Single Parent and Christmas

The beauty of my ex is he never got me gifts so after divorce it really isn't any different. :p

Santa never brought me gifts and the children never noticed. They also didn't notice that santa never brought gifts for their older sibs that those came from me. I don't think kids really notice anything outside of them on Christmas morning.

Now that my older two are old enough they pool their money and buy me something from all the kids.

Just a quick thought... a lot of parents (single or otherwise) tell their kids that Santa only brings presents for children. That's what we do in our house, so DH and I rarely have many presents to open. If you don't need anything or don't want to buy for yourself, you can use that explanation with your kids. Also, I stuff my own stocking. DH just isn't into it, so I do all of them for the whole family.

I as well tell my kids that Santa only brings for Children. If they ask why I don't get gifts, then I tell them that "they are my gift". :-)

This Christmas my husband and I are not buying for each other since we don't have a lot of money. Everything that we can spend will be for the kids. The joy of watching their little faces opening presents will be our gift to each other. I'm going to make treats as well, so that will sufice us. :-D

Yes, Santa only brings gifts for the kids - however, at my mom's house (or this year my sister's house) Santa does leave stockings for everyone. That's a community effort that happens sometime between when everyone "goes to be" and when they get up the next morning.

Gifts are trickier - for any occasion as a single parent (birthday, mother's day etc). I never "expect" my family to do anything, even though I guess they should. I guess that falls on me, even though they randomly sometimes will do it. There are occasions that no one offered (and the years my mom and sister 'forgot' about it) to take my daughter to get me a gift and so I arranged for a friend of mine to take her. Only because I thought she would feel bad if everyone else had a gift for everyone and she didn't get one for me.

This year I just moved away from my family and I will have give our babysitter money and haver her take my daughter shopping one day after school.

However, when she goes to her Dad's she ALWAYS goes with a gift for him that I have paid for (and now that he is married, that includes gifts for his wife and her 2 children as well - yep. paid for by me). hmmmmm. I guess divorcing them isn't that much different than when you were married...lol.

I was a single mother throughout my daughter's childhood and I just never had any gifts. In my family, Santa doesn't bring gifts for the adults (or kids over 14) so it wasn't a big deal. About the only gifts I ever got was what my daughter made for me in school and something from my parents. I was/am an adult - I didn't expect anything!

I never thought about this one...I was single for a Christmas or two when my daughter was younger...can't remember if Santa brought me something or not, even though usually in our home Santa always brings for kids...BUT that was when I had a husband buyimg me a gift. I agree that the kids might at some point notice if you had no gifts...

I would say as a single mom you deserve a present also...so what if you want to put "Santa" on the tag? I think you should do what works for your family. Also, I think it's great that your mom is involved. This shows your kids that Christmas is about family, and that family takes many forms...

I am not a single parent, but I wanted to say that I don't find buying for yourself at Christmas odd. My partner and I frequently buy our own stocking stuffers and even tell each other about it (for example " I picked up two packs of our favorite expensive coffee, one for each of our stockings..."). We sometimes even buy our own gift (our hobbies are not well understood by each other and it prevents returns). Christmas is about the kids, so we don't worry about it. Although I do agree that buying and wrapping may feel unusual, you sound like you do exactly what I would do.

Christmas is for the children. They get so excited in that morning that I really dont' think they realize that you as a "mom" hasn't opened anything.
As for buying the same amt. for yourself as the children I dont' think its necessary unless you want to do this. I think its' wonderful to have someone take your child(ren) out to buy "mommy" something from Santa Claus, this way it keeps the tradition going at least until they realize that S. is you. As for the stockings I think its a great idea to have a stocking for all, even though you are the one filling them. You need not go overboard, its' whats' under the tree that the little ones' are after. As for buying for an "ex" and family, I would draw the line. Yes of course your child(ren) will want to get "daddy" something but only him. Its' not fair for you to have to go and buy his new family (all of them) something. I'm sure that he and his new family have already put their share into Christmas. I'm not trying to be rude, if your a single mom you should be buying that little bit extra on your own children and not have to worry abt. the other family.
As well if they have grandparents on your side or your ex's side they should receive something. As for your parents' I think they should include you in their gift giving as you do for them.

I am married, but I "do" Christmas for our household. I just do stockings for my husband and me. We give each other one present each, that we usually discuss pefore. I stuff things we already have into our stockings if I am short or behind on time :) The kids barely notice what we get unless we call attention to it.