• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Divorce Magazine

Since 1996 Divorce Magazine has been the Internet's leading website on divorce and separation. We provide advice about divorce law, divorce lawyers, family law, custody, support and other divorce related issues along with a directory of divorce professionals.

  • Home
  • Divorce Professionals
    • Add Your Listing Here
  • Blog
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
    • Children’s and Parenting Issues after Divorce
    • Considering Divorce
    • Co-Parenting after Divorce
    • Coping with Divorce
    • Financial Issues
    • Inspirational Stories and Advice
    • Legal Issues
    • Relationships and Dating
    • Becoming a Blogger for DivorceMag.com
    • Video Blogging
  • Articles
    • Alimony and Spousal Support
    • Child Support
    • Child Custody
    • Children and Divorce
    • Coping with Divorce
    • Divorce and Annulment
    • Divorce News and Statistics
    • Family Lawyers
    • Financial Issues
    • Legal Issues
    • Relationships and Dating
    • Write for Us
    • General
  • FAQs
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • eNewsletter
  • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Press Releases
    • Submit an Article
    • Be Our Professional Blogger
    • Become a Blogger
    • Contact Us

How to Survive Thanksgiving if Your Ex is a TURKEY!

Some fathers are irrational, misguided and unable to keep their children out of the middle of the conflict they have with the mother. It isn’t only during the holidays.

By Cathy Meyer Updated: November 10, 2019Categories: Children and Divorce, Coping with Divorce

How to Survive Thanksgiving if Your Ex is a TURKEY!

This Thanksgiving I will serve turkey and all the trimmings. It is going to be a Martha Stewart holiday complete with the perfect table setting. A centerpiece of pumpkins and shellacked gourds surrounded by smiling family members sharing gratitude for family, friends, and life in general.

The only problem is, while I’m baking the turkey I’ll be stewing a pot of anger inside. Recent news of my ex has left me feeling less than kind toward him. And what I wouldn’t give to be able to spew forth a bit of venom while stewing in that pot of anger. Le’ts face it isn’t easy having an ex who is a turkey!

I’ll bite my tongue though because my sons don’t deserve the spilling forth and putting into words the ill will I feel toward their father. Let’s be honest, at Thanksgiving or any other day, who wants to listen to my post-divorce drama?

I won’t allow the lid off that pot of anger because to do so would only put me in a league with my son’s father. So, instead of heaping more pain and hurt onto them I’ll spoon heaps of mash potatoes onto their plates and smile, smile, smile.

Knowing divorce the way I do and the conflict that can take place between divorcing couples, I know I’m not the only one who will be biting her tongue at the Thanksgiving table this year.

Therefore, if you, like me, will be stewing in anger while baking your turkey, below are a few tips. They won’t help you deal with your anger, but they will help you keep your anger from spoiling your child’s Thanksgiving.

How to Survive Thanksgiving if Your Ex is a TURKEY!

• When your child comes home from Thanksgiving dinner with his Dad talking about all the new man toys Dad has acquired, smile at your child and say, “That is nice, I’m happy for your Dad.”

• When your child tells you that Dad can’t afford a turkey for Thanksgiving because he “has to pay child support,” smile at your child and say, “That’s too bad, I hope your Dad was able to have a Happy Thanksgiving anyway.” Keep any hint of the satisfaction you feel from showing on your face!

• When your child comes home and tells you how great a cook their Dad’s new girlfriend is, smile at your child and say, “That is nice dear, I’m glad you enjoyed your Thanksgiving dinner.”

• When your child tells you how great the pecan pie was at Dad’s but he wasn’t allowed to bring a slice home because, “Your mom might eat it,” smile and say, “That’s OK, I will make you a pecan pie.” Be especially careful that your child does not see the smoke rising from your ears!

Some fathers are irrational, misguided and unable to keep their children out of the middle of the conflict they have with the mother. It isn’t only during the holidays. With some fathers, the opportunity to use a child to strike back at their mother is an activity engaged in all year round. Let’s face it, some people are nasty, vindictive, and out for revenge at anyone’s expense and at any time.

Your job as a mother is to not allow it to hurt your child.

Related Content

  1. 7 Crafts to Help Kids Through Thanksgiving After Divorce
  2. Your Child’s First Thanksgiving After Divorce
  3. Thanksgiving Challenge: Giving Thanks and Staying Positive

November 11, 2019 2 Comments Categories: Children and Divorce, Coping with DivorceTags: Coping with Divorce, Handling the Holidays

Cathy Meyer

About Cathy Meyer

Cathy is a Master Certified Relationship Coach and Certified Marriage Educator. She is also the Founding and Managing Editor of DivorcedMoms.com – the leading resource and community for divorced moms to connect, communicate, express their passion and thoughts, share experiences, and find expert information and advice.

Powered by the foremost divorce experts and bloggers, and by all of our divorced moms, DivorcedMoms.com is the place to find trusted information to guide you.

Before turning to writing and editing as a career, Cathy specialized in consulting with and educating/coaching clients before, during, and after divorce.

Combined she has eleven years experience working one on one with divorcing clients, facilitating seminars and workshops for couples who are serious about building and nurturing a healthy relationship and, writing about divorce-related issues.

Reader Interactions

Add A Comment Cancel reply

Comments

  1. cal johnson says

    November 11, 2019 at 4:49 pm

    i am hoping all the posts are not written as one sided as this one is. while I can look past the fact that the author assumes the father is the bad person in the relationship and the mother is the good person, it really makes it difficult to think this website will be a good source of information.

    Reply
    • Cathy MeyerCathy Meyer says

      November 13, 2019 at 12:40 pm

      Cal, I’m not assuming the father is a bad person. This article is based on my experience with a bad person. And, it is geared toward women who’ve had similar experiences. The vast majority of the articles on DivorceMag.com are not gender specific. This one is and it is for a reason…because it is about my, the author’s, experience. This website is over 20 years old, you can’t judge what kind of source it is based on one article. I’d like to suggestion you not come to that conclusion until you’ve read several articles here.

      Reply

sidebar

 

Divorce Professionals

Divorce Lawyers

Divorce Mediators

Business Valuators / CPAs

Collaborative Practice






Divorce Magazine
2019 Spring Issue

Download Now

top divorce blog
Ranked as the #1 Divorce Blog on the Internet since 2016!

Recent Articles

  • 6 To-Dos When Facing a Divorce in the New Year

  • The New Decade: Will You Choose Freedom or Fear?

  • Financial Matters During Divorce: Things to Consider

  • Tools To Help Save Your Marriage To An Addict

  • Why do Narcissists Always Ruin the Holidays? Here are 5 Reasons

Recent Posts

  • The New Decade: Will You Choose Freedom or Fear?
  • Financial Matters During Divorce: Things to Consider
  • Kid’s Clothes and Divorce: Dirty, Clean Mixed With Dirty, or Missing!
  • 5 Travel Tips for Blended Families
  • Negotiating Holiday Gift Giving After Divorce

Footer

Helpful Divorce Article Categories:

  • Alimony and Spousal Support
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Children and Divorce
  • Divorce and Annulment
  • Divorce News and Statistics
  • Financial Issues
  • Legal Issues
  • Relationships and Dating
  • DivorceFAQs
  • Divorce Podcasts
  • Divorce Blogs


Visit Our Websites:

  • Divorce Marketing Group
  • Divorced Moms
  • The Divorce School

Follow Us on Social Media

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on Instagram
  • Contact Us
  • Writer's Guidelines
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2019 Divorce Marketing Group & Segue Esprit Inc.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.