Statistics do not necessarily tell the whole story with divorce. A divorce can happen at any time, to any couple, and it is often unpredictable. It doesn’t matter what the statistics say if you discover that your spouse is being unfaithful to the marriage, for example, and you decide to immediately file for divorce.
That being said, statistics can shed light on the trends that tend to happen. One thing they have illuminated is that divorce cases are more common in January than they are in December. In fact, you can watch a reduction in divorce rates throughout the majority of the fall season, and then there is a sharp increase at the beginning of the new year. Why is this?
Navigating the holidays
The holiday season is what impacts this on numerous levels. For one thing, there are couples who see the holidays as a chance for their relationship to repair itself. Maybe they think that the festive season will bring them closer together. They give it one last chance and, if it doesn’t work, then they file for divorce in January.
Additionally, the holiday season itself is seen as a rather inconvenient time to announce a divorce. You may encounter many different friends and extended family members, and you may simply not want to talk about the divorce repeatedly. Plus, for parents who are married, the holidays are supposed to be a fun time for their children. Some parents try to keep the holiday magic alive by waiting to announce the divorce until after the season.
Finally, speaking of children, they’re going to be home from school over the holidays. This means parents simply have less free time and less time alone. When the children return to school in January, they have more time to work together on figuring out the details of a divorce.
Are you splitting up this year?
If you and your spouse do end up getting a divorce this year, be sure you know what options you have.