updated: December 2025 | By: Deborah Beylus
The holidays can be tough for children of divorce.
Children are the real victims of conflict between their parents in divorced families. Like everyone involved, they are going through pain, grief, anger, and fear. Adults, however, are better equipped to check such emotions and work side-by-side. The courts encourage a system of shared parenting, which fosters the concept of putting the child’s best interests ahead of the parents’ needs.
With this goal in mind, following a parenting plan that allows both parents some quality family time over the holidays can help children grow into healthy, happy, whole people.
Divorce doesn’t mean that family traditions and holiday practices must end. Celebrating the holidays is critical to maintaining a sense of connectedness both during and after a divorce. But in divorced families, it can be a source of conflict. Through mediation, parents can make informed decisions about their visitation schedules so that their children can thrive in a similar lifestyle to which they had belonged before their parents decided to divorce.
For visitation to work, both parents need to accept and acknowledge that their children have two homes – one with their father and one with their mother, even if they don’t spend equal time there. As a mediator, I understand the importance of dividing holidays so that time-honored holiday traditions can continue to be a part of children’s lives.
May the holiday season bring you much happiness and peace. If you would like to talk me us about your situation, please contact me for a free telephone consultation.
Deborah Beylus
(561) 789-0710
If you’re ready to get started, call us now!
Deborah Beylus
Deborah Beylus is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ with over 30 years of financial industry experience. Based in Boca Raton, she leads South Florida Mediation Services, helping couples navigate divorce with clarity, fairness, and sound financial insight. A divorced mother of three herself, Deborah brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to the mediation process. Her firm has been named a Florida Trend Top Mediation Firm for three consecutive years, and she is a frequent speaker on mediation and divorce finances.
