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Published on:

12th Dec 2023

Thriving Through the Tinsel: 7 Ways Divorced Parents Can Make Holidays Special for Their Children

Holidays can be tough when you are divorced, but coming up with a strategy to enjoy them is possible! I am discussing 7 things you can do to help your children and yourself navigate the holidays. From creating new traditions, to having expectations around finances, and even dealing with high conflict parenting situations, I have some wonderful ideas throughout this episode. Tune in to learn more ways to make your holiday special after divorce. 

In this episode:

  • [2:48] How do kids feel during the holidays when their parents are divorced and how can you support them with those feelings?
  • [7:59] 7 things you can do to help your children through the holidays.
  • [14:01] How to manage the holidays if you are in a high-conflict parenting situation.


Key Takeaways: 

  • [9:02] Discuss the holiday schedule with your children so they are not left wondering what the time out of school might look like. Provide them with clarity of how the schedule will look, and answer any questions they may have. 
  • [10:52] Find some new traditions you can start with your children. There may be opportunities to do activities that weren’t an option while you were married. Quality time with your kids is what matters most to them. 
  • [13:22] Prioritize your own self care. Have empathy with yourself and make sure that you are taking care of yourself so you can take care of your children well. 


Quotes: 

“I know there's lots of tricky things involved, but you can set the tone for a positive experience. So the greatest thing that you can do is to be united with the other co-parent and work together and let the kids see that you are working together.” - Lesa Koski


“My childhood memories of Christmas, I think the best ones are when we did something. I don't remember the gifts that I got, but I remember the time that we spent together. So remember that your kids just need time with you as simple as going sledding down a hill and getting hot cocoa.” - Lesa Koski


“You need to take care of yourself so that you can take care of your children well. They need you more than anything. So make sure that you're in a good spot, you're doing the things to get your mind right so that you don't have to be stressed out and be easy on yourself. If you are struggling to have empathy, it is a tough time of year, but you can help your children thrive through the holidays.” - Lesa Koski


Resources: 

A Kid With Two Homes Instagram

Lesa Koski Website

Lesa’s Online Courses

Lesa’s Masterclass


To receive real-time alerts that your child is safe, visit https://www.soberlink.com/partners/different


I am so honored to introduce my FREE Co-Parenting Masterclass. This masterclass shares tools to co-parent well even with a difficult co-parent. You will learn the 5 C's of a Co-Parenting Plan and a free bonus resource with Certified Divorce Lending Specialist, Tami Wollensak, sharing what you want to consider regarding the family home. Sign up to receive a video replay at https://www.lesakoski.com/co-parenting-masterclass

Mentioned in this episode:

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About the Podcast

Doing Life Different with Lesa Koski
Real conversations for women over 40 about faith, fitness, and fresh starts
Mindset, movement, and faith after 40—because midlife isn’t a crisis, it’s your comeback.

Welcome to Doing Life Different with Lesa Koski, the podcast for women over 40 who are ready to rewrite the rules, reclaim their joy, and rediscover their purpose. Whether you're navigating divorce, rediscovering your health, deepening your faith, or learning how to have fun again—you’re in the right place.

Host Lesa Koski—wife, mom, coach, and seasoned mediator—brings real talk, relatable wisdom, and expert interviews to guide you through midlife reinvention with grace and grit.

In each episode, you’ll get practical tools and empowering conversations on:

Mindset & personal growth

Faith & spiritual connection

Fitness, movement & health

Divorce, marriage & relationships

Fun, purpose & starting fresh in the second half of life

This isn’t just self-help. It’s soul-level transformation. Get ready to do life different—because your next chapter starts now.

Lesa also explores the emotional and physical changes that often accompany midlife and major life shifts. From navigating the impact of menopause on your health, marriage, and mood, to dealing with the loneliness that can come after divorce or empty nesting, you’ll find honest conversations that don’t shy away from real-life challenges. And for those of you in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’ll discover what it means to truly build a better life after 40.

Health and wellness are deeply integrated into this journey. Lesa shares insights on the benefits of rest, joy, nutrition, fasting, protein, and bone health, along with the power of movement, community, and exercise to support mental clarity and physical strength. You’ll learn how to take care of yourself with intention—because healing isn’t just emotional, it’s also biological.

Mindset work and self-coaching are recurring tools offered in episodes to help you reframe your story and shift from fear to freedom. And through it all, the show honors the role of faith, spiritual surrender, and letting God lead you through every season. Whether you're leaning into your relationship with God for the first time or deepening a lifelong practice, you’ll hear how surrender can bring peace even in the hardest moments.

You’ll hear real stories from people who have done divorce differently, saved their marriages, or found new love and purpose on the other side. Lesa also brings in conversations about marriages that have stood the test of time, co-parenting through complex seasons, and the realities of parenting after separation while maintaining stability for your kids.

This is a podcast about thriving through Cancer, taking back your life, rewriting your future, and trusting that you’re not starting over, you’re starting better. If you’re craving practical advice, soul-level encouragement, and real conversations about creating a healthy, joyful, purpose-driven life, you’ve found your community.

Subscribe now and join Lesa Koski for weekly episodes that will help you grow stronger in your relationships, your health, and your faith, no matter where you’re starting from.

About the Host:
I’ve spent over 25 years helping families navigate amicable divorce as a lawyer and mediator, always focused on protecting what matters most—your kids and your peace of mind. But my mission has expanded. Today, I support women over 40 not just through endings, but in building stronger relationships—and sometimes even saving their marriages. I’m a breast cancer survivor, a cowgirl at heart, a wellness advocate, and a follower of Jesus. My life and faith fuel my passion for helping women thrive.

About your host

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Lesa Koski