It can be difficult to celebrate Mother’s Day after you go through a divorce, depending on your circumstances. If you don’t have custody of your children that day or you have asked to have your children but your ex-spouse doesn’t want to give up time, then this can be a complex issue to deal with.
For most people, the right thing to do is to set up a parenting plan that accounts for holidays like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, so that their children are with the right parent on those dates. If you didn’t consider it and won’t be with your children on the holiday for some reason, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate. It just means that you may need to adjust the date you celebrate or try alternative means of spending time together.
Here are three tips to help you celebrate Mother’s Day if you don’t have custody on the day.
Celebrate digitally
If the problem is that Mother’s Day falls on a date when your children aren’t at home or are participating in a special activity, consider getting together digitally. Virtual visitation for an hour or a two could help you spend at least some time with your children, even though they are not with you.
Get permission to visit
You may not have custody that day, but if you get permission to come to your ex-spouse’s home for a few hours, then you can still see your children. For example, some people may have a short dinner together to celebrate the holiday, even though they are not in a relationship and one parent technically doesn’t have visitation that day. If you have a good relationship with your ex, this may be an option.
Reschedule your celebration
If you want to celebrate with your children but won’t see them for a few days, you could reschedule the celebration. Tell your children that you’ll celebrate the next time you see them, and then put together a plan to make the day special.
Working with custody plans and holidays can be tough, but by being flexible, you can work out a solution that allows you to celebrate an important day with your children.
