Facing Christmas Alone

[Mixedupworld]

Christmas is my absolutely favourite time of the year. This year, along with many others, I'm facing it alone. I'm clinically extremely vulnerable. Majority of my family are connected to the medical sector, or married to somebody that is, so I basically haven't seen anybody in my family face to face since February. I'm ok mostly but dreading Christmas. I'm disabled so will have my usual 1 hour care call in the morning then my 30 minutes night call but between 8.30am and 8.30pm I'll be on my own.

If you're facing Christmas alone or have done before, how did you make it special?

I had Christmas alone once when I was about 22. I planned my day carefully. Picked finger food and fancy bits I really liked that I wouldn't normally let myself have, bought it in advance and froze it. Got a turkey breast and a slice of gammon for my dinner, made it was xmassy a meal as I could. Got a tiny Xmas pudding for 1.

I planned out the timings of cooking each meal, planned who I would phone for a chat in what order, planned which DVDs I'd watch, and generally made sure my day was filled, no gaps of silence etc. I had more stuff to do than I actually had time or energy for.

I don't know your circumstances, but mine were to get away from an abusive family situation, and that tiny solo Xmas I had was the best one in years. It can be very special even by oneself in a mouldy damp cold bedsit, but I highly recommend planning the day and filling it up much as you can. I think the day could have been quite hard if I hadn't.

I can see how horrid this is for you but I would agree with the other message - make it a busy day. How about asking various relatives/friends to phone you or Facetime, etc. at intervals throughout the day, so that you will have something to look forward to? And, of course, some very special food that you love. Perhaps you could arrange a small gift/treat to give your carers, so you can make them smile?

Mixed up
I’m so sorry
That’s just awful
Have you joined any of the Fb groups so you can chat to people throughout the day

The comedian Sarah Millican normally 'hosts' a twitter chat for people who are alone on Christmas day to drop in and out of...

I've been alone on christmas before and it was incredibly painful because the whole premise of it suggests that you ought to be with other people and if you're not you're a 'failure'. But I think the best thing you can do is keep yourself busy and schedule lots of fun zoom events and even see if you can do turkey dinner with someone via zoom and gift unwrapping etc and call around any elderly neighbours etc that you know will be lonely. Just fill the day as much as you can and on boxing day you can relax and chill out and the expectations will have all vanished!

I did Christmas alone a couple of years ago, I was supposed to be working but got a vomiting bug on the 23rd so couldn't go. My family refused to let me see them as my dad had minor Surgery on Christmas Eve. I went to church then drive to a motorway services for coffee and cake, as it was the only place open!

@Gizlotsmum

The comedian Sarah Millican normally 'hosts' a twitter chat for people who are alone on Christmas day to drop in and out of...

Hugely recommend this! It's #JoinIn and it's extremely popular. I've used it when I've spent time on my own over Christmas before. Do you use Twitter OP? Plenty of time to get an account set up if not already.

I'd plan in some treats for yourself, food that you love, whatever you prefer to drink, spend some time on Skype or zoom calls, watch something you enjoy or just the usual Festive crap!

Mixedupworld. If you would be interested, I'd be happy to message you for a chat regularly, either here or on Messenger? My husband died last Dec. so I'm also on my own a lot, though I am lucky enough to be fit and active, even if old...