Fatherhood means different things to different men. Some cherish it; some find it a burden. Still, others will confront challenges to their custodial and visitation rights, as well as child support, during divorce. But, it all starts with an assumption of paternity.

While there may be a lot of bitterness between you and your soon-to-be-ex-wife, that doesn't mean that you can't let the holidays still be a magical time for your family.

Nothing compares to the happiness of children spending the holidays with their father. Being able to amiably share the children on holidays looks great in court, and can even help sway a court in favor of the father if the custody rights have not been determined or finalized. Even if you've been divorced for a while and have found a decent balance in your new relationship, it can be challenging for both partners to share the children during such a family-centric time of year.

Families fracture for a number of reasons ranging from death of a parent to divorces. No matter the reason child custody becomes a priority, as does the rights of the grandparents. Because laws vary depending on the state the grandparent and the child reside in, determining which are relevant is tricky. Knowing your basic rights as a grandparent, understanding your options, and creating an action plan will help ensure your relationship with your grandchild does not have to end and your relationship with the adult parents does not have to be strained.

Holidays are often a time for family tension and anxiety, and this can be heightened in divorced families; figuring out schedules for visiting, making plans for a holiday meal, executing preparation and serving of the meal. All this while trying to pay special attention to your children; if you don't get to see them that often.

Being used as a “bargaining” in a divorce proceeding is a traumatic, stressful and psychologically damaging place for a child to be. In order to help children of divorce overcome their status as powerless, many professional legal associations and organizations, adopted and promote a document called the “Bill of Rights for Children of Divorce.”