First holiday as a single mum with dd

[Fizzpop321]

After the sudden end of a 17yr marriage I want to take my preteen dd on a summer holiday abroad. Terrified at doing this alone, any tips,ideas how or where to go?

You'll be fine! I did it with my 3, and after some serious pre-holiday nerves, I relaxed into it and we had a great time.
Would you consider an all-inclusive resort? Not everyone on here would recommend that as an option, but I really rate it! Think relaxing by the pool or beach, without having to worry about food shopping or the washing up!
If your child is sociable, then there will be clubs and ways to meet other young people too. while you go to the spa
Have fun!

You'll have a blast. My 14 & 12 year old daughters and I get away as often as we can - it's a brilliant chance to have fun together.

Involve your daughter in the planning. Don't feel constrained by what you've done in the past. What sort of holiday do you both fancy? A villa, where you can both chill by your own pool? A busy hotel, where you might both make friends at the evening's entertainment, or chill in the spa together? An activity break? A city break? The world is your oyster.

The girls and I have done so much cool stuff since their mum and I split three years ago. We've been tobogganing in the hills above Oslo; swum with dolphins and been parasailing in the Dominican Republic; ridden horses in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain and the Dordogne river in France; browsed Christmas markets in Germany; climbed the Eiffel Tower in Paris; canoed in the Dordogne; ridden zip wires in Snowdonia; cruised the Norfolk Broads - all sorts. We're about to go coasteering and abseiling in Wales, and later this year we'll be canyoning and adventuring in Slovenia. The only limit is your imagination (and back balance, of course - the most annoying limitation of all! Some of those adventures were cheap; others were expensive - you can have lots of fun no matter the budget).

Basically, try to view this as an exciting opportunity for the two of you to get quality time together, and do something you both find exciting. Whatever that is, this is the part where you two figure out how you're going to make the most of life. Plan it together. Get each other excited about it. Above all, enjoy 🙂

For your first time, I would perhaps go where there are lots of other people and maybe entertainment etc. How’s your budget looking? I found it expensive this year in summer

First holiday abroad www.mumsnet.com/Talk/lone_parents/3536878-first-holiday-abroad

First time I've ever tried linking to another thread so hope it works!

I'm going abroad alone with my DD for the first ever time this summer. I'm excited but nervous at the same time if that makes sense!

Some great suggestions on this and the other thread and ultimately it's down to personal preference as to where you stay etc

But well done you for doing it, think of it as a new life experience for you & your child. That's what I'm doing and it'll be lovely to spend some quality fun time together away from the usual routines of school runs etc.

I noticed yours is a pre-teen so might be worth asking them where they'd like to go also - not saying book exactly what they say but if it's built up as being a special holiday and they've had input as to where you go/what you do whilst there etc then I think it will add to the magic of it.

Hope you have a great time!

You’ll be fine. Just do it. It’s not like she’s a baby. She’s quite independent surely by now.

I’m not a lone parent but I went travelling on my own (it was term time) with my youngest at 8 months and I’m taking my 6 year old this summer (abroad both times). I would say just try not to pack too much to do into a day. Build in time to just relax together, sit on the beach, have a drink and read a book at a cafe, etc. Don’t just go from one tourist attraction to the next. It’s easy for them to get tired and grumpy. I plan my days around playground stops - museum, lunch, then glass of wine for me, playground for her, an ice cream and a rest in the shade. Yours might be too old for that, but think along the same lines. I’d also get her involved in choosing where to go and what to do as she’s old enough.

It is better, as this is your first trip, to do too little than attempt to much. Somewhere fairly close to home, preferably with everything included on site (so no backpacking in NZ) and you'll be OK. Once you've done the first trip, you can be more adventurous nect time.

Thankyou, some lovely ideas and my anxiety has lessened and am now a little excited about planning this with my dd. First I shall see what the budget is as ex said he will pay half, we shall see!

I went with an ex last year and he was so selfish (hence the ex!) so it was like I'd taken DD away by myself! I have no qualms in taking her away by myself this year. She's 8.