Christmas Day just you and DC

[TeachesOfPeaches]

Looks like I will be spending xmas day with just me and my 4 year old. How can I make it special?

There was a thread about this last year and there were some fab ideas including.....

If the weather is good, go to the park and take a flask of hot chocolate to drink together
Make a gingerbread house
Make special crowns together to wear for the day
Go for a 'twinkle walk' enjoying the local Christmas lights

Thank you. Can you link to previous thread at all?

I have done it on my own since my Ds was 2 .
We always do something special on Christmas Eve . Have gone to the theatre , cinema , ice skating , roller skating but always something special.

Christmas Day we have gingerbread house for breakfast ( always made before, at 4 it is mainly spent playing with toys , building new stuff, filling with batteries, playing new games .

We did Christingle when he was younger.

We have a roast dinner , never turkey but we both like a roast dinner, lots of Tv

I also put myself on a tech ban whilst he was up other than the Merry Christmas calls. So it was a complete family day.

Now he is older he wants to go on x box and his phone

Who do you normally spend it with or is this your first year as a single parent? I’ve always spent it on my own with my kids I prefer it tbh!

Thank you. I have a very small family which has just grown smaller and more fractured as the years go by.

Went across to the other side of London last year to my gran's and ended up coming home in an uber on xmas day by lunchtime as it was so unpleasant.

Is 4 too young for ice skating?

I've taken my kids ice skating on xmas day. It's really lovely and we are going again this year. 4 is quite young but some kids go at that age ...I'd say if you are a decent skater, there are things to hold (penguins, seals whatever) then try it.

You could go to church Xmas day.

It might be a bit costly, but have you thought of finding somewhere to go out for lunch?

Me and DH were on our own (family all far away) and we went to a local pub for Christmas dinner. Because it was a small village pub, it was set up as big tables because there were a few people in the village who were alone, meant that it felt like a community meal. The land lady had presents for all the kids who were coming too and it was really lovely. There was an open fire. We met some very interesting people - a couple from Canada who were house sitting, another family from the village who's family were also far away, some older people who were on their own. It was a lovely day.

I personally hate going out for lunch over Christmas period . It’s full of familes makes me feel worse . Plus at 4 they don’t sit still long

I agree about the making you feel worse. Sometimes I hate taking the kids to event type things as it’s always full of families and I end up feeling like rubbish. Can imagine it will be like that if you went out to lunch on Xmas.

Name change test sorry

Work colleagues asked about my Xmas day plans and they all looked horrified when I told them and then said they feel sorry for me

I think sometimes other people's horror can end up putting you off and feeling like your perfect plans for Christmas aren't right. I get this when I try to spend Christmas alone when I've not got DD.

You can create such a magical experience for her with hot chocolate, some treats, whatever you want for dinner (maybe let her choose) Christmas TV, and a walk to see the Christmas lights. Through the eyes of a 4 year old, that sounds just lovely. If you manage to do anything above that, then wow!!

Also, there are groups on Meetup about not being alone for Christmas - even if you don't want to meet anyone, you'll see some really great ideas being discussed for an alter a Christmas celebration.

Hello!

I've been on my own with my son for a really long time he's now 10 which is a little older than 4. But in the past I would get all the Christmas cartoons & films and games I played as a child and watch and play them with her. I'd also ask her what she would like to do as well... even though their little they sometimes have better ideas than us ;)