Do not use money or gifts to bribe your children.

If your children have had too many changes in their lives to handle a visit to a new place (like your new home) on a holiday, step back and don’t press the issue. Children of divorce are more receptive to subtle assurances rather than overt urging. Kids whose feelings are respected enough will come around when they have healed from the confusion of the breakup. Offering them material incentives to spend time with you on Christmas will only backfire on you, and you may inadvertently “raise the price of poker” the next time you have to induce their cooperation with an enticement.