To ask what single parent to 1 dc do over Christmas time?

[8mileeminem]

I'm looking for ideas of what me and my 9 yr old dd can do over the Christmas holiday and new year. Especially New Year's Eve . The only day I have planned is Christmas Day so far.

I have 2 dc but we are going away for Christmas to get a change of scene.

New year i won't have dc so will have to see what I'll do.

We're doing a Christmas lights thing on 2nd Jan.

I throw myself into it. We had a miserable Christmas when Ds was about 3 (been single since pregnancy) where I just couldn’t be bothered, and it was horrendous. Now I do all the stuff I would have done if we were a bigger family - so Christmas day is usual chaos of stockings, unwrapping, food, toys etc. Boxing Day we are going to friends. New Year’s Eve we have a pretend midnight about 9pm - we have lemonade out of champagne glasses and I hang balloons from the ceiling. I find I have to throw myself into it with a fake gusto, and then it sort of takes over and it’s not fake any more if you see what I mean?

My birthday is early jan and I hate that though. My son wrapped me a can of Diet Coke a few years ago and it was incredible sweet, but really brought home to me that it’s just us two. I can manage the other days, but that one kills me.

I plan to spend most of it at my mum's as she lives quite far away. If you aren't going to be with family can you just plan something smsll for each day, most places will be open between Christmas and New year to go out and do stuff, you could bake, have film nights, Do crafty things (Google has loads of ideas especially for this time of year). Just try and think of it like Amy other school holiday what did in the summer?

It’s always just myself and daughter and always used to feel guilty especially with all the supermarket adverts with lots of toasting celebrating families, they used to make me feel utterly miserable. This years Boots advert made me cry, it’s very me and my daughter now.

So we used to have board games out, still do actually lots of the old ones are popular like tiddlywinks etc, lots of food, movies, staying in pjs when I look back now she is a teen it was actually really special, and we always go to a pantomime on Christmas Eve. I think we worry too much trying to make it perfect when they no, no different.

Too much!

Weekend before Christmas at grandparents, Christmas Eve breakfast with friends and in the afternoon cinema or theatre,
At some point we will go to the panto with friends, out for breakfast just us two, rugby match. Go and see Christmas lights - this year we are going to Kew Gardens and Birmingham Botanic Gardens, meet up with friends we only see in school holidays.
We have done pantos or cinema on new years eve afternoon, this year we are going to a Light show in the Cathedral ruins at midnight ( my son is 14 so we can be out later)

look in your local area, there are bound to be concerts, pantos, shows of various kinds, ice rinks etc.

Just chill as I'm working Xmas eve and boxing day so want a quiet day with my dd

Also single parent to one almost 3 year old - interested to read ideas on here. It's the first year he is noticing the lights and Christmas trees.

I'm single mum to an only

I take DS to a theme park each year for the Xmas side of it (usually slightly cheaper than in the summer and you get good deals on premier inn or travelodges if you book well in advance £25 or so)

I was considering the Disney NYE coach trip which I heard lots of single parents use but tbh it's out of my budget

Instead we will watch fireworks together and go to see family and friends

Not a single parent but DH has worked many a Christmas Day and the surrounding days and we used to live too far from family to visit in the time available around work.

We've often spent cosy hours by the fire building whatever Lego or Knex set Ds has been given. 9 is a good age for this. I line up the pieces he's going to need for the next stage.

Board games and craft/modeling kits given as gifts give us something to do indoors as well. I got a mat controller for the Wii that had two person games last year and that was a focus.

A couple of years when DH was working a lot I found a fairly modest trip to the woods, walk in the mud, get properly cold, café stop if nearby took us up to a reasonable time to go home and watch a Christmas movie with a hot chocolate. Possible board game if we're up to it.

One of the best gifts I've ever given if I say so myself was a book of card games. It goes from snap to Texas Hold'Em and loads in between we've never heard of. DS (9) loves learning an obscure card game. Some obvs require more players but plenty for two. That and a pack of cards and we're off. This works well for camping in the rain as well.

I find it a tough time of year. No family close by and always feel awkward imposing on local friends (who are entertaining their own families).

I make sure we have something to do every other day. DD likes to have a few pj days and I make sure I actually sit down and watch tv and eat chocolate (although this doesn't always work - I was so bored last Boxing Day I did the ironing 😳).

I have made the effort to meet more single moms this year and will hopefully be invited to a few things - even if it's just a walk it'll be good to have company.

Sorry just realised I didn't give any ideas, not very helpful!

We usually go swimming - it's always nice and quiet! Go to the cinema. Go to local parks which hire out bikes, etc.

Parkrun on NYD! (DS too young but when he's 9 he will be joining in).

Don't assume your friends want to be closeted in their houses with their families - that is a strange Mumsnet obsession. In reality I have always had an enthusiastic response when I suggest outings in the week between Christmas and New year. Before Christmas people are busy, and you will be too, but if you can fit in a carol concert or play that would be nice.

I'm a single parent of 3 aged 6 and under. I've bought a few jigsaws. They help us bundle through rainy afternoons.

The kids cinemas operate in holidays too - around £3.50 a ticket and not just a Saturday morning. We do that a few times

I agree with PP who said "what you do in any other school holiday". In many ways, it's easier as there are loads of things on around here so we can pick and choose which (free or cheap!) ones to go to. We have a few low-effort things that have become traditions - a drive round to look at all the lights on the houses, a walk with another family on new year's day, we'll go swimming at some point. We'll go to church either on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. We'll do what every other family does - flob around a lot eating selection boxes and watching cheesy films

In other years we've gone away for the weekend immediately before Christmas, somewhere in the UK not too long a drive away, to a nice hotel and a pool - we have a swim, and then treat ourselves to room-service. Nothing says Christmas to DD now like being allowed to eat burger and chips in bed!! We can't afford that this year because we went away in the summer, but I will probably try and re-create it at home.

I was a single parent to one DC for 7 years (until met DH) .

Do you know I never thought about Christmases being different as a single parent until reading this thread! Was always busy and didn't think of it!

Normally had a Christmas thing at my work for everyone's kids.

We used to travel to grandparents on the day before Christmas Eve and stay until NY unless I was working.

Other things we'd usually do might be :

Hand delivering Christmas cards to neighbours / local friends in the weeks before Christmas.

Walking round to look at all the lights on the houses.

A lot of fuss about getting and decorating the tree- letting DC choose one new decoration each year.

Choosing and wrapping presents for grandparents.

Going and picking foliage, ivy etc and making our own wreath for the door.

Visit to a Santa somewhere- normally a nursery or school fair.

A walk with just us on Boxing Day and on New Year's Day,

A pantomime in the week usually
after Christmas.

Visit to a garden centre with Christmassy stuff going on.

Christmassy films on the TV.

Church either on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

Seeing my old school friends and their kids.

Normally playing board games just the two of us , or having a jigsaw on the go ( only do that at Christmas!)

It's not much different since meeting DH to be honest, except he's a better cook of roast things than me!

Single parent to an 8yo here. I've booked Butlins for the 27-30th. Only paid £130 for 3 nights and there's so much to do that's included in the price.

Whatever you are interested in! Before Christmas there's lots of Christmas lights, carols etc many free. Make a new tradition for Christmas Eve - we choose a favourite restaurant then go to midnight mass. On Christmas Day cook whatever you both want - do it together perhaps, board games, a movie perhaps, or at 9 how about thinking of volunteering with older people attending Christmas dinners? It's not for everyone but I know people who do this every year and say it's so much fun (a lot of board games and carol singing here).

If finances permit, there's always the option of going away