For many families, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are special times to express their love and appreciation for their mothers and fathers. These are days of celebration, but if a family is going through separation or divorce, they can stir mixed emotions as well.
Organizing Mother’s and Father’s Day can cause tension or stress between parents who may already be facing unrelated conflicts. Other family members, like their kids, may find it difficult to cope. The fear of hurting each parent’s feelings can sometimes feel all-too-real even as much as they want to celebrate their respective parents on their respective holidays.
Co-Parent to Promote Children Celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are great days to show your kids that even if you aren’t together, you still acknowledge and value each other’s roles as parents. Follow these simple ways to support your children in celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Create New Traditions
Your family might not be able to celebrate Mother’s Day or Father’s Day the same way as before your separation or divorce. Rather than see this as a roadblock, see it as an opportunity to create new traditions and memories.
Consider hosting a small brunch with just Mom or Dad and the kids instead of the large family gathering you hosted previously or try something new this year like hiking or picnicking a local spot.
During either holiday, you may find yourself without your kids and that might be challenging, but don’t let it get you down. Make plans with friends, visit extended family or do something just for you.
Plan Gifts & Celebrations to Support your Children
After divorce, co-parents can show that they respect and recognize the relationship their children have with each other by celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day together. Help your kids make their plans happen by letting them choose what they’d like to do for Mom or Dad on these days.
Again, be supportive of your kids and help them decide on a gift if they wish to give one to their mom or dad on these holidays. Another idea would be to help your children make their own gift at home. Little crafts or baked goods can be a sweet way for your kids to show appreciation to their co-parents.
Your children can learn that you and your co-parent are still a team despite your differences by helping them plan celebrations and gifts, as well as showing your co-parent that you appreciate what they do for your family. If not for your co-parent, let your children handle your frustrations these days.
Make Celebrations a Priority & Plan Ahead
If possible, let your kids spend Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with the parent to whom the holiday is dedicated. You may need to make adjustments ahead of time if necessary, but keep an eye on your kids’ schedules to see where they are scheduled. Plan ahead to ensure that pick-ups and drop-offs go smoothly if you will share time with your kids so they can be with their bonus parent or extended family on these holidays.
You may not be able to spend each holiday with your children if your parents live out of convenient driving distance from each other. Encourage them to connect over a video chat or phone call with the parent who is being celebrated in this situation.
Putting emotions aside when co-parenting with a former spouse or partner can be challenging, but if you do, it’ll pay off in the long run.
Begin the low-stress process with Scott F. Levin, Esq, at San Diego Divorce Mediation. You’ll have access to flexible options, including virtual meetings. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation and see the difference mediation can make. By choosing mediation, you can save time, money, and emotional distress, while maintaining control over the outcome of your divorce.
