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Christmas, for most of us, is a time to forget the stresses and strains of everyday life and enjoy time with our loved ones. For parents whose divorce has left them estranged from their children, however, Christmas is anything but joyful. For such individuals, Christmas is a depressing and lonely time of year. Fortunately, the Christmas period is the perfect time for an individual to re-establish contact with relatives from whom they may have become distant following their divorce; their children in particular. It may not be feasible for physical contact to be re-established immediately – particularly if a meaningful relationship has not existed for some time – but sending a card or present is a good way of restoring some form of communication and could prove to be an invaluable first step in re-establishing a meaningful relationship with its recipient. In some instances, a parent will have been denied contact with their children by an embittered former spouse or partner. In such instances, the parent should utilise the festive period as a reason to contact this person and ask to be allowed to see the children at some point. If they do not agree to physical contact, then ask that you be allowed to have a telephonic conversation with the child on Christmas Day. Any parent that is denying the non-resident parent contact should consider whether or not this is really in the child’s best interest. If, following them having considered this, they decide that it is not, then Christmas again provided them with the perfect excuse to get in touch with the non-resident parent and propose that they see the child at some point over the festive season. Any parent in any of the situations described above should remember that Christmas is a magical time for children and time with both parents is key to ensuring that they carry happy memories of Christmas into adulthood. Your divorce may have hurt you, but your children need you and, ultimately, it is their needs which should come first.