It was the best of times… it was the worst of times… says Josh who comes from a blended family. Unfortunately for Josh, his eagerness for the holiday season was dashed because he had to divide his time between three different families. Holiday times can be very stressful for most families..mix in people who are involved in multiple families with competing holiday schedules and plans  makes a recipe for disaster!

To make sure that the holidays with your blended family reflect holiday cheer and joy, the following are some helpful hints to keep in mind:

Plan Ahead

As best you can, let family members know your intentions for the holidays. In the spirit of cooperation, you may get farther with a resistant ex-husband or ex-wife with an increase in communication about activities planned especially for the kids involved in a step family.

Be Creative

Blended family members are not always able to be together in the holiday season due to parenting schedules, distance and custody arrangements. Thanks to technology you do not have to miss a second of your child enjoying their holiday mornings. Using technologies such as facetime or skype will allow you to interact in real time with your loved ones.

Remember to Enjoy Your Time Together

Whether you celebrate on December 25th or December 21st remember to cherish the reason for the season. Time together as family to have fun and enjoy each other’s company. You will ruin your own holidays walking around being bitter about what plans you had that did not “work out” because of “the ex”.  Work around these challenges and make your memories positive as you enjoy your family time. As a member of a step family, flexibility is KEY for a smooth and enjoyable holiday season.