Anyone else going to be alone for the 5 days of Christmas?

[JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn]

Just realised that I'm not going to be in anyone's choice of 3 households over Christmas. I understand why but it doesn't make it any easier. Christmas is always a challenge when you don't have family. The rules this year mean that instead of one day, it's going to be five home alone with DD. It's going to be tough! Anyone else in the same boat?

@Ideasplease322

Alone means by yourself. You aren’t alone for Christmas - I am sure those ready this who are actually alone for Christmas are rolling their eyes at you.

You are very lucky, enjoy your time with your daughter.

Well this one is certainly rolling eyes, yes.

I appreciate it's not the Christmas you may have wanted, OP, but you have someone to talk to, play games with, share food with, open presents with, go for a walk with, snuggle up with, watch a film with. And not just "someone" - presumably one of the people you love most in the world.

Not really being alone, is it?

You've come in for a bit of criticism on here but I know what you mean - 5 days with no other company is a bit of a stretch. I wonder how your daughter feels about it - will she be able to face time her friends? There will be places open on a couple of the days if you fancy going and just having a mooch round. Sometimes just seeing other people out and about helps quell the loneliness so a wander round a town centre might do the trick. Good luck.

@simonsays23 I remember the first year I didn't have to put up with a shitty relationship any more, it was scary and fantastic all at the same time. Enjoy the calm and holding your gorgeous baby.

@lifestooshort123 thank you for asking about my DD. She is upset that we won't be seeing other people over the 5 days, so I've told her we will put a plan together of all the things we're going to do each day so we have things to look forward to.

@Nunoftheother sorry you find my post eye rolling. It was never meant to irritate people. I was just looking for some support after realising that I wasn't in anyone's bubble and feeling down about it.

I hope you enjoy your Christmas and manage to see some friends or family at some point over the 5 days.

@sneakysnoopysniper I think you make a very good point. There is a big difference between being alone and being lonely. I think I fall into the being lonely category. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are with family but feel lonely. Bubbles and lockdown and the '5 days' really push this to the limit.

Enjoy your meal with your nephew. What other kinds of things will you be doing over the 5 days?

Wow some really harsh comments here !! I'm also alone with my dd who is 8 I don't really mind but I worry she will get fed up !!

Well no I am working 23, having xmas meal out on 24 (which is half the price of eating out on 25, best ever discovery!) With DM and Dbro, 25 is lazy day of nibbles and films and DM will come round, 26 will go for a walk and 27 is get ready for week ahead like usual, cook etc. My other fam are 400 miles away and until there is a vaccine the logistics are tough!

It's got to hurt to realise you're not going to be in anyone's bubble. Both for OP and her daughter. So quit with the eye rolling, people.

I don't know anyone who's not sticking to the allowed bubble. If anything people are going less rather than more. So for a pp to say that anyone spending Christmas alone is choosing that, is ridiculous and cruel.

I will feel a twinge when ppl at work tell me of what they did, but try to remember nothing is permanent. Have fun doing it your way.

I think a lot of posters on this thread don't appreciate that Christmas day won't be very different from any other day for many people except for having Christmas dinner and presents. Having been WFH part time since March, and not seeing any of my family since February I am getting fed up with the sameness of every day, so I get how you feel. It will just be the three of us as per usual.

I feel for those of you who will be alone or are nearly alone.

Maybe I was a little harsh in the eye rolling comment. I had just come of a long call with a friend who will be alone for Christmas and she was quite distressed.

Yes it’s lovely that you have your daughter with you- but I appreciate it’s a time when we usually connect with lots of others - so you both might feel a bit flat and lonely.

Some lovely suggestions on here about how you can have an indulgent, fun time just the two of you😊. Hopefully in years to come your daughter will look back on her lovely cosy covid Christmas - even tell the grandkids all about it.

@Ideasplease322 thank you for your post. It's really good of you to come back with a different point of view. I'm really sorry your friend is upset. I hope she finds some things to do that make her feel less alone.

Your comment about 2020 going down in history got me thinking... I'm not usually a fan of a gift with the year emblazoned across it but I think this year would be a great year to have something to mark the occasion (of the year we didn't do Christmas). I'm going to see what I can find that will stand the test of time; something we can say 'oh my goodness, remember Christmas 2020' every time we get it out each year.

I have just Purchased A glass rainbow hot air balloon Christmas tree Decoration.

It doesn’t say 2020, but the rainbow reminds me of the rainbows for nhs in everyone’s windows, and the hot air balloon it drifting upwards to better times😂. God I’m cheesy.

@Ideasplease322 that sounds fabulous! I'll have a look and see what I can find that is cheese-tastic.