Just DC and me during Christmas - inspo please to make it magical

[dazedandblue]

There is a good 50/60% chance it will just be me and DS during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

If this is the case, how do I make sure it’s special for him?
It would likely mean we’d open presents just the 2 of us, and have Christmas food together just us two. He would see his dad maybe 9pm on the 24th and 9pm on the 25th (work shifts).

I still want DS to feel like it’s still magical, how can I set up the day to feel that way.
DS is 5.

My biggest tip is don’t waste the day making a Christmas dinner. Make his and your favourite treats.
spend the day playing with his gifts with him, going for a walk, watching a film in the dark with popcorn. Playing games. Dancing to songs you both like. Making Christmas biscuits. Anything that the two of you can enjoy together.

Go to the cinema together on Christmas Eve, after that have hot chocolates and play a card/board game. Christmas Day open gifts together and then enjoy each others company all day. Play with gifts and have simple, homey food to eat (I wouldn’t bother with a full roast dinner)
Just enjoy each other.

His time WILL be magical because he’s with you! It’s been me & my DD for the last 4 years and it’s been amazing!

have an exciting plan, Christmas Eve could be panto, a walk looking at all the Christmas lights & hot chocolate or games/movie night. Christmas day is wonderful for 5 year olds anyway so that won’t be a problem. I’d make it so you have minimal cooking on Christmas day if possible and so you can play lots together (he’ll love this!)

We always bake Christmas Eve then go for a walk and then later get dominoes, have a bath with glow sticks, Christmas PJ’s in, watch a film and the Santa tracker & it’s great.

Oh I love this!
maybe I will do the bigger Christmas roast on Boxing Day and keep it small on Christmas Eve and day.
Also will try get in all the activities and ingredients for baking so we can have a day of fun

I hope he still feels adored on Christmas Day when opening presents. And I’m sure he will - it’ll just be new to him to spend it just with me. I just want him to feel like it’s fun and special regardless of the circumstances, I know he’s 5 but he feels so little to me still.

The tip above about not doing a lot of cooking is perfect.

Your son will feel special if he has your attention.. that is what will make it special.

My son is a similar age, and a part of me would love to just be able to focus on him for Christmas.

I would make sure that in his presents there is plenty of stuff that he will want to do during Christmas with me. Crafts, science sets, lego sets, toys that are good for playing together.

I'd probably plan some funny/exciting way to open presents, such as a treasure hunt to stretch it out longer, and without the pressure of other people - I'd let him play with everything while opening.

He likes cooking with me, so I might get him involved in the 'simpler' Christmas dinner, and do it together.

Plan a Christmas movie to watch together

Plan a Christmas walk we can go on. etc.

Honestly it sounds quite lovely...

Playing a board game with him ,watching a film getting out at some point if you can