Thanksgiving Ideas

Do you belong to any meetup groups? If you go to meetup.com, you can join some other moms/families for your two year old to play with and you can meet other mothers. A lot of time, they have dinners on the holidays for people at someone's house. This way your child and you will not be alone on the holidays. It is great place to meet other mothers, some in your same situation.

I think that most movie theaters are open on Thanksgiving. Do you have any friends that are single or don't have family nearby? maybe you could do a small dinner with a few people in a similar situation.

I would find out who's open and serving a dinner and go out! If you don't have family you can join, make it a new tradition.
Have fun:)

Not sure if this would work with a 2 year old, but one year our entire family went out of town for Thanksgiving except for us.

So - we made reservations at Ditka's downtown. It was awesome and we had a fantastic time! Believe it or not, many restaurants will serve Thanksgiving dinners.

Get a small turkey dinner from Boston Market or make a small turkey breast for a special day for just the two of you. Do you have any friends or family in the area you can join for the holiday? In our family we always have a few extra guests. My dad would often bring home someone from work or from around town that didn't have any friends or family to share the holiday with. A movie is also a good idea.

Boston Market (and some grocery stores) will make a small dinner for you so you don't have to cook but can still have a little turkey, etc.

Also, Brookfield zoo is open every day, so you can start a new tradition of going to the zoo on the holiday.

There is always Thanksgiving Day parade in Chicago. You can also take her ice skating, we take mine and let him wear his shoes. There may be a Thanksgiving Day 5K or something similar near your town. You can take her with you in a stroller and walk. Hope this helps.

Hi A., I've been alone for the holidays before and it was lonely. Try to find another family or friend who doesn't have plans and invite them to come over. I started having "Orphan" holidays where I invite people to my home after someone "saved" me the first time I was alone for Christmas. It is so much fun and your guests will really appreciate it. If you don't know who to invite, I suggest going out to dinner somewhere and make it a fun day for the 2 of you in the city somewhere. Don't stay home. Your daughter will be too young to notice, but you may feel sad. Best wishes!

I don't know I guess I am a traditionalist but I say go all the way. You and your daughter can start a tradition of making Thanksgiving dinner together. Do the turkey and the stuffing and pumpkin pie and your favorite sides and make a day of it. I think it would be a lovely way to spend the day together. My husband and I spend Thanksgiving here by ourselves (this year with our 1 year old daughter as well) and we have always done the whole kit and kaboodle. We love the left overs as well. You basically don't need to cook for the rest of the week. Except making the left-over turkey into tetrazini one night : ) Why should your daughter not get to do what all the other kids are doing just because her Dad is going to be away?

I didn't read all responses, so I am not sure if someone has suggested this yet...you two could strat a new tradition together...just Mama and her and do an "upside-down Thanksgiving" or something to that affect. Have waffles, pancakes, cookies, etc. as your "meal" for Thanksgiving. You could also think of other fun foods to make/bake that day, and it would be a real treat for her too. Just a thought!

Start making ur own tradtion. Two year olds can be busy. Despite her dad not being there start now and use this day to relax and enjoy your child and her company. It does not matter if you have turkey or chicken. What matters is that you enjoy the quality time with ur child.

Many shelters open their doors to the public (even those who don't need it) to bring potluck for the holidays. There's often some amateur - or even some professional - music. We went to Lazarus House in St. Charles with the whole family a few Christmases ago. Bring a plate, sit for a while, maybe even call in advance to offer help.

maybe you guys could go down to the local food pantry, homeless shelter, etc and help serve thanksgiving dinner. Nothing will make you feel more better than giving of yourself, it will probably make you realize, even though things are rough....you guys are so lucky to have each other. I always took my son with me to the nursing home(when he was two) and I did pampering treatments for them. They enjoyed my son 10 times more than the pampering. Children light up the world. Have a great Thanksgiving.

If the weather is nice you can take her to Lincoln Park Zoo. Also there is a Thanksgiving Day parade on State Street starting at 9am. You can go somewhere casual for dinner or make her favorites for dinner. Make it a special day for the two of you.

I'm guessing a trip to visit the grandparents is not an option. If not, then I would start a new tradition with just her and you. I think you should still make a big deal out of the holiday. The big deal doesn't have to be food, maybe picking out new ornaments together from a store or something.

I know it may be a little late with all of the other advice from all the other moms, but I do have another sugesstion. I work at Hollywood Blvd, which is a cinema and eatery. You could come in and see a movie with us (we have Bee Movie and Fred Claus right now, both very cute) and have dinner with us. A nice little evening out for the two of you. (We will also be open Christmas day) Hope this helps. Have a happy holiday.

A.,
How about a girl day at home. You can stay in your pajamas all day, rent movies, play some games, you could do makeovers if she's into that already and play dress up. You can have her cook dinner with you and maybe some cupcakes or cookies for dessert. Just have fun with each other and be thankful for your little one. I hope whatever you decide to do makes you both happy! Good luck and happy Thanksgiving!

We usually invite friends who have no family around over for the holidays. Do you have any friends who you can spend the holidays with?

I agree with the parade or the zoo (I think my daughter would prefer the zoo). Do what you can to make it a special day for the two of you and not a day where you're "spending it alone". Put a positive spin on it.

Good luck!

Oh boy I have been there and it stinks. I was really at a loss on holidays too when I found myself a single mom with a wee one and no money to go visit my family members who are all far from Chicago. One thing I did is talk to my friends-I went to one of their family functions the first Thanksgiving, which was really great and I didn't have to cook. Everybody fussed over the baby. Other years I had Thanksgiving at my place with other friends who were single or didn't have their own kids yet-everybody brought stuff so I wasn't doing all the work.
Even if you can't get together with friends I suggest making it a special day. Buy just a turkey breast or small bird and cook the special things you and your child will enjoy most. Keep the spirit of the holiday and be grateful for your many blessings. I know it is hard but you will feel better if you do something special for your small but mighty family. Take care of yourself too, and best of luck.

I'm sorry that the two of you will be alone for the holidays. But, this is a good time to visit extended family members or friends. Or, do you know other single moms who will be alone for the holidays? Maybe post something here. Or, you might find a family with children her age to be with.

I know my husband and taken my daughters to the children's museum on Christmas Eve because it's free that day. You might check out other activities like that around the holidays.

At any rate, if you don't find something to do, let me know and you are welcome to join us!

K.

Yikes! I feel so bad for you guys. Do you have family or friends that you can share Thanksgiving Day with them? Growing up, I didn't have much family and so my Mom would always invite friends over until they became like an extended family. Over the years, we have had people who had no family around to people who would stop by our house after visiting with their family. Maybe you could go somewhere else or invite people to your house? Whatever you do, try to surround yourself with those you love.

Oh I'm sorry, I don't think anyone should be alone on the holidays. Where is your family, just not close by?

When I was little on the holidays I remember doing different activities with my family. Thanksgiving Day we would have dinner, but my fondest memories are of putting up the Christmas tree that same day/weekend and decorating it with my brother and sister, and making pumpkin pie with my Aunt Rosie. My mom used to give us a stack of construction paper and we would cut out paper snowflakes and decorate them with crayons, markers, glitter, stickers, etc. A fun activity that you two can do together; you cut and she can decorate. Hang them on the tree, from the ceiling, you can have her help you string up popcorn too. That kind of stuff keeps you busy too and passes time pretty quickly.

For Christmas we used to spend hours, days even, baking cookies and pie. All kinds of them, and of course when you're a kid eating them is just about the greatest thing ever. I know your daughter is still fairly small, but those are the kinds of things that I reflect on in my childhood that was a tradition for a long time and they are great memories.

I have spent the holidays alone before too, and I know its depressing, but try to make it good for your daughter and maybe start some traditions for yourselves. Perhaps just being you two will make it that much more special to her later in life. Happy Holidays!

You could get a small turkey or a turkey brest for the two of you. Have her "help" you in the kitchen while you make dinner. You chould also rent lots of movies that you guys could watch together. Meet the Robinsons is out and my daughter just loved it (if you havent seen it already.)! Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm with the gal that suggested eating out. there are many restaurants that actually offer a thanksgiving dinner for people that want to eat out instead of cooking a meal. you could always make a special night out with your daughter, still get the traditional thanksgiving foods, then hit a movie. when i was young all of the cousins would get together after the holiday meals and go to a movie together. just remember, it's your attitude and your love for each other that will make the day special.

I would trade places with you in a heartbeat. My kids father is taking by 2 boys-16 months and 3 years old for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Perhaps you can be creative and start a Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition that you and your daughter do yearly. I know it is hard because she is still so young. I have went on line and found things to do for different holidays for my boys and myself. Good luck and enjoy the holidays with your daughter. These are memories she will keep for the rest of her life.

I know the feeling. On holidays I am an emotional mess because I do not have family here. What I usually do is see what my friends are doing and go to their house. Someone said something about going to the Thanksgiving parade. I never thought of that, that is a great idea. Honestly if you are alone with no one around, contact me, lets talk. No one can imagine how you are feeling and how lonely it can be until you are in that position. Good luck.

I was in the same boat when my son was your daughters age. We had a "date" night so to speak. He was not fond of turkey so instead, we made his favorite dinner which was macaroni & cheese! We pulled out the nice silverware, nice table cloths etc and had his favorite dinner at the dinner table all decked out. We even said a prayer about being "thankful" in light of the holiday. He got to pick the movie afterwards as well. He took a bath, got all comfy and ready for bed, and then we grabbed a blanket, curled up together on the couch & watched one or two of his favorite movies. We had popcorn to go with it of course. That was our tradition for a few years anyhow... it was really very nice. I'm sure that your daughter is #1 but this was one way that my son could really feel that and for us to do it by ourselves, well it was just very heartwarming. Wouldn't trade it for nothing!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!