Hey all single parents! What do you do to celebrate the holidays with just you and your kids. My kids are 9, 8, and 2. All holidays are so depressing for me and boring for the children. We have no set traditions and no other family members nearby. People know that I am alone w/ the kids and we never get invited to spend the day with my friends and their families either. Holidays are stressful b/c they always involve money that I don't have to buy presents, and pay the bills too. I also work in health care so I sometimes end up scheduled to work a major holiday's or they are such money making days that I will work 12 or 16 hours for the xtra money, I have no choice at times b/c the bills are always there. What can I do for some holiday cheer?
2006-10-05 16:17:09 · 11 answers · asked by nene 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Alot of nice family restaurants are open on holidays. Just being together and always letting them know you love them will get you through. They will be better people because of it.
2006-10-05 16:21:13 · answer #1 · answered by I luv THICK gurlz 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well before I became a single mother we had some traditions already. Now some we have dropped, yet others continue.
My children love to hang the ornaments on the tree. And each year they get a new ornament, so that when they are old enough to go out on their own they will have a set already started.
We cook special foods together, that we only have for the holidays.
We watch at least one classic Christmas movie together every year.
And we take a drive about a week before Christmas listening to Christmas music, and looking at all the Christmas lights others have hung. Just so we can have time as a family.
Yes at Christmas it can be depressing, especially if you have had something bad happen on or near Christmas, as my family has. But it is not just about those things. It is about sharing love with each other, and enjoying time spent with those that you love.
And I know how money can be tight. But my helpful hint there that won't help this year is slowly through the year if you see something your kids would like, or that you want for them, try to buy it on sale or clearance all year long. I know one year I bought a lot of stuff on clearance at e-Toys, that the kids just loved. You just have to watch for bargains. Right after Christmas, during clearance time is the best time to buy wrapping paper, name tags, ornaments, and such and just put away until the following year.
Best of luck from a mother of 4 (3 boys 20, 13 & 4.....1 girl 9)
2006-10-06 00:54:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tajuna is right.
I have 2 kids and was a single mother and also a daughter of one.
We did a lot of things that she suggested when my brother and I were little. And now I have taken some of those things that we use to do and do them with my kids.
We used the paper chain and wrote the days till Christmas on them and every day we would tear one link off until we got to Christmas Day.
We didn't have many presents only like 2 or 3 a piece and we always got fruit and nuts in our stocking. We thought it was the best.
Do some of the things that she suggested and I am sure you will have a better time this year. And teach the kids it is better to give than receive.
2006-10-06 01:02:15 · answer #3 · answered by jen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make your own traditions!
I am a single mom.
Every year we buy a new ornament for the tree, we put th tree up and watch holiday movies. Christmas Eve we make some sort of holiday treat or craft for friends/family-fudge, cookies,picture frames, chocolate pretzels, etc and wrap it in tissue paper and decorate with stickers or gift boxes(very cheap) and have a "special dinner"-whatever my daughter wants-her fav food.
I buy what I can BUT buy one special thing they want and just get them little things if you can or donate to a kids for tots, animal shelter,etc so they will feel good about it-even something small
Have a dinner party-invite others and have a potluck.
Family and love is what matters-not presents-talk to them about that,
2006-10-06 07:42:55 · answer #4 · answered by Willow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u r not alone. I am a single mom of 4 boys and 1 girl. We spend the holidays together unless I am working, then we set aside a day that we all cook a big meal. I buy few gifts at christmas...we alwys wait till tax time to do our shopping. I set a liimit for each one and they get to do their own shopping. We usually do a 2 day trip to the outlet malls. Being a single mom my kids understand that I have bills to pay and just being together is good enough for them. But they do look forward to their "shopping trip" every year. They may have to wait but Everyone gets what they want and they are happy . U wouldnt believe the sales in Feb and March!!! Plus i dont have to worry about un wanted gifts...So we all are happy
2006-10-05 16:29:50 · answer #5 · answered by ebaijunky06 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you do xmas crafts with the kids it will always be remembered..we didn't have much money growing up, but we always did crafts that were fun and cheap.. My mother bought sequins, white glue and styro foam balls.. and painstakingly I glued each sequin in place one by one with a straight pin. when the ball was completely covered with sequins, no bare spots, they were dried and hung in the windows where they reflected the lights.. they take ages to make, but I did one every year.. for the younger one, decorating xmas cookies with sprinkles is an excellent first craft.. don't underestimate the level of enjoyment.. most kids just want to do something different with you. These are great family traditions to start.. play games while listening to christmas music too..
2006-10-07 09:22:25 · answer #6 · answered by oneblondepilgrim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can start your own traditions.
Preparing a special meal for a certain holiday or doing crafts together.
They are less costly than going out and provide things you would buy anyway.
The children will enjoy doing things if it's with you, it doesn't need to be on the holiday, it can be the night before.
Children will look forward to being certain they get time with you!
2006-10-05 16:31:11 · answer #7 · answered by astroservus 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
a convention that became began in my kin at the same time as the grandkids got here visiting became each and each 12 months at Christmas the youngsters were each and each given a large container. In that container became 12 smaller bins. on the twenty fifth of each month the youngsters bypass to open a container. each and each container had products from the dollar keep in it. this form that they had christmas all 12 months lengthy and appeared ahead to getting their christmas container each month. the perfect one became stickers! I had stickers throughout my living house and that i might want to no longer say a note because I had offered them. :) yet another component that we do is each and each Easter we make an Easter cake (only an effortless round coconut cake) and enable the youngsters beautify it. be confident to take a image, because no 2 are alike. very few recommendations that are inexpensive.
2016-11-26 20:19:20 · answer #8 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have the kids help create some new family traditions...they will love the responsibility and appreciate the traditions.
You could also try inviting others to spend the holidays with you.
2006-10-05 16:28:24 · answer #9 · answered by jessified 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Look make the kids happy, work suck, there food pantry, churches, non profit organization., also your city officals having party. Lady with 3 kids, that ages get help SALVATION ARMY, Welfares, maybe a good man in your life ., get some help!!! Listen let me know how you made out ,or I,ll help you,
2006-10-05 18:20:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋