Holidays tend to be bittersweet when you are a divorced single parent. I’ve always looked forward to holiday traditions with my son, but now as each holiday approaches I find myself feeling a little sad. I never dreamed that I would have to spend the holidays without my little Logan by my side. Unfortunately, this is the reality of divorce. We share our children on a regular basis, and holidays are often the hardest.
That first year after my divorce was extremely hard on me. I dreaded the holidays because it meant that Logan was going to be split between homes. I cried every time he had to leave. I spent the entire day he was gone thinking about how much I missed him and wished he were there with me. In time I learned that the holidays didn’t have to be filled with tears and dread anymore. I may not have Logan every holiday, but it’s not really the day that’s so important, it’s the things we do together that makes the holidays so special. We can dye Easter eggs any day of the week. We can just as easily have our own little Easter egg hunt before he leaves for his Dad’s. One of the fun things about being divorced is that he gets to celebrate twice. He gets spoiled out of his mind by people who love him on both sides.
I still struggle from time to time as the holidays are approaching; I probably always will. I would do anything to be able to have him with me every day, but I’ve chosen to make the best of the situation and find happiness, even when he’s not here. He is having fun with both of his parents today, and that’s what the holidays are really all about.