8 Tips to Help Single Mums Survive Mother’s Day

It’s supposed the big day of pampering Mums on Sunday, but what if you are a single mum? It can stir up lots of emotions, and not all of them positive. Seeing friends post photos of lovely breakfasts in bed and being showered with presents can sometimes hit a raw spot.

So how can you make the day special and minimise the usual ‘parenting jobs’ that just can’t be switched off when you are a single mother?

It is all about being organised BEFORE Sunday. We have come up with 8 tips to help single mums survive Mother’s Day and would love some more ideas from you in the comments below:

Preparing for Mother’s Day as a Single Mum

1) Breakfast in bed

If your children are very keen to give you breakfast in bed, try and prepare your kitchen the night before to make it a little more age appropriate them. For example, pour some milk into a small bottle in the fridge so it is less likely they will spill it. Put a bowl out where they can reach it with your favourite cereal next to it and if they are older put the bread next to the toaster so they don’t have to climb into the freezer to find it. You will still find yourself sitting in bed on Sunday morning, cringing and listening for a big bang, but hopefully they have a sporting chance to succeed!

Here’s a no-fuss guide to making pikelets that will be fun and easy to do with the kids. 

2) Tell them what you want

Subtlety is not a child’s strong point. If there is a present you would particularly like, you need to make it known to your child and a helpful member of your family. Remember the Mother’s Day Stalls at schools and Kindy. Kids love having money to choose something for you. (I know, I know, you are essentially buying your own present, but we all like a little surprise now and then!).

If there’s someone in your life who really wants to spoil you (like your own mother or some work colleagues) you could make some gentle hints about that trip to a day spa you’ve always wanted (and then your helpful relatives can watch the kids for you as well!).

3) Don’t do chores on Mother’s Day

Getting out of the house is always good. If a messy house annoys you, clean it Saturday and take the kids out on Sunday, that way you can enjoy a tidy house after they have gone to bed, with a cuppa (or wine!) on Sunday night.

4) Outsource the chores

Along the same lines as Tip Number 3, outsource if possible. If you like a clean car, treat yourself to an automatic car wash. Little things can make you feel a little pampered! (and those automatic car washes keep the kids very entertained).

5) Get prepared on Saturday

If you do head out on Sunday, prepare all the snacks, nappy bags etc. on Saturday; it may help you feel like you are having a bit of a break if you don’t have to rush around Sunday organising those bits.

6) Order in advance, online

Now we come to dinner. Did you know you can pre-order delivered meals (like pizza) online days ahead? You can specify the exact time you would like it delivered, and prepay with a credit card, so it will ‘sort of’ feel like someone is kindly showing up on your doorstep with a dinner you don’t have to pay for! If the budget doesn’t stretch to delivery (SINGLE MUM = NO MONEY!!), have something pre-prepared you can just throw in the oven or microwave. Make sure you also pre-prepare your favourite indulgent snack to enjoy when the kids are in bed.

Speaking of budgets, have you seen our ideas on how to save on the grocery shop? Tuck this one away for later.

7) There’s an app to help

Love a night off reading stories before bed just once? There’s an App for that! I’m not suggesting you do this every night, but to give a single mum a break for Mother’s Day, you can have someone else read your child a story. We like this one.

8) Have a routine

Routines can be a single mums best friend. If you establish some special traditions for Mother’s Day, your children will be able to take more responsibility as they grow, and will look forward to planning a day to spoil you (well that’s the theory anyway!)

At the end of the day, pat yourself on the back and really know how awesome you are. Single parenting is exhausting, all-consuming and never-ending, but oh so rewarding.  You ROCK!