Over the River and Through the Woods
On the road again.
Growing up, we all believe that whatever our family views as normal, important and canonical, that in fact, every other family believes to be true as well. Your mom showed you that visiting loved ones is never too far of a drive. As a result, jumping into the car with Chicago as the destination in mind has always been your normal. Whether the drive time is six or eight hours, in fact, you have taught your daughter the same.
Only now as an adult do you understand the ripple effect of this belief in your life. When you are raised to believe an eight hour drive is not inconvenient, more seems possible. When you are shown that people are worth celebrating live and in-person, you live your life excited to champion others. When you grow up as your mother’s daughter, you learn that the best in life comes from showing up.
So, you take the trip.
You make the time.
You choose mild discomfort to be present with those you love.
You live flexibly in your routine and schedule to ebb and flow with life’s surprises and celebrations.
It appears that this traveling spirit is contagious, or genetic at least.
But you see these whimsical and wanderlust ideals in your daughter. Your daughter who yesterday spent all day loving on others, despite the inconvenience of money, time, and distance. The two of you delivered gifts. You celebrated with local family, which turned into a night for the ages! And now you have hit the road again to spend the break from school with more family.
As you glance at your daughter in the mirror you realize that there are many things that her has inherited from get her mama: the attractive sleep face, the deep sleep on the road, the insatiable thirst to discover it all and celebrate with family no matter what life delivers. And you got all of these things from your mama.
Holiday Travel Plans Are Not Always Simple When Child Custody Rights Are Involved
In the last few days before this last holiday season of the decade it can often seem like there is never enough time, especially when you are trying to navigate challenging child custody decisions. Never enough time to buy and wrap all of the presents. Never enough time to get all of the Christmas cards in the mail. Never enough time to get the house ready for a day full of traditional family celebrations. This time of the year, however, it is important to realize that sometimes all anybody wants in the last days of 2019 is a chance to connect. That random phone call on the last Saturday before Christmas may just be a simple request to borrow some overnight freezer space. A trend who has recently divorced from his wife is trying to make the most of the time that he has with his two kids. That delayed shopping at the grocery store is really just a chance to reconnect with a neighbor that you have not talked to in a month. That request for a game of cards is simply just a way for you to sit with your nearly adult children and laugh and relax.
Too often when we prepare for the season of Christmas and the celebration of the New Year we get caught up in the wrong things. We focus on gifts instead of experiences, we think about appearances rather than authenticity.
What Are You Doing to Create Holiday Memories?
The decision to invest in experiences rather than gifts this holiday season seems to be increasing in popularity as a growing number of families aredaeling with child custody limitations, not just more gifts under the tree. From family ax throwing at a local entertainment venue to a decision to spent the day walking in the fresh snow on a local hiking trail, there are many ways to create the best of memories this winter.
When you realize that the spousal right of election entitles a spouse to claim 33% of the estate of his or her spouse and that child support is payable until the child turns 21 years old. Family lawyers can help divorcing couples navigate child custody decisions and financial situations, but this holiday set those issues aside for the children.
