Holidays After Divorce: Resources for Every Part of the Season

Your first holiday season after divorce is going to be different. I still remember my first Christmas. I worked so hard to keep our routines as close to normal as possible, especially for my then-toddler, while my own emotions were all over the place.

So if you're in that season right now, I feel for you. It does get easier, even if it doesn't feel that way yet. I've written a lot about the holidays after divorce over the years, and this page pulls all of it together. Find the part that's weighing on you most and start there.

If This Is Your First Holiday Season

Knowing what to expect takes some of the overwhelm out of it. Start with the guide that matches the holiday in front of you.

• Thanksgiving after divorce, often the first big holiday of the season, with new traditions to try
• Your first Christmas after divorce and how to get through it
• Divorce and the holidays: a survival guide for the whole season

Planning the Schedule With Your Co-Parent

Most holiday stress for divorced parents comes back to the schedule. The earlier you settle it, the calmer December gets.

• How divorced parents split the holidays, with the four most common arrangements
• What to do when you and your ex disagree about the holidays
• Parenting plan checklist, so next year's holidays are spelled out in writing
• The free BIFF Response Pack, with ready-to-use scripts for holiday schedule texts

Helping Your Kids Through the Holidays

Kids take their cues from you. A calm, planned holiday matters far more to them than a perfect one.

• How to create a happy holiday for your kids after divorce
• Helping kids through divorce, including what actually helps in the first year
• The best children's books about divorce, organized by age
• Guilt spending after divorce and why so many of us overbuy for our kids

Family, Friends, and Boundaries

The relatives are often harder than the schedule. Having a plan for the conversations lets you share only what you want to share.

• Talking to your family about your divorce at the holidays
• The gift of boundaries and how to protect your peace this season
• Tips for social media during your divorce, before you post that holiday photo

The Money Side of the Holidays

Holiday spending on one income takes planning. Setting your number before you shop is the single most helpful thing you can do.

• How to build a holiday budget after divorce
• Financial self-care during the holidays for the emotional side of spending

Taking Care of You

Being kind to yourself can be so hard right now. Old "failures" tend to play on repeat this time of year, and it's easy to start believing you're one of them. You're not.

• Four ways to be kind to yourself after a breakup
• Five mindset shifts to help you heal
• Why community helps when you're healing after divorce

Holiday Episodes of Intentional Divorce Insights

If you'd rather listen than read, these episodes of my podcast were made for this season.

• How to Survive the Holiday Season, with certified divorce coach and mediator Andra Davidson, on managing holiday stress and communicating with your co-parent
• Financial Self-Care During the Holidays, with practical budgeting strategies and emotional well-being tips for the season
• Money, Meaning, and Gratitude, on creating abundance without overspending this holiday season
• Is It Okay to Say No to My Kids During a Divorce?, on guilt spending around birthdays and holidays

When You Need Someone Else's Words

• 22 divorce quotes for the holidays
• 30 quotes about gratitude for tough times
• A letter of gratitude to my ex

Looking Ahead to the New Year

Once the holidays are behind you, a few things are worth getting ahead of.

• Resolve to be a better co-parent
• A checklist for filing taxes after divorce
• Rebuilding financial confidence after divorce

You Don't Have to Do This Season Alone

If you and your co-parent can't agree on the holiday schedule, mediation can help you settle it before December. If the harder part is emotional, divorce coaching gives you steady support through the season.

These times are tough, and you're tougher. I hope you find some peace, and even some joy, this year.

Leah Hadley is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF™), and trained mediator with over 20 years in financial services. She has been through divorce herself, and she is the bestselling author of Intentional Money: The Modern Woman's Guide to Building Wealth, Purpose & Peace and the founder of Intentional Divorce Solutions.

Last reviewed: October 2026