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

I can empathise a bit with this. Luckily don't have ppd but have a very clingy / whingy (I feel terrible saying that) / screamy baby and PILs especially love to tell us to 'just put her down'. She's wonderful in every way she just doesn't like playing alone! Like yours, she's always been this way, since the day she born. Getting quite tired of people implying that she is this way because I've spoiled her. She's not even 1!

I want to say Karen. But doubt that would've made a better title!

Anyway Emma T'ing it this Christmas due to bereavement, a newly fractured family dynamic and generalized fucking sky high anxiety.

18 months ago I got told my cancer had returned, it had spread, and I had 18 months to live.

I’ve fallen out with my DH this year. We’ve spent hours talking and crying. It’s not going well.
my 2 young children don’t know anything is wrong.

once again, I’ll be plastering on a smile and making the most of every minute with my children. I look at them and my heart shatters with grief for them.

im sorry the women here are having their own troubles. One problem doesn’t trump another.

You are all seen. merry Christmas to you all.

Tough times here too. Mum has dementia, dad is struggling every day and on the verge of having to put her in a home, DH has been out of work most of the year due to serious depression, my work is precarious and risk of redundancy so I'm working and studying hard, 2 teens who always have something going on.. feeling everyone leaning on me and I'm so tired of it! With elderly parents you never know if it's the last Xmas together so just got to try to all enjoy it together.

I’m so sorry. That’s a very lonely place for you to be. Sending love for you and your son.

I’m pulling an Emma Thompson because I too have split with my partner but it’s been a very long split and I’m feeling bad asking him to please leave for Christmas (even though it was agreed months ago he would do and then last week he told me he hadn’t made plans and I should ‘know’ he doesn’t plan ahead…and now it’s all my fault he has nowhere to go - apparently I’ve only given him ‘two days notice’ which is complete bollocks)

I imagine she wouldnt give a fuck.

Am in tears reading these posts sending strength and hugs to all

My Dad died last Monday, he only got told the cancer was terminal 2 months ago. The decline from looking ok and sort of being ok to his death was terrifying and horrifying. I havent told my 4 year old yet im trying to get through his birthday and Christmas first. Our cat died too. Ive really had enough im exhausted with it all

Ok her name was Karen. Are you happy now?
To everyone else on here going through hard times yes women are amazing at toughing it, out getting on with it and just living life.
Xmas can be testing for the happiest and healthiest of us and I do think we should all cut ourselves a bit of slack and give ourselves some self love.

A bit, yeah. We are TTC and I'm quite sure it's another month with a BFN. I think having anything like this in your mind csn make the pressure to have a good time feel more difficult. I guess the trick is.to.docus on what you do have.

I’m so sorry, for each and every one of you. I have my grumbles but the other posters on this thread are dealing with such awful grief and loss and unbearable troubles. Sending gentle hugs and I wish you better times in 2026 ❤️

Lost my husband to a heart attack coming up for 5 yrs ago now, during the New Year bank holiday period.

I keep getting friends and relatives brightly asking what my plans are for Christmas day, each assuming that I'll be spending the day with another friend or relative. [I have no siblings and no children.]

I've been pasting a smile on my face and telling them that I'm going to enjoy a quiet Christmas at home.

The worst was when a relative became very upset and said that I should be spending Christmas with him and his family, but 'there's no room at the table'. I then had to reassure him that I was fine and really looking forward to time on my own to 'potter about'.

Oh...and if one more person tells me to get myself a dog or a cat there's every chance that you'll see news reports of a pensioner being charged with attempted murder.

Sending love to everyone.

Broken relationship with DD on top of general exhaustion, literally mad ex, is making me wish i could just skip the whole thing. But trying (not sure how well) to keep going for DS and DF

Yesterday my Mum's nursing home gave her weeks, rather than days or months to live. Today they called out the emergency doctor as she was so poorly this morning. By tea time she was wide awake and singing. I think we may be on this rollercoaster for a little while.

Am massively in debt, just had a row with DH because he always puts his needs above mine, and am feeling really lonely. It’s not as awful a story as many on here, so will try to get over myself — but sending love to you all. Xx

Knowing that this year will be our last as a family as notDH is leaving after Christmas. I was hoping he would be gone by now. He has not. Happy families it is then.

Dad has been given a terminal diagnosis, work is set to be extremely busy next year and I really dont know how to navigate being a carer to multiple people and working too. I'm already burnt out. I know the year ahead is going to be monumentally shit and exhausting, but unfortunately time does not go backwards and I'm determined to support my dad through this.

My adult son is in prison and I am freezing all the nightmare feelings.
Paint a smile on my face for relevant people.
Sledge hammer effect

I was supposed to go and visit my family, spend time with the very extended family of my DBIL today on a thing we do every year on the 23rd.
Instead, I started feeling "off" on Saturday, like getting a cold, by Sunday it hadn't developed like a cold usually does with me - it's bloody Covid. So I'm spending Christmas completely alone this year.
Plus it's the 29th anniversary of my dad's death.

Putting on a brave face tomorrow for the video call with the family.

Sending huge hugs to all.

It feels nothing in comparison to PP, but I am struggling so badly with PPD after our second child and doing my best to make everything magical for our three year old. Our nine month old cries all day long and always has done and I'm mentally preparing for days of comments and suggestions from everyone in the family. I wish I could spend the next few days alone, in bed, in silence.

I am crying reading this thread, we are all strangers to each other and could pass on the street never knowing that we have this virtual bond of doing all we can to get through the next few days and then to have to carry on facing grief, illness, upheaval, emotional pain and as Hamlet put it so well , "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" . xxx

Waiting on scan results to see if tumour that was removed a few months ago has grown back. Certainly feels that way. 3 young children at home and a DH who told me he didn’t want to worry about this over Xmas. Cue me no longer mentioning it to him (DC don’t know) and plastering on a smile for the sake of them. He apologised for saying it but it still hurt. Merry Christmas to you all.

Given the character is called Karen - and I only remember that because I saw it two days ago - a thread about doing a Karen at Christmas would have gone in a very different direction.
Hugs to everyone facing a shit Christmas.

Lost my beloved dog and my heart is breaking. Just can’t stop crying. He lived abroad with my parents so I couldn’t even see him. The last I saw him was in September. Can’t believe he is gone! Sorry to everyone struggling. Grief is difficult and so are relationships. Love and luck to all of you! Hope the next year brings happiness and stability. Big hugs!