Christmas is a time for families but what about if your family isn't the one you imagined when you were having your children? What if Christmas morning isn't about everyone lazing around in their PJ's as you are conscious of the time and getting your children to see their Dad on Christmas Day? If you rewind my life about 8 years or so, it was very different to the one I have now, I was freshly divorced and trying to work out how we were going to make sure our young daughter had the best Christmas, when that meant she wouldn't be celebrating it in the house she had grown up in.

Divorce is never a nice experience but we have always managed to maintain good communication for our daughters sake and tried to balance the celebrations evenly so she gets to spend time with both families. As she gets older, she has more of a say in where she wants to spend her time and whilst sometimes one of us might be a little put out, maintaining her happiness is key for us both.

This isn't something that we face alone as there are many parents across the UK that have to deal with the Christmas dilemma each year and research commissioned recently by the Family Friendly Working team shows the challenge that many families face.

Christmas is magical when you are a child and whilst our view might get a little more jaded as we get older, as parents we spend so much time trying to maintain the magic for our children. Every year, Father Christmas is pulled around the world by flying reindeer in his quest to deliver presents to billions of children. However, by age 7 1/2, 45% of youngsters will question the legitimacy of his existence, leaving parents lost for words as they struggle to respond to this interrogation .... although sometimes, this question is easier to answer than "Why isn't Daddy here on Christmas morning".

My daughter is now 10 years old and being fully aware that her iPad comes from the Apple Store rather than the elves workshop, the magic of Santa might now be disappearing but with a little sister to now open her presents with on Christmas morning, she chooses to stay with us and that is her decision, which is the most important.

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