The holidays are now in full swing. If you are part of a blended family, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the chaos inspired by this time of year. However, there are ways that you can more effectively cope with the chaos this year and reduce the prevalence of chaos during next year’s holiday season.

Depending on how your child custody arrangements have been constructed, you may have solidly set schedules for the holiday season. If these arrangements are no longer in the best interests of your child or children, you may consider speaking with your attorney during the early months of next year in order to see if you can modify the agreement.

In the meantime, it is important to communicate effectively with both your child(ren) and your co-parent(s) in order to ensure that everyone knows what to expect during the holidays and in order to reduce the chance that a misunderstanding will occur. With so many people’s schedules and possessions to juggle in a blended family, the chance that a misunderstanding or miscommunication will occur is fairly high. Communicating openly and as often as necessary will help to ensure that these kinds of crossed wires do not occur with any frequency.

In addition, it may be important for you to take an hour or two for yourself whenever you need to. Take a walk, go to the store or even slip out to see a movie alone. Sometimes taking a short break from the chaos is all you really need in order to better appreciate the beauty underneath it all.

Source: The Huffington Post, “The Blended Family Christmas. How To Get On With Your Ex, Include New Partners And Avoid Meltdowns,” High50, Dec. 18, 2014