Fatherhood is an incredibly special journey for many men. Often it is a pivotal point in a man’s life where he steps-up and choose to be responsible for a child that is relying on their love, care and security.
Father’s Day as a single parent can be difficult for many men and they are, at times, a little unsure about how to make the most of the special day. Today, many parenting orders and parenting plans make an allowance that the children will spend Mother’s Day or Father’s Day with the respective parent. It may be as much as the weekend or limited to a few hours if it falls outside of the regular parenting timetable.
Whatever the time you have with your child this Father’s Day, try to make it the most successful and memorable that you can. To help make Father’s Day a success, keep these things in mind:
It’s Not About You
You may still be feeling hurt and angry, but Father’s Day is not all about you. It is about your kids. Remember that helping your child to make your day special involves the child feeling special and important too.
Connect with your Children
Turning up is half the battle and choosing to be ‘in the moment’ with your children will make for a special day. Listen when your child speaks about things that they like. It is important to take an interest in your child’s interests.
Celebrate the Occasion
A result of separation often includes crippling financial hardship. Don’t be ashamed if you cannot go out to a nice restaurant or afford a trip to a theme park. It’s very common and completely understandable that separation wreaks havoc on bank accounts. To create a unique event doesn’t take a lot of money. Do your best to create a memorable day, rather than allowing Father’s Day to be another day running everyday jobs together. It might help in doing something that your child is interested in. Consider trying some of these ideas:
Do something that can be a tradition for Father’s Day with your children. Remember to take a photo.
No matter what you choose to do on Father’s Day, make the effort and make the most of time with your children. The memories and connection that you make today will last a lifetime with your children and will help them to become the great adults that you will be proud of.
Use Technology
Even if you are unable to see your children in person, maybe you live too far away, or have the other parent who isn’t being flexible, etc. you can still at least share a phone, Skype, or Facetime video call to let your kids know you are thinking about them. You may or may not be able to arrange this depending on your circumstances.
Get in Touch with your Own Father
You may be so stressed about how Father’s Day will go with your own children that you put your own father on the back burner. Take a moment to reach out to your own father, or you could make it an opportunity for your children to visit their grandfather with you.
Celebrating Father’s Day in a respectful way after you’ve separated is an opportunity for both parents to show that they recognise and respect the relationship that will always remain between dad and the children even though the family dynamics have changed.
