While we are all busy making this holiday season a great one for our family, we tend to lose track of that very same family. You still have time to do some early holiday shopping and errands so that during the busy time you can time out to spend some one on one time with your son. When my three sons were young, I would make a point to have a date with just one of them at a time. Just a special time between him and me and it made for some great times and lasting memories. My husband used to do the very same thing. It takes some planning ahead, but well worth the time.

I am reminded of a movie that just came out recently when a young boy went to his father to ask him when they were going to go Christmas shopping. The son was so excited that just he and his dad were going to go to the mall and shop and maybe get some hot chocolate. The father, thinking he had everything in hand, said that he had already purchased a present for his mother from him over the internet so there was no need to go to the busy mall. You could see the disappointment in the little boy’s face.

Children love to go to busy places. They like the whirlwind atmosphere, the lights, the decorations, and the music. I have to admit, most of your time might be spent in a toy store or at the very least a toy isle, but isn’t that what Christmas is all about, the dreaming of what may or may not appear under the tree? Perhaps a treat to lunch at the Food Court and then a holiday movie would be a great idea. Or do you ice skate? How about showing your son how good you were on ice skates when you were younger?
There are great dates with your son that cost little to nothing. If you live where there is snow, how about making a giant alligator or dragon out of snow?

Put some water and green food coloring in a spray bottle and paint him green! -the alligator or the dragon, not your son!-

String balls of cotton on fishing line, putting seven or eight puffs on per 3’ string. Hang them in from the ceiling in his bedroom so it looks like it is snowing.

On a piece of poster board, draw the shape of a Christmas Tree, Snowflake, Snowman, or a Star. Cut strips of construction paper ½ “wide of the appropriate color. Have your son wrap the strips of construction paper tightly around a pencil. The paper will make a tight spiral. Glue the flat side of the twirls and place them on the outline of the decoration you drew. Fill it in with other spirals. It will be a beautiful decoration. This project can last a day or several days depending on the size of the picture and the age of your son. It can be used as ongoing project that he can do while you are tending to other things that need to be done over the course of a few days.

Take a walk, go to the park, go holiday shopping, go to a movie, have lunch, do projects. Go to a free holiday concert, a play, tour the city and look at the lights, These are great ideas for you and your son this holiday season. However, these ideas aren’t exclusive to the holidays. Maybe he would like to go bowling, fishing, or for a morning hike complete with picnic lunch. During the year your son wants to know how important he is to you. All children need reassurance and a date with Mom will give him exactly what he needs, his mom all to himself.