The weeks from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day are the busiest time of the year for everyone. But for us single moms, the holiday season poses extra challenges.
If your family has gone through a divorce or the death of a parent, the holidays are when raw emotions and feelings of loss can hit the hardest. You’re worn out from shopping for gifts, decorating your house, and shuffling kids between in-laws. You’re financially stressed because the burden of your children’s expectations lies solely on you.
One single mom, Nancy, even felt “holiday cursed.” Check out her e-mail:
Dear Julia, I’ve always dreaded the holidays since my dad left us at Christmas when I was a little girl. Last year, my husband asked for a divorce during the holidays, and now we are divorced. I’m handling this OK, but I’m afraid that my eight-year-old daughter is not doing as well… Are we ‘holiday cursed?’ How can I reverse our luck and make the holidays cheery for my daughter? Help! —Nancy

 

On today’s show, mental health and parenting expert, and frequent Fox News commentator Dr. Karen Ruskin PsyD, LMFT , answers Nancy’s SOS call—and offers holiday solutions for stressed-out mommies.
“Changes in families call for changes in traditions—into new, better ones,” explains Dr. Karen. By following her three-step plan, you can make those changes, and create new holiday memories!
Dr. Karen also offers insights into
• removing the labels we put on people and painful events—labels like Nancy’s “holiday curse”
• finding a solution by reframing the “problem”
• getting to the root of the issue by truly hearing your child’s voice
During the holidays, mommies and children can’t pretend that nothing has changed. You need to acknowledge the emotional pain and unique challenges of the season and relish what you do have: the renewed ability to bond with your children.
Now is the perfect time to create a next phase of life by choosing a healthier way to move forward. As Dr. Karen says, “Past pain was just one chapter in your book of so many amazing chapters.
Share your own holiday challenges and solutions at our groovy blog site: www.singlemomtalkradio.com

***If you want to learn more about Dr. Karen Ruskin, purchase her cutting edge parenting book, learn more about her parenting philosophy, get informative parenting tips, and more, visit: www.drkarenruskin.com