Divorce And The Split Holiday Can Pose Challenge For Parents To Be Child-Centric

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Separate households, new relationships, different schedules -- sometimes that may make things a little difficult for divorced parents when it comes to spending the holiday season with their children.

Jessica Woll, managing partner of Woll and Woll in Birmingham, says emotions tend to run high -- but she says it's important to always remain child-centric.

She says parents should be flexible and "share the children," Woll adds, planning and communication is key.

Put children's needs first, she says, those are some ways to make sure the holidays are a happy time for the entire family.

"So you've got to keep any bad feelings you have, even if they are justified, to yourself," says Woll. "It should never be shared with your children and sometimes that means we have to fake it until we make it, so we can feel more comfortable with our feelings around our children."

Woll says don't let the children feel like they're in the middle of a tug of war.

"Never talk to our child negatively about the other parent, after all, it took two of you to make the child and they are half you and half your ex-spouse," says Woll.