First Mother’s Day as single parent

[Anonymous]

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I taught my kids to celebrate me. I took them to the store to buy me gifts, set them up at the dining table to make me cards, taught them to make me breakfast in bed, to bake, to choreograph a dance, etc. You have to teach them."

Of course you have to teach them to do these things. This is part of parenting. Unfortunately, lots of dads, even the married ones, don't get this and somehow expect that their 6-yr-old is going to think of planning brunch and flowers for mom. SMH.

[Anonymous]

I've always been a single parent. I just plan activities that I like. We usually get takeout and eat it in a park by the river. We then stop at Baked and Wired (insert heavenly chorus here.) It helps that my kid and I both like trains and gardens, so finding an appealing activity is not impossible.

[Anonymous]

We go downtown to a museum, a short hike in a park or national arboretum, or a fun regional park like Wheaton. And, we have a special dinner together but I let me son pick the meal for me. This year, I want to plan a picnic.

[Anonymous]

You or another adult in your family (like your sister or friend) can help the child make you a present. That teaches them to appreciate their mom, and show their love through caring actions.

I also suggest that you plan to do something with your child that would seem fun (to you). Could be a picnic, a museum, a playground, a walk in the woods, a craft or making cookies, etc. --something with your child that that will bring you joy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught my kids to celebrate me. I took them to the store to buy me gifts, set them up at the dining table to make me cards, taught them to make me breakfast in bed, to bake, to choreograph a dance, etc. You have to teach them.

I don’t think this is strange at all. When you’re a single mom, you either moan about not getting any gifts for Mother’s Day and Christmas and your birthday and Valentine’s Day, or you teach your kids that you’d like them to make or buy you a little something for all of those holidays, in the same way that you buy them (lots of) things. You plan it and make it happen. My daughter “takes me” somewhere special every year for Mother’s Day. She picks. I of course actually drive and pay because she’s 7. It’s usually the zoo or frying pan farm or similar, but she plans the whole thing. It’s lovely and sweet and a little bit funny every year. For Christmas I give her a $10 bill and turn her loose in Target. She picks out anything she wants to for me. Friends have offered to take her shopping but she really likes doing it herself. I follow at a distance to make sure she’s safe, but she picks something out herself, and she’s SUPER proud. She makes me a card or drawing for every holiday, without me asking (although I did ask when she was younger). I feel completely celebrated, and I also like that she understands that the holidays aren’t all about her.

This is good parenting.

Smug housewives are very quick to judge alternatives to what their families do...but they have not had to get creative to teach our children good values all by ourselves. These practices are very well conceived.