Holiday Parenting, New Traditions & Managing Stress After Divorce - Ep 54

In Episode 54 of Cases & Cocktails, Bryan and Janice Eggleston share a festive, honest conversation about co-parenting during the holidays, navigating shifting traditions, and helping families find peace and joy after a difficult year. Over a sparkling Holiday Peach Punch—made with Tito’s vodka, peach nectar, lemon juice, and bubbly mineral water—they reflect on Christmas schedules, emotional challenges, and the surprising magic that comes with creating something new.
 

The Holiday Season After Separation

The Egglestons acknowledge what many parents feel but rarely say aloud: sharing holidays for the first time is hard. Christmas morning, once a familiar moment, suddenly looks different. Parents fear missing memories. Children sense the shift. And the anxiety around the Standard Possession Order only adds to the pressure.

Bryan breaks down how Christmas possession works in Texas—alternating halves of the holiday break, switching at noon on December 28—but reminds listeners that the order is simply a framework. Families can agree on any arrangement that works for them. “Not everyone celebrates Christmas,” Janice adds. “And not every family wants the same traditions.”

Letting Go of the “Day” and Embracing the Moments

Many parents struggle with the idea that holidays or birthdays must be celebrated on the exact date. Bryan explains how freeing it can be to detach from the calendar:
 “Kids remember the experience, not the date on the clock.”

From Christmas celebrations on New Year’s Eve to weekend birthday parties, the Egglestons encourage parents to focus on quality over quantity. And when both households embrace flexibility, children often benefit from twice the joy—not half of it.

Co-Parenting Tip: Helping Kids Give Gifts

One of the biggest steps toward healthy co-parenting, they explain, is helping children pick out gifts for the other parent. It may feel emotionally challenging during litigation, but it communicates security, permission, and emotional safety to the child.

“It normalizes love across households,” Bryan says. “Kids can’t shop alone—they need us to help them show they care about both parents.”

This small gesture, they note, can dramatically reduce tension and strengthen the child’s sense of stability.

New Traditions, New Joy

The Egglestons share personal stories about how their own extended families adapted holiday traditions over the years—celebrating on different days, traveling instead of staying home, and choosing experiences over presents.

Janice reflects on a recent client meeting where a mother, once fearful of losing time with her children, now beams as she describes new holiday rituals and improving co-parenting dynamics. “Seeing that transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of this work,” she says.

A Lighthearted Look at Holiday Chaos

As always, the episode includes humor—assembling toys late at night, trampoline disasters in the living room, Elf on the Shelf antics, and even the great debate over whether the 1990s were the greatest era of music. (Bryan insists they were.)

Beneath the laughter is an important truth: holidays after divorce don’t have to be painful—they can be reimagined. Families heal, joy returns, and children thrive when parents lead with flexibility and love.

The Takeaway

Episode 54 offers encouragement to any parent navigating their first (or fifth) holiday season after separation. Traditions may change, schedules may shift, but meaningful memories come from connection—not perfection.

As Bryan concludes, “Enjoy the holidays—however you enjoy them. Make them yours.”