You’ve made the decision to divorce. Now, you just have to go through with it. What’s the biggest thing stopping you? Right now, it may be the upcoming holiday season.
A lot of unhappily married couples face a tough decision at this time of year. They either have to stick it out together for a couple more months or get the ball rolling on their divorce right away. Which is right for you? Below are some things to consider.
Good reasons to wait until after the holiday season to begin your divorce
Most of the reasons people hold off on divorce until the holidays are over are deeply rooted in the emotions of the season:
- You’ve already got a lot on your plate. End-of-the-year deadlines at work and all of the usual hectic activity during the holiday season is already time-consuming and stressful.
- You don’t want to manage the extra expense. You’re already struggling with holiday expenses, so you may not want to add legal bills, moving costs and the like into the deal.
- You don’t want to spend every holiday gathering talking about it. Your divorce will likely become a big topic of conversation. That can be uncomfortable, at best.
- You don’t want to upset the kids. The holidays are special for most families. You don’t want your kids to associate this time of year with the day their parents split up.
Good reasons to take the divorce plunge right now
- You aren’t dealing with any unknowns. A lot can change between now and the first of the year. A job loss, your spouse’s illness and other factors could complicate your divorce if you wait.
- You get immediate stress relief. It’s not easy to live with someone once you know the relationship is over. If your spouse is angry or abusive, it’s smarter to get out now.
- You eliminate some obligations. Maybe you can cheerfully skip all of the family events this holiday season — and a divorce would let you off the hook, guilt-free.
If you’re on the fence about filing for divorce, it may be helpful to learn more about the process here in Fargo. Take the time to speak with a qualified advocate and get their take.
