Calling all Single Parents!

[MissSixty]

Please tell me how to get my parents to leave me alone! I am a single mother with a 3 year old boy and plan on trip alone with him in December. My parents are giving me a hard time about traveling alone with just he and I....and I am 34 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mom to a Princess]

Please tell me how to get my parents to leave me alone! I am a single mother with a 3 year old boy and plan on trip alone with him in December. My parents are giving me a hard time about traveling alone with just he and I....and I am 34 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I am not sure about how to get your parents off your back since mine are no longer here but I can tell you how I deal with my siblings reservations about is traveling alone.

Are you going to disney? I will assume you are for the moment. I simply tell my sibs that I am an adult and an travel with dd as like. I also tell them that WDW is a family destination and while bad things do happen every where it is not like we are going for a vacation alone in NY City. There are simply some places where it is safer to travel alone and WDW is one of them. I have taken DD alone to both DL and WDW and will do so again in the future. Last year we even took a solo trip to San Diego.

I just listen to them and thank them for thier concern but make sure I am firm with them that this is something I can and will do. What's the fun in staying home all the time? We've had more bad things happen to us at home than while we were traveling.

I hope this helped.

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Please tell me how to get my parents to leave me alone! I am a single mother with a 3 year old boy and plan on trip alone with him in December. My parents are giving me a hard time about traveling alone with just he and I....and I am 34 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been traveling alone with my DDs from the time my oldest was born. Even when I was married, work often prevented my ex from joining us. My folks are nearly 70 and they still hassle me about traveling alone. I give them detailed itineraries so they'll never have to wonder and tell them if we're having fun, most likely we won't answer our phones, but we'll call back when we have time. Keeps the pestering to a minimum...

Have fun!

 

[makinorlando]

Hmmmm - business idea here... (just kidding) I should hire my almost nine year old out as a child guide... she is a natural born tour guide for the parks and rides....when we have guests, or for those fortunate (or unfortunate depending on how you look at it) people who are near us in the queue lines. She will give you the scoop on just about anything ride related in the parks.

Last night we were at MK, and she was on Barnstormer - I wait at bottom while she gets in line. I saw her in line talking with a family with a girl about her age, and when the ride came by, she was riding with her! It was a family of three - so one of them would have had to ride alone!!! As they said their good byes, they thanked her for her tips!!!!

She loves having other kids with us in the parks, since she is an only child!!! It's nice that now that she is 8 -she is able to ride alone on some things that I prefer not to go on!!!

 

[ESN]

OK - first thing - I am a married mother of 2 - I work full time outside my home ( and full time inside - so I know that the "stay at home" mom has defintely got it harder!) Now that you know my stats --

I have traveled many, many times with my 2 kids (now 2 and 4 ) - I am fortunate to get a lot more vacation time than my husband. I also love to be on the move - and he is more the "stay at home" type.

I have done solo trips with my kids to Florida, visits to friends/family, trips to D.C. , NYC and Boston. In my experience, as long as you do a bit of planning, and are thoughtful of your surroundings, you can do anything.

Most kids are happy as long as mom or dad is with them - I have had many great moments with my kids , and feel they have learned a lot. In fact - I am sad to see the school years arrive - as it will definitely kill my traveling!

I would never let the lack of a partner /spouse dissuade you from doing something fun and interesting with your kids. Will there be rough moments? Definitely. Will you have fun? Absolutely, if you are flexible and prepared.

BTW - I will be the one riding Buzz Lightyear over and over with my 2 kids in late March!

 

[lauritagoddess]

Please tell me how to get my parents to leave me alone! I am a single mother with a 3 year old boy and plan on trip alone with him in December. My parents are giving me a hard time about traveling alone with just he and I....and I am 34 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a single mom going with my 3 year old son in 5 days and my mom thought I was insane to take him this young and to go by ourselves (and I'm 33 years old). Well, she's not paying for the trip or going, so I figure she doesn't get an opinion, lol. I'm a little nervous since this will be our first vacation alone together - I keep repeating to myself "must not lose child, must not lose child", but you know how it is when you're a single mom, you're used to do stuff on your own with just you and your child, this is just taking it on the road.

 

[Mom to a Princess]

I'm a little nervous since this will be our first vacation alone together - I keep repeating to myself "must not lose child, must not lose child"

I am a single mom (31) and this has been my mantra to myself. I really do not worry about traveling alone with dd but at disney I always worry about losing her in some of the "madness" with the characters or openings/closings.

She always has my contact info on her as well as a good sense about where to go and who to go to if she loses mommy.

 

[pershing]

Stroller!! Stroller!! Stroller!! Best way to conserve her energy and keep her close. As much energy as kids have, my pedometer averages 11 miles a day, and even in that heat my oldest wanted to crawl in the stroller sometimes.

Bring some kind of unique light up necklace or shirt! The only time I had trouble was after the fireworks. My kids were wearing these glow in the dark shirts from home and that prevented a mishap.

Ya know how many arguing couples I see in Fantasyland each trip? I'd say it's easier without a spouse to disagree with. Each child lists his top 3 before leaving the hotel.

Each day, I took a picture of my kids before we left the hotel so it was in my digital camera as I would never remember what they were wearing that particular day.

ummmm....can't think of anything else off the top of my head except I wouldn't let her decide the day's routine. I did that first trip with no success. I structure the day and they list their preferences. Flows better. Otherwise you do that walking around in circles thing.

 

[boxer]

I'm not single dad, BUT I had just my son and me on our last trip due to my wife/daughter being sick for part of the vacation. We had a BETTER time without them !!!! LOL.

It was so much easier only keeping track of one child, and only having to appease the wishes (rides) of my son. I put him in his umbrella stoller, and we went everywhere. It was some nice father/son time in Disney.........plus as an upside, I got alot of compliments/attention from women on how nice it was for just a son and his father to be there!!!

I give you credit for being a single mom and still wanting (and being able) to take your child to Disney. The single mom's I know would be too worried about missing $2 draft night at the local club LOL.

Good luck, and you'll have a blast.....

 

[funcinderella]

Please tell me how to get my parents to leave me alone! I am a single mother with a 3 year old boy and plan on trip alone with him in December. My parents are giving me a hard time about traveling alone with just he and I....and I am 34 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe they are waiting to be invited along...

I am a soon to be single mom of almost 5 year-old twins. While I wouldn't hesitate to go anywhere with just one kid, I'd probably not do it with both. I always go to Disney with my parents and brother and we have a blast. So perhaps they are just wanting to come too...

 

[MissSixty]

Funny you should say that, actually I am going in a couple of months and Dad is coming along (mom wants no part of it) but I know he doesn't want to go again in December!

 

[funcinderella]

Funny you should say that, actually I am going in a couple of months and Dad is coming along (mom wants no part of it) but I know he doesn't want to go again in December!

Oh well, there goes that theory; I guess they just worry about you.

I went on a date 2 weeks ago, and my Mom called me at 8 am the next morning to make sure I was okay and didn't get abducted or anything (although there was a blizzard, so I shouldn't be too harsh on her.)

It's a good thing I answered my home phone; if I'd only answered the cell she really would have been wondering...

 

[Mom to a Princess]

I give you credit for being a single mom and still wanting (and being able) to take your child to Disney. The single mom's I know would be too worried about missing $2 draft night at the local club LOL.

Good luck, and you'll have a blast.....

Thanks! More often than not I have to deny my dd's requests. Now I know that is a normal part of growing up but I do like to think that I can indulge her (and me ) with a trip to disney. It makes all the sacrafices worth while! It'a funny because I thought I would never be able to afford a disney trip but with a lot of research and smart planning we are able to do it for very little money.

Plus as you said about having nice father/son time this is a great week for us to ehjoy each other without all the normal pressures of life.

My mom was a Disney addict, I am a Disney addict, and my dd is rapidly becoming a disney addict. What a great thing to pass on!

 

[ILoveMagic]

I'm not a single parent............but I am taking my ds (8) in April. This is his 1st time on a plane, and his 1st time to disney. He has never been on a roller coaster! We hope to have a grand time. Even though he has no concept of what to expect he is excited. I just plan to take things easy and play it by ear.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

DD9 and myself went on a "solo trip" this past August and we had a wonderful time !!! We also stayed @ POP>>>you'll love it there ,especially the spray jets at the pool and the piped in 50's,60's,70's and 80's music at the pool and resturant !!! Happy Planning P.S. Make sure to have lots of photos of the 2 of you together....people that I asked to take our pictures were always happy to do it , and then I'd always offer to take theirs ,too !

 

[ctinct]

Disney is one of the BEST places to do a solo trip. Most people there tend to be very understanding of the occasional impatient child. The first time I went solo my daughter was just under 3 yrs. and my son was about 12. We had a great time, but I have a confession to make. I can't believe that I am the only person who experienced this, but one day as we were walking toward our hotel, all we kept passing by were two-parent families, and a huge wave of sadness swept over me. (I got over it quickly, thank goodness, but I was a little bummed for a few hours.) On the plus side, I now make it a point to smile, say hello, or even start a conversation with other obviously single parents. Have a great time on your trip!!!!

 

[Alice Sr.]

My dd 4 and I will be at WDW in late August. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for traveling through WDW with just themselves and a child.

I hope you are staying on-site, I think that makes life much easier. I agree with what everyone has mentioned but to put it in my own words.

1) Always take/use a stroller. (She doesn't have to use it if she doesn't want to, but they are great to carry extra stuff like drinks, cloths, ponchos, sun block)
2) Always have water bottles with you especially in August
3) Buy a sun block just for that trip and put it on at least 1/2 hour before leaving the hotel and after playing in the water fountains
4) Make an itinerary (with hotel information) for whoever you are the closest to
5) Your name and cell phone information on your DD somewhere and your closest contact information on you somewhere

You are going to have so much fun.

 

[samano]

Plus as you said about having nice father/son time this is a great week for us to ehjoy each other without all the normal pressures of life.

My mom was a Disney addict, I am a Disney addict, and my dd is rapidly becoming a disney addict. What a great thing to pass on!

I just want to echo that. My dad was a huge Disney addict, we went every summer when I was growing up. Probably why vacation = Disney World in my mind! Those trips are some of my best childhood memories.

As a single mom, (as I'm sure a lot of you can relate) I am the homework police, the discipline police, etc all year round. My kids go stay with their dad every other weekend and get to hang out and have fun. He gets to be the cool, fun parent.
Our trip to DW 2 years ago was the best because it was time for us to escape from our every day life and just hang out and have some fun. That trip was a huge turning point in our adjustment to our new family dynamic. I am so excited about this trip this summer too. My DD has had a really tough year in school this year, and I can hardly wait for a trip to DW to let our hair down. I get to be the cool parent for a whole week!

 

[Mom to a Princess]

I can't believe that I am the only person who experienced this, but one day as we were walking toward our hotel, all we kept passing by were two-parent families, and a huge wave of sadness swept over me. (I got over it quickly, thank goodness, but I was a little bummed for a few hours.) On the plus side, I now make it a point to smile, say hello, or even start a conversation with other obviously single parents. Have a great time on your trip!!!!

I too have often felt a pang of sadness when I encounter two parent families (and not only at disney). After all this is not exactly what I had planned on for dd or myself. THis being said dd and I are a great family. I refuse to be treated by anyone as anything other than a family. The nice thing about disney is that you run into all kinds of families while on vacation.
If I see you in a line I'll say hi back!

 

[Mom to a Princess]

I hope you are staying on-site, I think that makes life much easier. I agree with what everyone has mentioned but to put it in my own words.

1) Always take/use a stroller. (She doesn't have to use it if she doesn't want to, but they are great to carry extra stuff like drinks, cloths, ponchos, sun block)
2) Always have water bottles with you especially in August
3) Buy a sun block just for that trip and put it on at least 1/2 hour before leaving the hotel and after playing in the water fountains
4) Make an itinerary (with hotel information) for whoever you are the closest to
5) Your name and cell phone information on your DD somewhere and your closest contact information on you somewhere

You are going to have so much fun.

Yes we are staying on site at Pop Century. It will be our first time there. I am looking forward to showing dd the pop jet fountain at the hotel. We will be bringing our stroller, at 5 dd may not want to use it much but I do not want to have to carry her at the end of the day. I read in another post about using a plastic bracelett to write my contact info on and think we will try this.

Thanks for your tips!