Valentine’s Day is right around the corner – and if this is your first one post-divorce, you don’t have to dread it. Check out this list of 17 fun-and-fabulous things you can do to keep yourself busy, whether you’re flying solo or you’re spending the day with your children.
Valentine’s Day After Divorce: 17 Things to Do When You’re Flying Solo (or With Kids)
Even if you’ve never really been big on Valentine’s Day, it can still be a tough holiday after a divorce. For many people, it’s a reminder that they’re single. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do in Stockton (or even at home) to have a fabulous day – and here are 17 of our favorite ideas:
Have a dinner date with your single friends
Learn a new recipe
Make crafts with your kids
Spoil someone (preferably yourself and your children)
Have a movie marathon with your kids
Get a massage
Take the kids to the Stockton Skate Park
Go to the Haggin Museum
Head to the Micke Grove Zoo
Hang out at Oak Grove Regional Park
Visit the Children’s Museum of Stockton
Stroll the Joan Darrah Promenade
Enjoy the World Peace Rose Garden at University Park
Visit the Stockton Cambodian Buddhist Temple (Wat Dhammararam)
Take your pups to the Barkleyville Dog Park
Curl up with your favorite book
Give yourself a self-guided walking tour of Stockton
Here are more details on each so you can plan your day.
#1. Have a dinner date with your single friends
If you’ve got single friends who are flying solo, have them over – you don’t have to stay home alone if you don’t want to. Have everyone bring a dish to pass so you don’t have to plan a big to-do.
#2. Learn a new recipe
Even if you’re not having anyone over, head to the supermarket and pick up all the ingredients for a new recipe you’ve been meaning to try. And if you’re not much of a cook, that’s okay – roll the dice and pick an online recipe that looks like something you’d enjoy and give it a shot.
#3. Make crafts with your kids
If you’ll have your children on your first Valentine’s day after divorce, create your own special traditions. You can draw, cut, paste and paint your way to a fun day of crafting. (And you don’t have to have your children to do this, either. Pick up a canvas and some paint, a skein of yarn or any other crafting materials that you enjoy working with and start crafting!)
#4. Spoil someone (preferably yourself and your children)
Take the kids out for a special dinner and a movie. You all deserve it!
#5. Have a movie marathon with your kids
Turn on Disney+ or Netflix and let the movie marathon commence. (Our suggestion: Watch all the Avengers movies in order – but be prepared to carry your marathon over into the weekend.)
#6. Get a massage
Treat yourself to a relaxing massage or spa treatment for Valentine’s Day after divorce. It’s a great way to recharge.
#7. Take the kids to the Stockton Skate Park
The Stockton Skate Park is open from sunrise to sunset and features a moon, small bowl, offset steps, rail, half-pipe, EMB, star, fun box, block and piano. Bring helmets and pads for a whole day of outdoor family fun.
#8. Go to the Haggin Museum
The Haggin Museum is a great place to view some of Stockton’s fabulous – but little-known – history and serious collections of art by renowned artists such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Jean Beraud, Rosa Bonheur and more.
#9. Head to the Micke Grove Zoo
The Micke Grove Zoo, a charming 5-acre park housing reptiles, birds, mammals such as marmoset, lemur, bobcats and snow leopards, the Southern pudu and more, is a great place to spend an afternoon. They’re open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Valentine’s Day.
#10. Hang out at Oak Grove Regional Park
Oak Grove Regional Park is home to beautiful nature trails, the Oak Grove Nature Center and Oak Grove Lake, and plenty of playgrounds. There’s even an 18-hole disc golf course if you play, and pets are welcome.
#11. Visit the Children’s Museum of Stockton
The Children’s Museum of Stockton is a hands-on discovery center that’s open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. There are more than 40 exhibits to enjoy, and there’s a toddler area, an outdoor playground and patio, and a spectacular reptile display.
#12. Stroll the Joan Darrah Promenade
Take a walk by the water (or ride your bike) at the Joan Darrah Promenade. You can get your steps in and enjoy views across the Delta, or watch the sun set from beneath the palms – and you’re moments from other great places to visit, like the Bob Hope Theatre and the Children’s Museum of Stockton.
#13. Enjoy the World Peace Rose Garden at University Park
The beautiful World Peace Rose Garden at University Park is home to more than 250 fragrant roses all year. You can write your own “Message of Peace” or read others created by local students and residents.
#14. Visit the Stockton Cambodian Buddhist Temple (Wat Dhammararam)
Wat Dhammararam is a beautiful, tranquil place filled with oversized sculptures (more than 90 of them, in fact) that celebrate the life and story of the Cambodian Buddha. You can download the visitor’s guide here.
#15. Take your pups to the Barkleyville Dog Park
The Barkleyville Dog Park is a great place for pups of all sizes. There are three separate areas – one for small dogs (under 20 pounds), one for larger dogs (over 20 pounds) and a separate play and agility course. There are benches for pet parents and always-full dog water fountains, and they’re open from an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset.
#16. Curl up with your favorite book
If a book is more your speed than a movie marathon or a visit to a Buddhist temple, pick out an old favorite – or visit one of the Stockton Library’s eight branches to pick up something new. (There are eight San Joaquin County libraries, too.)
#17. Give yourself a self-guided walking tour of Stockton
If you’ve never taken a self-guided art and history tour of Stockton, Valentine’s Day is a great time. You’ll see everything from the old Emergency Hospital on North San Joaquin Street to the historic B&M Building on Bridge Place. Get a map and all the details here.
Are You Contemplating Divorce?
If you’re considering divorce, whether you’re still living with your spouse or you’re living apart, we can help you. Call us at (209) 546-6246 to set up a consultation so you can learn about your options – and get answers to all your questions – today.
When you’re going through a divorce, your Stockton family law attorney will be there for you every step of the way – but what about when you’re at home, being overwhelmed by stress related to the split?
Use these seven tips for coping with divorce stress to help get through this difficult time.
7 Tips for Coping With Divorce Stress
Some of the best ways to cope with divorce stress include:
Staying physically active
Letting go of things you can’t control
Nurturing yourself emotionally
Adjusting your expectations
Making time for fun
Sleeping enough
Joining a support group
Staying Physically Active
Exercise releases endorphins, which are critical at a time like this. While you may not feel overwhelmed with joy after a workout, being physically active can help clear your mind and help you shed some stress. Regular exercise will elevate your mood while it helps to relieve tension, anxiety and even anger.
Letting Go of Things You Can’t Control
You can’t control what other people do, but you can – to an extent – control what you do. That means you need to recognize that you can’t control your ex or the way he or she acts, so let go of him or her. There’s no shame in walking away from your ex because he or she causes you too much stress; you can communicate through your attorneys, a mediator, or even through emails if necessary.
Do Things That Relax You
Whether you’d rather curl up with a good book, watch a movie or play Sudoku, you need to make time for yourself and the things you enjoy. Take a hot bath, start a new hobby (or revisit an old one), and surround yourself with people who care about you. No matter what you do, these are the types of things that recharge you and give you the ability to cope better with adverse situations.
Adjusting Your Expectations
Go back to the fact that you can’t control what your ex says or does. You can’t control how the judge will rule.
With both those things in mind, don’t expect to be able to control anything but yourself and how you react to things. Let go of how you think things should turn out and just know that you’ll have to accept what happens in the end.
Join a Support Group
Seeking help is a sign of strength. It’s what we’re hard-wired to do as humans anyway; we look for help and connections when we need them. Participating in a support group can help you deal with the emotions you’re experiencing right now – and part of that is because you’re talking to people (or even just listening to people) you know can relate to what you’re going through. You’ll learn from others’ experiences and get advice on what worked for them, and you can share your own experiences to help other people in the group – and those are all stress-busting activities.
If you can’t join a support group, for whatever reason, you might want to consider seeing atherapist who understands divorceon an individual basis. Your kids might benefit from talking to someone, too.
Making Time for Fun
It’s hard to have fun when you’re going through a divorce. We know that, and so does anyone else who’s ever been through a divorce. However, it’s incredibly important.
If you can’t have fun – either financial or time constraints are preventing you from doing what you want to do, or you have another reason – it’s important to remember not to isolate yourself. Humans are social creatures, and we need other people during our most difficult times.
Sleeping Enough
Lack of sleep clouds your judgment, makes you irritable, and prevents you from functioning on all your cylinders. Getting even one good night’s sleep will boost your energy levels, enhance your memory’s capabilities, and improve your creativity – and it helps you stay clearheaded enough to make big decisions about your (and your children’s) future.
Do You Need to Talk to a Stockton Divorce Attorney?
We know divorce is stressful, and we’ll take on all the legal responsibilities of yours so you can focus on the emotional aspects.
