Divorced parents may need to cooperate during the upcoming holiday season for the sake of their kids. While child custody battles are common in divorce, no one benefits from the potential fight over who is going to see the children for Thanksgiving.

Children can be adversely affected if their divorced parents argue in front of them about when the kids will visit each household, who will pay for holiday meals and presents, or who should be included in extended family gatherings, particularly when there has been a remarriage or one or both parents have new domestic partners.

Stress can be reduced for everyone if the adults display some flexibility about scheduling holiday visits. A holiday can be celebrated more than once and not necessarily during the exact 24-hour-period that officially marks a holiday like Thanksgiving.

Children need to experience some continuity and observance of past family traditions even though their new circumstance may change when and where those traditions are observed. Being flexible can also lead to new family traditions.

Some divorced couples display the kind of flexibility and maturity for their children's benefit that enables them to set aside any lingering hostility or bitterness from their divorce. This can make the holidays a joyous time for the children especially if ex-in laws are included in holiday gatherings and ex-in-laws and former spouses can remain civil. Children need to feel confident that they will not lose the love of grandparents or of one parent simply because a divorce has taken place.

A sense of security can be a wonderful holiday gift to give to children following divorce, and can be just as, if not more important, than any material gifts.

Source: Huffington Post, "Divorced Parenting During the Holiday Season: Flexibility is the Key," Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D., Nov. 15, 2011