Mothering Sunday and Child Contact

The tradition of Mothering Sunday in Britain began when children, who had gone to work outside the home, usually as domestic servants, were given a day off to visit their mother. Today it’s celebrated as a day for giving mothers flowers or presents and cards.

The best gifts are always delivered personally. But for children of divorced or separated parents, that’s not always straightforward. This year’s Mothering Sunday falls on 2 March, but what if that falls on “Dad’s weekend” and the children want to spend time with Mum, as their friends and classmates are doing? Children hate feeling singled out or excluded because they’re not doing what their friends are doing.

Flexibility is key. The children’s best interests should be paramount. Would it really matter to swap a weekend or flexibly re-arrange contact times so that Mum can have the children on Mothering Sunday? Fathers’ Day is on 15 June so will Dad have the children then?

In cases where contact can’t be agreed, you will need to take advice from a solicitor and start a process which can take time to resolve. If contact isn’t agreed via solicitor correspondence, then the issue will go to Court. In this case, the Court will set a date for both parties to attend, to decide how to proceed. Quite often in such cases, a CAFCASS officer is brought in, who will speak to the parents and children and make a recommendation to the Court. This report can take up to three months, and once received another attendance at Court is required in order to see if the matter can now be resolved. If not, then ultimately it is for the Court to decide on how contact can be divided.

It is therefore far preferable for all concerned if the parents can come to an amicable agreement, saving time, money and stress.

The most important thing to consider, as always when it comes to contact, is the child. Their best interests should at all times be at the front of everyone’s minds.

If you’d like to discuss child contact, or a similar issue, please contact Alistair Dobson on 01858 445480.