Single moms -- tell me what to do for Mother's Day?

[Minnie_me]

I'm a newly single mom (H left 6 months ago). My daughters are too young to do anything on their own for me for Mother's Day, and my mom lives too far away to visit.

When H and I were together, we always used to go to brunch and then I'd go out shopping on my own for a "break" while he took the girls to see his mom.

Now it's all different. I don't know what to do, but I don't want to do nothing.

So do we just all go out to brunch or something? I feel stupid.

What do you single moms do?

 

[taylor3297]

I am not a single mom, but I was raised by a single mom. We would go out to eat together on Mother's Day. My sisters and I would make my Mom cards and in the afternoon, we would be on our best behavior to give my Mom a break.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

A friend of mine just recently got a divorce from her husband. She had tried for years to make it work, but it ended. Anyway, at Christmas, she and her 3 boys were a little anxious about the upcoming holiday and the fact that their father would not be there.

She decided to make a new tradition with her sons. They got up had breakfast and went skiing for the day. It was an activity that they all loved and kept their minds of the sadness they were all feeling. They had a GREAT time and said that it would now be "their" holiday tradition.

So ... even though your girls are small, you could start a new tradition. Perhaps go to the zoo together, see a movie, go to a new park, etc. Then cook dinner together ... make something fun that they can help with ... maybe grilled cheese and cookies.

I hope this helps ... and enjoy your girls!

 

[mtemm]

the year my dh and I were separated I had young children (5 and 3) and wanted to do something for mothers day, even though it meant I orchestrated it myself. I decided I wanted to go out to breakfast/brunch, so we did. I made a big deal about how the kids were taking me out for it, and they were so excited to, even though, yeah, I paid. lol. I will say it was crazy busy at the restaurant, but it was so worth it. after, we went to a park and played and went to visit my mom and dad and had dinner with them.

It was a really nice day, all things considered. And while I usually loved a little time on my own to relax/recharge/spoil myself on mothers day, that year in particular I was glad to just be.

think about what you want. when you picture in your mind what could be a good day, what does that look like? if its brunch, well, do it! you deserve it!!! the one thing I learned over that year was that even though I did orchestrate things like mothers day and my birthday and christmas, etc, etc, is that the kids and I had a lot of fun with whatever we did.

some of it was bittersweet, but they were good days, they really were. I think what made them good was really getting in touch with what was important to me. I didn't do brunch because it was what i was supposed to want to do, I did it because I really wanted to. that part is important!

(((HUGS))) and happy mothers day!!!!!

 

[mtemm]

So ... even though your girls are small, you could start a new tradition. Perhaps go to the zoo together, see a movie, go to a new park, etc. Then cook dinner together ... make something fun that they can help with ... maybe grilled cheese and cookies.

I agree! starting your own traditions is really wonderful. it can be hard deciding what that might be. play around with some ideas, see what feels right. and think outside the box. sometimes doing something completely unexpected is the most fun.

 

[golfgal]

I agree, start a tradition. I think going out for brunch is a great idea then take the girls somewhere that you all enjoy. The zoo came to my mind. If the girls like to shop, take them shopping. You could have a fun day at home and have a picnic in the back yard too.

 

[Robinrs]

I usually go visit other "Mothers" in my life. I don't really see the day as MY day but one I give to another person who means a lot to me.

I think if we put the focus on others we don't concern ourselves with what is missing or different in our lives.

Have a great day. You did things alone before you were a wife or mother, just do for you.

 

[hereyago]

It depends, sometimes DD is with her df. But usually we will go out together and if not I take myself out for a crab leg dinner. All I long for on the holidays is peace and quiet, because sometimes dd and dm drive me batty at the same time.

 

[Stacerita]

I usually do whatever I plan to do. DD and I have gone to brunch, we've gone away for the weekend, we've done movies....just about anything. One year we rented movies and had appetizers on the couch all day. Celebrating being a mother doesn't mean having to go somewhere or having someone do something for you. Just spending time with my DD is good enough.

 

[Feralpeg]

Normally, DD and I go to a movie. She lets me choose which movie to see.

 

[Mickey527]

My boys were 18 mos., 4 and 6 when my ex left me. I didn't have any money for going out to brunch or anywhere for a few years till I finished school.
I bought some donuts and small containers of milk and told them that this was for my mother's day breakfast. They made a big thing of putting the donuts on a paper plate and bringing up the milk and donuts for me to have breakfast in bed. I still have the dead dried up dandelions they picked for my "bouquet".
I did make the rest of the day as normal as possible nothing fancy, we might have gone on a bike ride or whatever depending on the fickled NE weather.
I made sure they knew what Mother's day was and how it should be celebrated and to this day I look forward to my donuts for breakfast.

 

[quasar4legs]

Find something fun to do with your girls that you would all enjoy.
If you need a budget idea I think picnics are great with young children but if the weather is bad you could throw sheets over the furniture and make a great girls cubby house.
Breakfast in a cubby sounds just about perfect!!!

Enjoy your special day

 

[cntrygal]

We used to go to my mom's or grandmothers. SInce they both have passed we have kept it to our normal sunday activities, quick breakfast, then church, then back home for suday dinner. Some years the kids have cooked, as they have gotten, now they even do the claen up . This year my daughter has decided we should go out to brunch. Of course she is nine and has no money So i get to pay.

 

[wdwfan16]

I am not a single mom. I feel bad for them when their ex just forgets the day. My GF is a single mom. I make it a point to take her kids shopping to get cards and a small gift for her. She has told me she appreciates how we are teaching her son to treat women. His dad and his family treats women like crap.

 

[NMAmy]

I really grew to love Mother's Day when it was just dd and I. When she was little, she'd make me a card and would also make me a box full of little treasures--Happy Meal toys and things she'd made for me like a baby picture of her that she glued onto a heart shaped piece of paper. She's always been such a sweet kid. When she was older, I'd take her to the store to buy me something and half the fun was her hiding her gift from me yet not getting lost in the store.

Then she and I would do something just for the two of us--we'd go to lunch and a movie or to a park or the zoo.

The first year of holidays after a divorce is the hardest. Making new traditions can really be fun if you don't focus on what you're missing but instead focus on what you have (great kids!)

Happy Mother's Day!

 

[Mermaid02]

My neighbors husband kicked her and their son out last summer (then they moved in next to us). I was thinking of taking her 5 year old out to get something for her. Her family isn't really around and they have their own problems. Would I be over stepping?

 

[wdwfan16]

My neighbors husband kicked her and their son out last summer (then they moved in next to us). I was thinking of taking her 5 year old out to get something for her. Her family isn't really around and they have their own problems. Would I be over stepping?

See my post #14.