One way to reduce your holiday stress is to negotiate your family's holiday visitation schedule early and stick to it. This will allow your children to anticipate where they will be for Thanksgiving, Christmas morning, or for each night of Chanukah. And even if they're less than thrilled with the plan, being able to visualize where they'll be will give them some stability during a time that can often feel chaotic.
Make sure, too, that you approach the negotiations with a spirit of collaboration. Be willing to compromise and realize that you're not going to get 100% of what you really want. Instead, aim for a win-win holiday schedule that meets your kids' needs while allowing each parent to enjoy some dedicated parenting time during the holidays.
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