Single parenting is difficult any time of year, but single parenting during the holidays is even more stressful. If you’ve recently been through a divorce and now have sole custody, you might be nervous about the holidays. Can you still make them magical for your children without a partner to take some of the load off? The answer is that yes, of course, you can still make the holidays magical for your little ones! Stop comparing yourself to other parents or your past parenting. Focus on just a few things that will make the holidays special. Give yourself grace as you figure out this new way of life. And remember to enlist help when you start to feel overwhelmed. You can still give your children a magical holiday season even if you are a single parent.
Single Parenting During the Holidays: Making the Season Magical on Your Own
Stop Comparing Yourself
Single parenting during the holidays can seem overwhelming when you start comparing yourself to everybody else. Try to remember that social media doesn’t tell the whole story. For example, your friends might seem like they are doing holiday activities with their children all day long but are just relying on a lot of screen time. Try not to compare yourself to the celebrity couples and Instagrammers you see this season: you never know what’s going on behind the scenes.
Focus on a Few Things
If you are single parenting during the holidays, it’s a great idea to pick a few things to focus on. For example, there are a million holiday-related activities to do with children. But don’t try to do them all. Just pick a few that you think will be special and meaningful and focus on them. Maybe your family enjoys looking at Christmas lights. Or maybe making cookies for Santa is something you’d like to make time for. Your children will love making special memories with you.
Give Yourself Grace
Single parenting during the holidays is incredibly hard. So give yourself grace. You will probably get overwhelmed at some point. There might be things you forget. But it’s ok. Children are easy to please and are usually impressed with the smallest things. Remember that the thing that makes the holidays the most magical for them is spending special time with you.
Enlist Help
Finally, if you are single parenting during the holidays, consider enlisting help. See if you can hire a babysitter to give you some relief now and then. If this isn’t a possibility financially, maybe a close friend or family member could help you with some activities with the kids. You could even have somebody virtually help you by Facetiming with your children and reading them holiday stories. Or send them on a scavenger hunt throughout the house. It’s ok to reach out for help when you need it.
Single parenting during the holidays is one of the most stressful times of the year. There is so much going on and everybody’s schedules are off track. Your children likely have a lot of pent-up energy and excitement. Not to mention the long breaks from school or daycare that leave you scrambling to find child-care. Try not to compare yourself to other families or celebrities. Focus on a few special activities and make the most of them. Give yourself the grace to let a few things slide. And finally, enlist help when you need it. The holiday season is all about making memories for your children. You are enough to give them the best holidays they’ve ever had!