As many stepmothers and stepfathers will know already, the festive period can be an absolute minefield - with children and adults alike struggling with the stress of belonging to a step-family.
With the absence of one biological parent, children can experience a sense of loss - and, in much the same way, stepparents can feel as if they are being pushed to one side to make others (whether that be exes or biological children) happy.
We've asked Sara Davison, Life & Divorce Coach, to share her advice on the politics of step-parenting and stepchildren at Christmas.
She explains: "Being a step parent can be especially tricky if...
"There are things you can do to make Christmas easier for you all and as the adult it is up to you to take the lead.
"It’s important to be empathetic to the children’s point of view and make an effort over the Christmas period to put your differences aside.
"If you are a stepparent here are 7 steps to follow at Christmas to make it run smoother:
"The key thing is to remember to set an example to your stepchildren that shows them that blended families can work and are part of everyday society. Show them that just because a marriage doesn’t last forever you can still find happiness and it doesn’t have a long lasting negative impact on everyone involved.
"It is a great lesson for children to learn and set them on the right track for finding love when they get older."
For more information or to get in touch with Sara log on to www.saradavison.com, follow her on Twitter, or visit her Facebook page, SaraDavisonDivorceCoach.