Navigating the Holidays as a Single Parent: Grace for the Journey

The holidays can be hard. For single parents, they can feel like a minefield of emotions—joy, grief, loneliness, and everything in between. If that’s you, I want to take a moment to say: I see you.

Maybe this is your first holiday season navigating life as a single parent. Maybe the traditions you once loved now feel like reminders of what’s been lost. Or perhaps you’re facing the reality of not having your kids with you for the first time, and it feels like the silence will be deafening. Whatever your situation, you’re not alone in this.

The Weight of Expectations

Let’s be honest: the world piles expectations on us during the holidays. Picture-perfect tablescapes, family photo cards, traditions that scream “togetherness”—and then there’s you, wondering how you’re going to make the season magical for your kids while trying to hold yourself together.

Can I let you off the hook?
You don’t have to meet anyone’s expectations. Not society’s. Not your family’s. Not even your own. Your value isn’t tied to how perfectly you pull off the holidays. Your worth is found in the fact that you are showing up for your kids in the best way you can, even when it’s messy.

A New Kind of Holiday

The holidays may look different this year, but different doesn’t have to mean worse. This could be an opportunity to create new traditions. Whether that’s decorating cookies in pajamas, having breakfast for dinner, or serving others in your community, let go of the pressure to recreate the past and focus on making memories in the present.

If you won’t have your kids with you for part of the season, it’s okay to grieve that. But don’t let the grief rob you of joy. Use the time to care for yourself—watch that movie you love, read that book you’ve been putting off, or spend time with friends who pour life into you.

Finding Peace in the Hard

It’s not easy to navigate a season meant for celebration when your life feels full of challenges. But hard moments don’t have to define the whole holiday.

Take things one day at a time, one moment at a time. Let yourself feel what you need to feel—grief, sadness, or even anger—and give yourself permission to also feel joy when it comes. You don’t have to choose one or the other; you can hold both.

You Are Not Alone

One of the lies we often believe in our pain is that we’re alone. But here’s the truth: there are others walking this same road. Reach out to friends, support groups, or online communities. Vulnerability is scary, but it’s also the bridge that connects us to others who can support and encourage us.

And if you’re reading this, I want to invite you to something else: grace. Grace for the moments you don’t get it all right. Grace for the times when your grief feels overwhelming. Grace for the days you’re not the “fun parent.”

A Closing Word

This holiday season, my hope for you is simple: May you find beauty in the mess. May you feel connection in the quiet moments. And may you be reminded that even when it feels like everything is falling apart, you are stronger than you realize.

You’re not alone, and you’re not forgotten. This season doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Keep going. You’ve got this.