Mother’s Day usually means some kind of breakfast-in-bed type situation with cute handmade cards and crafts from the kids that parents display for years to come.
When it comes to celebrating Mother’s day as a single parent, though, it's not quite that simple. Oftentimes, the kids will actually need help from mom to plan something special, especially if it involves cooking in the kitchen. For all the single parents out there, why not take matters into your own hands to begin with and plan a day for yourself that you will enjoy, one that celebrates everything you do for your family?
Let’s dig into a few ways you can fully celebrate yourself as a single parent this Mother’s Day.
1. Indulge in Some Major At-Home Pampering
Have you ever had the opportunity to bring a nail technician, massage therapist, or hair dresser into your home for some much-needed self-care and pampering? It’s something that has gotten more and more popular over the years, especially for busy parents who don’t have those extra few hours every month or so to head to a salon or spa.
This is such a great idea for fully celebrating yourself on Mother’s Day because you can easily set your kids up with a movie or some crafts and turn your bedroom or den into an at-home spa for the afternoon. Plus, you won’t be the one doing the work, because you’re bringing in a licensed professional, who is hopefully very good at their job, to help make you feel like a million bucks! Talk about a win-win situation.
2. Make It a Multigenerational Celebration
Another way you can celebrate yourself fully on Mother’s Day as a single parent is to get your mom, grandma, kids, and aunts involved. Think about every mom in your life who has helped guide you or even been a shoulder to cry on during those rough times. They totally deserve some recognition too, right?
This is when you can organize going out for a fancy brunch with everyone in tow or even make it a fun potluck where you all bring your favorite take-out and spend the afternoon lounging outside on comfy chairs and blankets with some wine. It doesn’t have to be a super-classy affair with matching dishes and napkins, if that’s not your thing. Just allow it to be a day where everyone feels relaxed, loved, and appreciated — including yourself.
3. Hire a Professional Photographer and Take Family Photos
If you’re looking for a way to celebrate yourself and get the kids involved, when was the last time you had some professional family photos taken? Mother’s Day can be a great day for this because the kids will likely be on their best behavior and totally in the mood for completely lovin’ up mom!
You can plan to have the photographer meet you somewhere cool, like a local nature preserve or even a private beach. You can get those really cool family shots that you’ve always dreamed of and proudly display them in your home. Plus, you can also have the photographer shoot a few solo pictures of yourself, so you can remember exactly who you were and what you were doing special on this Mother’s Day.
4. If You Really Need a Break, Take It and Don’t Feel Guilty!
Lastly, if you find yourself really desiring a break this Mother’s Day, it can be the perfect day to cut yourself some slack and just take it. Hire a babysitter, or even reach out to that family member who continually offers up their child care services that you continually turn down and tell them that you need them for the day.
And you can do whatever you want with your day off, too. You can grab a book and packed lunch and head to the park for a day of reading. You can reach out to some girlfriends and plan a kid-free dinner or night on the town. Or if all you’re looking for is sleep, you can still hire the babysitter for those hours after breakfast in bed with the kids and just get back into bed for some much-needed rest.
