Guidelines for Becoming a Family with Two Homes

• Find your own meaning of family, of home, and of parenthood.
• Respect the crisis periods of transition, learn how you function during times of stress, and increase your personal resources.
• Let the emotions of the end of your marriage run their course and realistically evaluate your past, in order to foster healthier relationships in the future.
• Learn how to separate your role as a former mate from that of a parent.
• Setup your own home, establishing your new family rituals, customs, and rules.
• Aim for a good “Parenting Agreement” and a privately negotiated settlement about the children.
• Strengthen ties with supportive others—friends, family, associates, and if necessary, seek new ties.
• Parent by example.
• Recognize that holidays may be celebrated anytime of year not only on the designated day.
• Don't make your children transition several times in one day just so that each parent can "see them" on a given holiday such as Thanksgiving or Halloween.