With Mother’s Day around the corner, we know that the day does not always mean that all Mother’s are going to have their children on this day to celebrate their MOTHERHOOD.
Why not? Mothers are strong, hardworking, and compassionate. They should automatically get the children to themselves this day, right? Not exactly.
Usually, when parents separate, they negotiate a holiday schedule that would override the regular parenting schedule. Mother’s Day is a special day that can be included in the holiday schedule.
If you have a Separation Agreement, there is a good chance that you and your ex already agreed to who gets the children on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day regardless of who has he children that Sunday. Sometimes, court orders also stipulate that the children will spend Mother’s Day with Mom.
Absent a Separation Agreement or Court Order, it is up to your strong co-parenting skills to discuss this issue with your ex. It is fair enough to agree that the children will spend Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with each parent regardless of the regular schedule so that is it balanced. However, in certain circumstances, the other parent is not always willing to agree to this.
Aside from the obvious reasons of your ex refusing to allow you to have the children on Mother’s Day, such as being stubborn, vengeful, spiteful, safety concerns etc. Your ex might have a different mindset when it comes to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. What if they think the day should be spent by yourself so that you can sleep in, go to the spa, read a book and just take it easy?
Maybe that is what they want for Father’s Day so they will not agree to allowing you to have the children for Mother’s Day so that you could have them on Father’s Day? This is definitely something unique and something that we have recently come across.
Your lawyers can also assist with any challenges you and your ex are having about the parenting schedule and holidays. We can assist by conducting negotiations and setting out a framework for how Mother’s Day and Father’s Day shall be exercised each year and in certain circumstances, this issue is also litigated in the mix of many other issues.
It is important to address any potential issues that could arise with Mother’s Day in advance so that you can plan accordingly and avoid a stressful and time-sensitive negotiation with the other parent.
If you need any help with family law matters, contact our AP Law Firm in Scarborough, Pickering, Markham, and Toronto. You can call us at (905) 492-7662 or email us at [email protected] to schedule a consultation.
