 | Ringwood Family Relationship Centre understands the reality that for families, the holiday season can be a very stressful time. Most parents want the best for their children over the holiday season. Many go to a lot of trouble to get just the right gift or arrange family gatherings. For those who celebrate Christmas, children’s excitement and anticipation in the days or weeks leading up to this special day is as much a part of the ritual as the giving and receiving of presents and the time spent with loved ones. |
The Christmas, New Year and summer holiday season can be a very stressful time for families.
Most parents want the best for their children over their holiday season. Many go to a lot of trouble to get just the right gift or arrange family gatherings. For those who celebrate Christmas, children’s excitement and anticipation in the days or weeks leading up to this special day is as much a part of the ritual as the giving and receiving of presents and the time spent with loved ones,
While the season can be a very special time, it can also be a time of stress and difficulty for adults, a time when even the strongest of family relationships can be sorely tested.
The time is often particularly difficult for parents who have separated or formed new
Relationships as many need to negotiate how their children’s holidays will be structured and when the children will share in celebrations.
Making arrangements to share time with children can lead to conflict or frustration between parents, and has the potential to take away from the anticipation and joy that children experience.
Protecting children from adult stress is a shared responsibility that all adult family members can share. Difficult decisions do need to be made by separated and divorced parents about how children spend time with those they love and when extended family members and friends will spend time with the children. Sometimes it’s necessary to let go of certain things, such as being there on Christmas morning and sharing gift giving and to split your children’s Christmas into two or more family events.
There are a number of ways parents, extended family members and friends can support the children and the broader family group to have the best possible holiday period:
Help is available:
Ringwood Family Relationship Centre has appointments available for support before Christmas and from 3 January 2017.
The Centre can assist parents who don’t live together and who cannot communicate effectively due to conflict between them to decide on a Parenting Agreement.
Information Seminars about the service and parents legal responsibilities after separation are available from January.
We offer appointments in Ringwood. From February 2017 we are also at Ferntree Gully, Box Hill Healesville and Yarra Junction.
Call in to enquire 9871:6300 or look at the website www.ringwoodfrc.org.,au
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800- 24 hr/7 days a week (open public holidays) OR web counselling at www.kidshelp.com.au from 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday and 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Saturday and Sunday OR email [email protected].
Parent line 13 22 89 8am to midnight, 7 days a week. Telephone counselling service to parents and carers of children aged from birth to eighteen years
Mensline Australia 13 78 99 78- 24 hr/ 7 days a week- free call number for men with family and relationship issues
Lifeline 13 11 14- 24hr/ 7 days a week- 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. cost of a local call
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre 1800 015 188 - 24hr/ 7 days a week- free call
confidential helpline
Family Relationships Advice Line 1800 050 321 8am-8pm (Mon to Fri) & 10am-4pm on Saturdays (closed public holidays) - advice to families affected by relationship or separation issues
Stepfamilies 03 9481 1500 - (Victoria) 9am-5pm Monday to Friday - support and advice to step and blended families
Crisis Assistance (emergency financial and food assistance)
St Vincent De Paul 1300 794 054
Salvos 1300 371 288
Anglicare Victoria 1800 809 722
Crisis accommodation – homeless in Melbourne 1800 627 727
Most parents want the best for their children over their holiday season. Many go to a lot of trouble to get just the right gift or arrange family gatherings. For those who celebrate Christmas, children’s excitement and anticipation in the days or weeks leading up to this special day is as much a part of the ritual as the giving and receiving of presents and the time spent with loved ones,
While the season can be a very special time, it can also be a time of stress and difficulty for adults, a time when even the strongest of family relationships can be sorely tested.
The time is often particularly difficult for parents who have separated or formed new
Relationships as many need to negotiate how their children’s holidays will be structured and when the children will share in celebrations.
Making arrangements to share time with children can lead to conflict or frustration between parents, and has the potential to take away from the anticipation and joy that children experience.
Protecting children from adult stress is a shared responsibility that all adult family members can share. Difficult decisions do need to be made by separated and divorced parents about how children spend time with those they love and when extended family members and friends will spend time with the children. Sometimes it’s necessary to let go of certain things, such as being there on Christmas morning and sharing gift giving and to split your children’s Christmas into two or more family events.
There are a number of ways parents, extended family members and friends can support the children and the broader family group to have the best possible holiday period:
- Be prepared to compromise and make new traditions if that will work best for the kids.
- Create new rituals and Christmas celebrations that allow your children to spend quality time with you rather than forcing several Christmas celebrations into one or two days.
- Don’t feel you have to please everyone- put children’s needs first.
- Be realistic; don’t try to squeeze in too many activities or make everything perfect.
- Keep the peace - Set aside conflict at Christmas time.
- Support children to share time with other family members without feeling that they have to choose between you or be responsible for your happiness.
- It is the thought that counts- making children feel special is much more important than spending a lot of money.
Help is available:
Ringwood Family Relationship Centre has appointments available for support before Christmas and from 3 January 2017.
The Centre can assist parents who don’t live together and who cannot communicate effectively due to conflict between them to decide on a Parenting Agreement.
Information Seminars about the service and parents legal responsibilities after separation are available from January.
We offer appointments in Ringwood. From February 2017 we are also at Ferntree Gully, Box Hill Healesville and Yarra Junction.
Call in to enquire 9871:6300 or look at the website www.ringwoodfrc.org.,au
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800- 24 hr/7 days a week (open public holidays) OR web counselling at www.kidshelp.com.au from 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday and 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Saturday and Sunday OR email [email protected].
Parent line 13 22 89 8am to midnight, 7 days a week. Telephone counselling service to parents and carers of children aged from birth to eighteen years
Mensline Australia 13 78 99 78- 24 hr/ 7 days a week- free call number for men with family and relationship issues
Lifeline 13 11 14- 24hr/ 7 days a week- 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. cost of a local call
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre 1800 015 188 - 24hr/ 7 days a week- free call
confidential helpline
Family Relationships Advice Line 1800 050 321 8am-8pm (Mon to Fri) & 10am-4pm on Saturdays (closed public holidays) - advice to families affected by relationship or separation issues
Stepfamilies 03 9481 1500 - (Victoria) 9am-5pm Monday to Friday - support and advice to step and blended families
Crisis Assistance (emergency financial and food assistance)
St Vincent De Paul 1300 794 054
Salvos 1300 371 288
Anglicare Victoria 1800 809 722
Crisis accommodation – homeless in Melbourne 1800 627 727
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