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Original poster

Help Single parent & Xmas

37 replies

Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 24/10/2023 21:02

Hi , single parent with one dc at home .

I use to love Xmas and always made an effort but I’ve spent most of my parenthood as a single parent .
Two older kids have left home now.

Im now at the stage I really really wish i had a fast forward button . I do feel sad I feel like this but every year it’s just been me and the kids.
I feel it’s a lot of pressure with just me and wee one now . Dc would love it to be a big family celebration ( so would I ) but just not going to happen .

Anyway I would like to go away over xmas . Any ideas where would be best . ???
I have a young child who is on side . Original plan was to go away before xmas then have a quiet one (haha) at home .
The closer it gets though the more I just don’t want to do xmas this year.

Maybe it would be nice somewhere else . ?

Anyone Been in this position ?

Any ideas ?

OP posts:
gotomomo · 25/10/2023 13:20

I'd look at a TUI resort in the canaries if money allows, they put on a hybrid Anglo German Christmas thing and definitely other single parents, I've got a friend who went each year with her dd for the reasons you cite. Not cheap being Christmas but quite different.

JemOfAWoman · 25/10/2023 13:27

I was in the same boat with my DS as he was growing up. Tried a few 'hotels' in the uk but the traditional families made it really obvious that we weren't.
Took him skiing one year and 'boom' we found our tribe! Joined ski school, got talking to so many people and ended up socialising with them. Did this every year until he was 18, he became an excellent skier and would be in a much harder group than me, so he made his own friends and didn't need to hang out with mum all day but we still had a great time!
If you can afford it Canada is so much better than Europe imo for socialising and making friends.

Create your own Christmas traditions, it'll be great!

Original poster
Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 25/10/2023 14:14

Loubelle70 · 25/10/2023 12:18

I was a single parent, I would have loved to go away at xmas but had enough worry about affording to buy presents and where that was coming from. Until DD got older and I was in a well paid job oc we stayed home.
I would do morocco.

Im Certainly not loaded for sure , but decided to spend money on experiences than stuff that doesn’t get played with an lays around the house .
Im also in a better position than I was when the two eldest were young.
Ive got them where they need to be in life and things are slightly easier now.

Oh and I don’t plan to do presents just the holiday making that my only expense.

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givemushypeasachance · 25/10/2023 14:37

I would look for something where you can do activities of some kind for sure, as otherwise it's "mum and 8 year old doing Christmas alone in a different place" compared to the Christmas alone at home. Having planned activities would be what makes the difference and has it be worthwhile being somewhere else.

Disney and Center Parcs and Butlins have all been suggested, so there is that kind of thing where it's the opportunity for swimming/rides/sports and activities. But as another idea what about the more "activity holiday" end of things. So as a random suggestion - like a pony trekking holiday, or a learn to scuba dive holiday, where it's not just going to a different place where there's stuff to do, but the whole point of the trip is to go and do X activity. Could be anything from learning to cook to nature conservation works to a bunch of sports.

That would definitely keep you busy and be a distraction from Christmas, if you want to keep a small Christmas celebration separate.

Original poster
Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 25/10/2023 19:08

gotomomo · 25/10/2023 13:20

I'd look at a TUI resort in the canaries if money allows, they put on a hybrid Anglo German Christmas thing and definitely other single parents, I've got a friend who went each year with her dd for the reasons you cite. Not cheap being Christmas but quite different.

I had thought of Germany actually for the markets.
Be fab if you could get the info for me to search that sounds great .

OP posts:
Original poster
Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 25/10/2023 19:11

givemushypeasachance · 25/10/2023 14:37

I would look for something where you can do activities of some kind for sure, as otherwise it's "mum and 8 year old doing Christmas alone in a different place" compared to the Christmas alone at home. Having planned activities would be what makes the difference and has it be worthwhile being somewhere else.

Disney and Center Parcs and Butlins have all been suggested, so there is that kind of thing where it's the opportunity for swimming/rides/sports and activities. But as another idea what about the more "activity holiday" end of things. So as a random suggestion - like a pony trekking holiday, or a learn to scuba dive holiday, where it's not just going to a different place where there's stuff to do, but the whole point of the trip is to go and do X activity. Could be anything from learning to cook to nature conservation works to a bunch of sports.

That would definitely keep you busy and be a distraction from Christmas, if you want to keep a small Christmas celebration separate.

I’d love to do a cooking holiday . Would be fab if dc could come with me. Wether the attention span is there for that every day im
not so sure .

OP posts:
Original poster
Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 25/10/2023 19:15

JemOfAWoman · 25/10/2023 13:27

I was in the same boat with my DS as he was growing up. Tried a few 'hotels' in the uk but the traditional families made it really obvious that we weren't.
Took him skiing one year and 'boom' we found our tribe! Joined ski school, got talking to so many people and ended up socialising with them. Did this every year until he was 18, he became an excellent skier and would be in a much harder group than me, so he made his own friends and didn't need to hang out with mum all day but we still had a great time!
If you can afford it Canada is so much better than Europe imo for socialising and making friends.

Create your own Christmas traditions, it'll be great!

This sounds amazing! I bet use made so many memories .
Canada would be a fab idea , maybe I’ve left it too late for this year . Thats an idea for next year possibly .
Never thought I’d holiday abroad alone (with dc ) but now I have I want to use that passport. 😊

OP posts:
HerMammy · 25/10/2023 19:45

I have done many a holiday as a single parent with my DD, now 18.
We've been on beach holidays, city breaks never felt out of place. Copenhagen is stunning at Xmas.

Original poster
Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 25/10/2023 20:42

@HerMammy what did you do on Xmas day ? Did you book a Meal out and do a present in a hotel room? Did the city you were in have it’s Xmas day service going on and it was hard to book a table etc ?

OP posts:
HerMammy · 25/10/2023 22:26

On Xmas day we went to the Nutcracker at the Hungarian State Opera after breakfast, then for a walk back to our hotel, then dinner on a river cruise, took some small gifts with us, wonderful memory to have.

HerMammy · 25/10/2023 22:27

Sorry should have added that was Budapest, everything booked in advance.

Original poster
Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 25/10/2023 23:18

@HerMammy sounds just perfect.

Would love to hear more of your adventures.

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