One thing that fathers may think about during child custody discussions is how to split time over important holidays. For many men, having access to their children on Father’s Day is an absolute must, just as it would be a priority for women to have custody on Mother’s Day.
In your custody schedule, you have the option of negotiating custody on that date. Many divorcing couples recognize that this holiday is the father’s special day each year and account for that in the custody arrangements.
If you cannot set up custody for that date (June 19 in 2022), then consider alternatives such as:
- Virtual visitation, which allows you to spend time with your child over a video call or through other digital means.
- A short visit rather than full custody day. For example, you might take your child to a movie and then return them to the other parent.
- Celebrating early or after the date. Since Father’s Day falls on a Sunday, it may be beneficial to celebrate on a Friday or Saturday instead, since more venues will be open and you won’t have to worry about adjusting your custody schedule for that one day.
Like other holidays, it’s important to talk about what you want and which holidays are important to you. You may find that you and your spouse have different preferences for the holidays you’d like to spend with your child and be able to come up with a custody schedule that reflects that. You may also decide to be flexible and to use your standard custody schedule no matter how it falls. Then, you might adapt with a short visit on a special day or virtual visit when an in-person visit isn’t possible.
Since holidays sometimes cause conflict, it’s a good idea to decide what you’ll do now rather than waiting until the day arrives. Avoiding surprises in your custody schedule will help you avoid disputes and conflicts. Work with your spouse now to come up with a plan for the days you feel are important, so you can understand and be aware of what will happen in the future.
