Not seeing dad on Father’s Day

[fathersday2020]

Hi all,

After a bit of advice. I have two DC aged 8 & 6. Myself and their father are not together, and haven’t been for the last 5 years. He has access EOW and about 40% of school holidays.

Obviously this weekend coming up is Father’s Day, which falls on ‘my’ weekend. I offered a swap of weekends or an additional weekend to their father so they could spend Father’s Day with him, but he has refused this.

The DC are now asking why they won’t be seeing him on Father’s Day. I’m loathed to make excuses for him as he has form for being uninvolved/uninterested, and doesn’t speak to them from one contact weekend to the next.

WWYD??

Tell them the truth. It may hurt them but you dont want to be the bad parent. Or better yet get him to tell them.

I would probably try to explain it gently to them or get him to explain it. Kids don't need burdening with a harsh truth, but could maybe cope with "I'm not really sure. I asked him if he wanted to change plans and he thought you would prefer to stay at home."