There is nothing better than a family vacation but for millions of people, “family” is simply one parent and children. If you find yourself in this situation, you are not alone. I remember taking my kids on many vacations just them and me. With the high rate of divorce and some families going through the death of a spouse, single parent vacations are also growing in numbers.
Most importantly, just because you are a single parent does not mean you should not take the kids on vacation. Keep in mind, vacation does not have to be two weeks in Paris. Instead, just taking the kids two to three days down to a cabin at the lake will go a long way in building a strong family connection. To the kids, the place does not matter as much as just being able to be with mom or dad, away from the hassle of everyday life.
Although you likely work long hours as a single parent, make sure you schedule time away from the big city to let down and have some fun. One summer, I took my kids to Branson, Missouri. We stayed just four days but had the time of our life. During the day, we went on boat cruises, road go-carts, bumper cars, went to plays and musicals, and visited a number of shops. At night, we usually ate dinner out and then kicked back to enjoy some good, old-fashion R&R. To this day, my kids (both grown now) talk about that one vacation as being a favorite.
In other words, I did not really spend that much money but I did make sure I took time off from work to spend it with my kids. Sure, we could have stayed home but the kids needed a real vacation of eating out, going to shows, swimming, fishing, and just doing things they would not normally do at home. You too can offer your children an exciting vacation but it takes careful planning.
Additionally, you want to consider safety aspects of the vacation, as well as activities that are age appropriate. Then, try something new. For instance, if the children want to venture out to experience something you or they have never done before, if it falls within the budget and does not put them at risk, let them enjoy. You will be amazed at how much smoother your household can run, simply by incorporating vacation into the mix, even as a single parent.
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