Give Thanks this Holiday Season

For some, the holidays mean excitement, great food, welcome conversation, and visiting with loved ones. For others, this is the beginning of endless stress and anxiety. Regardless of where you fall, 2020 has only heightened the stress and anxiety that comes along with the holiday season. All a lot of us really want to do is crawl into bed and stay there until New Year’s (and with current health restrictions, that may be possible). Yet, most of us still want to be with our families over the season of thanks and giving. How do you get through COVID-19 holidays unscathed? Here are a few quick suggestions. Be mindful of other people’s views of the pandemic We all know COVID-19 exists and can be potentially dangerous for certain people, but some believe the risks of spreading or catching the virus to be minimal in relation to being near loved ones over the holidays. Others believe the exact opposite. Respect both viewpoints; let those who want to get together do so without ridicule or anger and allow those who are extra cautious join in on the festivities virtually. Keep potentially upsetting topics off-limits Politics is always a hot-button topic. To avoid fistfights, make sure anyone who attends your holiday party, in-person or otherwise, understands that anything having to do with the elections, the pandemic, or government in general is off-limits. This goes for any other topic that may ruin the fun for everyone else. If heated topics do come up, be mindful of what you say and always respect the other person’s opinion. Keep your alcohol intake low We know after this year you deserve to have as much alcohol as you want during the holidays. Just remember, inebriation could lead to uninhibited antagonization. You can drink to your heart’s content after everyone goes home, but while family is around, moderation is key. Plan smaller gatherings Instead of inviting all fifty brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and grandkids to your home, try setting up several smaller gatherings and then virtually connect them all together. This way, you can feel safe, your stress level won’t be as high, and when you’re ready to leave, all you have to do is turn off the computer. Know when to say no It’s always hard to say no to family. However, you shouldn’t feel obligated to spend time with them. When it comes to your mental health, occasionally you have to be selfish. Luckily, COVID-19 just made saying no that much easier. If you aren’t comfortable traveling, or feel others traveling may be too much of a health risk, ask to attend virtually or let them know you are having a small private gathering with your immediate family. Regardless of your plans, we at King Law Firm Attorneys at Law wish everyone a safe, healthy and prosperous holiday season. And to give you a head start on the festivities, here’s a recipe for delicious homemade Hot Apple Cider — with and without alcohol! Ingredients 10 large apples, quartered 1/2 orange, halved 4 cinnamon sticks 1 tsp. cloves 1 tsp. whole allspice 1 whole nutmeg 1/2 c. packed brown sugar Directions In a large stockpot over medium heat, add apples, oranges, spices, and brown sugar. Cover with water by at least 2”. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, 2 hours. Remove orange halves Use a potato masher or wooden spoon to mash apples. Return to a simmer and let simmer uncovered for 1 hour. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on solids with a wooden spoon to squeeze all juices out. Discard the solids. For a more festive alternative, add rum, brandy or bourbon and simmer an additional 10 minutes. If kids are around, separate some of the cider into a separate pot and then add rum, brandy or bourbon and simmer an additional 10 minutes. Serve apple cider warm.

The holidays can be either a relaxing get-away from your busy schedule or an extremely stressful proposition. Regardless of how you may feel, being around family is a great time to discuss major decisions with those that care about your future, as well as assess any potential issues that may have gone unnoticed during the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. Wills and Trusts It’s never too early to make sure members of your family have a will or living trust in place. It may seem simple, but there is quite a lot that goes into creating a will or trust that may not have immediately been considered. To begin, there are various types of wills and trusts, so figuring out which one is best suited for your needs is an important step. Then an executor or trustee must be designated, beneficiaries and heirs must be named, a list of assets must be drafted, and custody arrangements must be made, not to mention the possibility for charity contributions, business transfers and other legal matters that need to be addressed. Divorce Options Is one of your in-laws missing at the family Christmas party? Does one of your siblings continually complain about there spouse? Perhaps it’s time to discuss the possibility of divorce. It may be a difficult conversation to have, but if someone is unhappy, it may be time to break free of that negative energy. Discussing matters such as contestation, mediation, court proceedings, custody plans, asset distribution, and how to deliver the news to any children involved prior to filing any paperwork is a strong start in understanding what toll this process might take. Adoption Considerations The announcement of a pregnancy can occasionally trigger others to contemplate raising a child. Discussing these thoughts with family can help curb any fleeting decisions, but once it’s clear they are serious, it’s time to discuss the rewards and challenges of each age group and race or culture, whether or not there are strong financial and support systems in place, and how a child may affect the parent’s everyday lifestyle. Business Needs and Contracts One New Year’s resolution many people have is starting their own business or reevaluating current business plans and contracts. Either way, this is no easy feat. There are many things to consider when starting a new business: understanding the industry; figuring out your target market; choosing the business entity; building a business plan; working out the financial burdens; finding investors or business partners; and purchasing the right insurances to cover potential risks to the business. Most of all, you want to make sure you’re absolutely ready; and talking everything out with family is a good place to start. King Law Firm Attorneys at Law, Inc. is ready to discuss any of these issues with you over the holiday season and help give you peace of mind as we head into the new year. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Plenty can happen to make the holiday season stressful. Simply knowing they’re just around the corner is bad enough; then there’s dealing with shopping, meal preparations and family obligations. The last thing you want is to fight with your former spouse about how much time each of you will get to spend with your son or daughter. Every good parent wants to spend every holiday and special occasion with their children. Depending on a family’s custody arrangements and personal circumstances, though, doing so may not be possible. In almost all cases, compromise is essential. To give you the best chance at a stress-free holiday season, we’ve compiled three key components for dealing with custody during the holidays. Make a Schedule and Stick to it Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, having a set schedule is the foundation for a strong, healthy custody arrangement. Holidays should always be split equally between each parent. The first step may be to divide holidays based on the current custody arrangements. Once you know which holidays fall during a specific parent’s schedule, it becomes easier to decide how to divide the holidays accordingly. If both parents wish to spend certain holidays with the child, consider sharing the holiday, wherein one parent has the child in the morning and the other in the evening. You may also consider alternating years, which can best help relieve a child’s stress level. Whatever’s agreed upon, a clear schedule mitigates confusion, anger and fighting among parents and provides security and a more positive experience for the child. Don’t fight the change; Embrace it. No matter what schedule you agree upon, sharing custody will never be easy if you continue to try and recreate the past. To fully appreciate the future, you must move forward, not backward. First and foremost, acknowledge that things will be different in years to come and embrace these changes by remaining flexible when it comes to creating new traditions with your child. Communicate The ultimate key to maintaining a strong relationship with your former spouse and children during the holidays is, and always will be, communication. Things change over time. Emergencies happen, work issues come up, children’s moods change. No matter the case, communicating with your spouse and child when things do change will reduce the amount of stress and anger that may be generated by sudden, unexpected deviations from the agreed upon schedules. What if you aren’t on speaking terms with your former spouse? There are apps that can be used to share schedules, send photos, and setup a social network for family and friends. This also helps guarantee all changes are in writing so that no one can make excuses for not following through with their commitments. The holidays are meant to be fun. If you follow these key steps, take care of your own physical and mental health, and intentionally spend time with other friends and family, you should have no trouble giving thanks for your many blessings this holiday season.