Fatherโs Day for single mums can be a difficult day when it crops up in September, emotions can run riot depending on your circumstances. Fatherโs Day is not a day that should be ignored, regardless of the reason why dad isnโt around to celebrate. So how do you celebrate when there is no dad?
Celebrating a new family tradition on Father’s Day for single mums
For one reason or another, if your children have never really known Dad, you may feel thereโs no real reason to celebrate the traditional Fatherโs Day. That said, thereโs no reason why you canโt introduce a new family tradition into the house to mark the occasion in a different way.
You may choose to rename the occasion Family Day and celebrate the extended family on Father’s Day. If you hold a close relationship with your own parents, you and your children could celebrate Grandpa instead. Thereโs no reason why your childโs kindy or school Fatherโs Day themed activities couldnโt be focused on Grandpa or Uncle instead.
Most educational centres these days are accepting of the non-traditional โnuclear familyโ model, and will not exclude kids that donโt have Dad around on Fatherโs Day.
Celebrating a childโs late father on Fatherโs Day
For many children, Fatherโs Day is a joyous celebration, but if your childโs father has passed this is undoubtedly a difficult time for your family.
How this is done will depend on your circumstance, but some suggestions include:
- Encourage expression through art. Death of a loved one is incredibly difficult to talk about, but is a little easier when using a pen, pencil, paints and paper. If your child enjoys drawing or writing, Fatherโs Day can be a way to express feelings through artistic endeavours.
- Visit Dadโs special place. Depending on the age of your child, a visit to Dadโs grave on Fatherโs Day may be too difficult to manage. Instead, consider spending some time at one of Dadโs favourite spots; the beach or his favourite fishing spot perhaps.
Rather than dreading the occasion, you can use Fatherโs Day as a time to reflect and remember Dad.
Fatherโs Day after a separation or divorce
When you are separated or divorced, there may be friction between you and your childโs father. If there is a mutual care arrangement, there is no reason why your child canโt celebrate Fatherโs Day with Dad, although it is important to have the day and times arranged in advance to avoid conflict.
Negotiating with your ex partner may not be easy, but it is important to put yourselves in the shoes of your children. If Fatherโs Day happens to fall on a weekend when you have the children, you may need to switch it around to suit.
Remember Fatherโs Day is special to your child as much as it is for their dad, so it is important to understand what they would like to do to celebrate. You may not like the thought of buying a gift or a card for your ex partner, but if your child wants to, give them a little cash to choose something for Dad if itโs what they want to do.
Make Fatherโs Day work for your family
There is no denying that celebrating Father’s Day for single mums has its challenges. Whatever you decide to do for Fatherโs Day when Dad isnโt in the picture is up to you and your family.ย There are no right or wrongs; just do whatever it takes to support your children, depending on your situation.