Dealing with a divorce is one of the biggest challenges a parent will ever have to face, and the heartbreak raises its head all over again on those special events and occasions – Father’s Day being one of them. However, with a little planning and preparation, the day can go smoothly for you, Dad and the children. Here are some tips.
1. Plan ahead
The best way to make sure that it goes off without a hitch is to plan it a few days in advance. Make sure that Dad has cleared the day, and that travel arrangements have been made so as to avoid any last-minute disappointments. The last thing you want is to build your child’s hopes up for a day of bonding with Dad, only for disorganisation or crossed wires to ruin it.
2. Be flexible
While you may have certain arrangements in place regarding duration and scheduling of visits, you can afford to be a little flexible on Father’s Day. It’s the one day of the year specifically dedicated to dad’s relationship with their little one, so make sure that Dad and Child get to make the most of this special day together.
3. Be diplomatic
A painful breakup is hard on everyone involved, and no matter how much you try to shield your little ones from the not-so-nice aspects of a divorce, they always end up carrying some of the fallout around with them. On this day – just as you would with Mother’s Day, Christmas and other special occasions – try to put differences aside with your former partner so that your child can celebrate and enjoy their day without a hitch.
4. Make it special for Dad
The likelihood is that Father’s Day will be an emotional one for Dad, and will drum up a lot of deep feelings and memories for him. It’s important to make him feel special on this big day, so doing little things like making sure the children have a card and a little gift – even if it’s just his favourite chocolate – will go a long way towards lifting his spirits.
5. Make Dad the priority
While it's always nice to pay a visit to grandfathers, uncles and other relatives on Father's Day, Dad should be the priority on the visiting list. A nice idea to involve Granddad or another strong male influence in your child's life is to send a homemade card.
