Single Parenting During The Holidays
What if my children are with their other parent for the holidays?
When you are parenting and it's the holidays, and let's say the child is with the other parent during a holiday - you share. Let's' say they get Thanksgiving, then you get Christmas. You can ask the other parent to share the pictures with you. You can also call them. There's a lot of things you can do to keep it alive even when they're not with you for the holidays. Sometimes it's your chance to have your own holiday for yourself. As long as you get one holiday with them and one holiday on your own, maybe it's a time that you can take a cruise or meet up with a friend. So it's not all negative, you have to keep it in mind that you get a new life and you get time for yourself as well.
How can a single parent make a holiday fun for a child?
When it comes to being a single parent and the holiday times are here and it's you and your child, there's a lot of ritualistic things that you can do. You can also decorate a tree, make cookies, or go shopping. If it's snowing you can make snowmen, you can almost become a kid again and create memories with your child so that you can look back and say, "do you remember that holiday when we did this?", and just think about all the memories that you can make. Take pictures and make a scrap book. There's a lot of great ideas to make your holiday special.
What if I can't afford to give my child a great holiday?
There's no such thing as not affording to give your child a great holiday. If you're creative, there's a lot that you can do. You can go to garage sales and get great things. You can make gift baskets. You can collect things throughout the year knowing that you're going to give them to your child for a holiday. You could make things for them, paying attention to what they love. As long as you're creative, you can make a wonderful holiday for yourself and your child.
How do I share my child's birthday with my ex?
When it comes time for your child's birthday as a single parent, depending upon your parenting agreement, some agreements say one year, you know, the child's birthday is celebrated with you, the next year with the ex. In those situations if you're friendly with your ex you would throw a big birthday party for all of you, and that's really the best because your child wants you both there. And you can be, even if you don't get along, for that one day you can get along. I think it's a great idea, and you just split it fifty fifty.