To have to do an ‘Emma Thompson’ this Christmas?

I wonder what the ET character is called - I have no idea. ET is incredible.

There are some amazing strong women in this thread.

Shame on your family for not allowing you to take things easy. I'm angry for you. How selfish are they? 😞😡

I’m so sorry this has happened to you. Please reserve your energy for your beautiful boy. Your Grandma does not deserve your love and has effectively given you permission to drop the rope. So drop it. As Maya Angelou once wrote: ‘when people show you who they are, believe them the first time’

Xmas is one day, it might be lean for you this year but you have everything you need in each other and by putting your little boy first. You sound like a brilliant mother and a lovely person. I’m sorry that your Grandmother can’t see that. 💐

I'm so sorry you are so stressed and having to carry this all alone.
When the mistake is uncovered will it impact other people's lives or just yours?
Is that what makes you not reveal it and face it, because of the impact on others?

Nothing is worth considering losing your life over and I am sure no one you work with would want to know you feel like this.
And your children will still love you despite this unintentional mistake because they love you for who you are.

Please try to reach out to someone in real life to share this burden. It may be that the reality is not what you think it is. It's horrible to carry a scary secret like this on your own. ❤️

Sometimes there is a way out of solving a problem but you haven’t thought of it yet. Is there anyone IRL you can chat to? Is there a way of restructuring the financial issue?

In the meantime, you’re the only person I’m willing to win the lottery besides me. Keep going 😘

Well to be fair. I'm pretty sure I read that she improvised those scenes a lot and used her own experiences from when her husband cheated with Helena Bonham Carter, so maybe she wouldn't be bothered at all.

That’s so callous of her. Maybe pull back from helping her so much in the new year so you can concentrate on your little boy in your new home.

Meanwhile I am in awe of the bravery of everyone who has posted on this thread. It’s humbling to read.

I posted without reading the full thread as it was 2.30am - just want to send my best wishes to everyone having a tough time and my condolences to all those who are facing bereavement (been there, got the t-shirt but this isn’t my ‘bad’ time of year in that respect.

Raising a glass and a virtual hug to all the brave & courageous women here. You never know what goes on behind closed doors and this thread has been a tearful and thought provoking read.

Thanks for sharing 🌹

Sending everyone lots of love and hope you all manage to get through this time. It’s tough when the media portray that everyone should be happy. ❤️❤️

Thank you, I do appreciate the support - but it is a bad as it can be. If I had dealt with it when it happened we could have got through it but I've just put my head in the sand. It is so bad that my plan has been to either win the lottery (and I've been buying too many tickets) or kill my self as I have a good life insurance (I am not suicidal, and I will face it, but that is where I have been for ages- I want to sort it out so much but what I have done hasn't been uncovered yet, so I just keep holding on because I know it will end up destroying everything

Thanks
@JoWilkinsonsno1fan @Tillymint1234 I don't really know how on earth this will get resolved, but I can't live like this anymore. I know it will ruin my relationship with my kids as I've spent their whole lives helping them to be not like me, they will be not see me in the same way- no one will.

Sending love to all that have posted. I have read all your posts and sending love, and support -so many going through so much.

This! I’ve pretty much been Emma thompsoning my way through the last 3 months following a pretty significant time in my life. And then she just been sectioned for a third time so…merry bloody Christmas!!

@AmyW9 and @CatCaretaker I haven’t read the full thread yet but I empathise with both of you. My eldest basically spent her first year ridiculously unhappy and people stopped visiting because they felt it pointless if they couldn’t settle her. I didn’t have PPD in the mix too so it must be very hard to face the next few days.
My eldest is now 9, she’s mostly wonderful. She screamed until she could walk but once she could, she was a different child and a very delightful toddler - no terrible twos or threenager!

Sending love and strength to so many of you for the next few days. Such a heartbreaking thread.

Cancer.

Could be the last Christmas we’re all together, could not be. Either way it’s bloody awful.

Literally just trying to get through the day, when I just want to spend the most of it in bed with the lights off.

As ever, reading what others are going through gives me context.
For me, it is dealing with the overwhelming guilt of a parent in a care home. And all the therapy, antidepressants and knowing that it is the only thing to be done still leaves me feeling utterly wretched at this time of year

I’m readying to host the largest Christmas dinner crowd we’ve had for several years, and keep getting hit with pictures of my DD doing all the different bits to help. The one year she spent ages ironing the largest linen tablecloth and the plug had come out. How she loved giving and getting presents. How she’d jolly me out of my fussing and worrying. I get her stocking out each year but don’t hang it.

Hugs to all missing someone dear to them this holiday season.

Sending best wishes on here to all those in need of it.
Please remember it's only a couple of days , and we put the expectation on ourselves to have the best time .
It's ok for someone else to take on the lead for providing for those around us.
And if you are alone or a couple with no kids to provide Christmas to , then yes it's fine to shut the door , shut out the world , and just do what you want .

Karen

Sending you lots of hugs ❤️ milestones are always tough xx

Found a breast lump last week and got seen for exams/scans within two days but now face a wait until January for biopsy results. Only DP knows and now we are with my family smiling and pretending everything is fine when all I want to do is scream and cry. The anxiety of the wait is physically crushing, it feels as though the walls are closing in and I can hardly breathe.

These are heartbreaking. Mine's also a minor one, but it's stressful for me. Thankfully not life threatening.

I was offered a new role in my establishment and was happy to take it, had all the training. However, I'm on my first day in my new position on Christmas Day, and after doing some hours there it feels like a deeply toxic environment. It's incredibly cliquey, and I'm the total opposite of the people who already work in this team. When there previously, I've been told to shut up, stop doing thus or that, things like that. They all think I'm stupid. I didn't realise that it was like thus, and I can't go back to my previous role as a little of time and money has been spent training me.

Also, I have no family as they were abusive and I cut contact decades ago. I split with my partner recently, and had to buy him out of the house, so I won't have any spare money for a long time.

I'm owed 150 odd hours paid leave at work, which has to be taken by end of February, but work haven't even looked at my requests and it looks like I might lose it all. We have to book our holidays via a work pc, which, when doing shifts and not having enough pcs spare, and not being in an office based role, means that actually getting signed on and into the secure portal, is exceptionally difficult. But there's no other way to do it.

Everyone's burned out from there being half the staff we need, and we're all leaving when opportunities arise.

I'm feeling shit, lonely and drowning at work.

FFS

Thank you all for sharing. Such a humbling and moving thread. I wish you all all the strength and love I can xx

We move in January as our almost 3yr old needs an adapted property due to his disability. So we have absolutely no money left after paying for carpets, flooring, paint, wallpaper etc. It has skinted us completely.
I've hosted my grandma every single Christmas for 17yrs. She arrives xmas eve and goes home 27th.

I told her a few days ago we can't afford it this year we've no spare money for a turkey etc & she tutted & said she'd go to my brothers instead (me and brother have been no contact since 2012 & both out parents have passed away)

I felt so down. Every Christmas for the past 17yrs I've took on the expenses & the one year I can't do it, she doesn't offer me any help just goes somewhere else. I would happily reimburse her when I get back on my feet at the end of Jan.
We take her shopping, do her cleaning, take her to her never ending appointments, sort out hearing aids, etc. I can't describe the feeling. It's a mixture of hurt, foolishness and been taken for granted.
Anyway thank you for letting me get that out. I have no family or friends to vent to. I hope you all have a lovely day & tomorrow. Lots of love xoxox

I hope your son is OK x
If it is any consolation, I used to work in a prison and did a few Xmas day shifts. The staff make it as bearable as possible. Not the same I know.
Hope you get a chat with him at least and a visit soom