Parenting Time for the June Bank Holiday: Your Options
In Ireland, the June Bank Holiday is on the first Monday of each June.
Since the post-primary school year ends beforehand and primary schools close for the day, both parents may be tempted to schedule a family holiday — or at least want to spend time with the children.
To avoid a fight, here are some ways you can agree to schedule parenting over the June Bank Holiday.
June Bank Holiday schedules to consider
Split the long weekend
You can agree to split the long weekend evenly or according to your usual division of parenting time (e.g., 60/40). Decide together what you'll consider the start and end of the long weekend.
This option may appeal especially to parents who want to maintain a specific division of time.
In the 50/50 division below, one parent has the children from 8 a.m. Saturday to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Then the children stay with the other parent until 9 p.m. Monday.
Split Monday only
If you don't want to change your standard weekend schedule, you can just split Monday.
The children would spend Monday morning with the Sunday night parent, then spend Monday afternoon with the other parent. They could stay Monday night at either parent's house, depending on what you agree and your regular schedule.
Give the weekend parent the extra day
If one parent already has custody for most of the weekend, you can simply give them Monday as well. This creates a longer visit for the bank holiday.
If both parents get weekends in your regular custody and access schedule, June Bank Holiday may not fall during the same parent's weekend every year. To address this in a Custody X Change calendar, tell the app that the holiday should go to whoever has custody at the start of that weekend.
Your calendar will adjust automatically for each year.
Alternate yearly
Alternating who gets the holiday each year is a popular approach.
Your children might spend the long weekend with you in even-numbered years and with the other parent in odd-numbered years. Or you could alternate just Monday, the actual holiday.
Celebrate together
Though uncommon, some parents choose to celebrate together. This can be a good option for newly divorced parents and parents who created family traditions together for June Bank Holiday.
If you opt to do this, be clear about the co-parenting boundaries you'll respect. For example, you may agree not to bring or talk about new partners. Celebrating together is not recommended if your ex is toxic or controlling.
The easiest way to make a custody schedule for special occasions
There's a lot to think about when you build a holiday schedule. You'll want it to address weekend and midweek holidays, reflect occasions unique to your family (like birthdays) and work for years to come.
The Custody X Change app makes it easy. Just open your Custody X Change calendar and follow our steps to make a holiday schedule.
To make a custody and access schedule quickly and affordably, turn to Custody X Change. In no time, you'll have written and visual versions that include the holidays and occasions you care about.