Dreading the Christmas time

[Novembe3412]

Not sure what I'm looking for here, I guess to see if anyone is in the same boat and perhaps get ideas of what we can do to make Christmas less lonely for DD.

We don't have many friends sadly, some moved on and some are not close enough to spend holidays with. My family (only mum) is 70 and lives abroad, does not travel over anymore. DH's parents passed away and he's not very close to his sisters, just sees them once in a while. We've tried to reach out many times but they are just keeping to themselves plus a few relationship break-ups happened over the last couple of years which makes it harder for us to plan to see them as the children are spending time between mums and dads.

DD (7) gets very lonely over the Christmas break and Christmas day in particular is very very lonely. Last year we travelled to a snowy country which was amazing but we are trying to save up a bit this year. DH has been diagnosed with early stages of cancer too this year so times are uncertain amd we are all a bit down.

I'm dreading Christmas especially for my DD! 😞

Anyone in the same boat?

Hi op sorry to hear this.

It's very hard when family is thin on the ground. Does dd have friends?

We also very thin on the ground in terms of family it's just our nuclear family.

There are lots of little day trips you could do maybe? Do you do Christmas craft?
Have some little projects to work on that you can comeback too. One year dd and I made an advent Caldender sewing together old wall paper and fabric.
A jigsaw again on going and one of those painting by numbers, I did one with dd and we really enjoyed it.

Make home as cosy and magical as possible just need snow flakes and beautiful twinkly lights...

Obviously things like nice walks, Xmas films and I always went to those local teeny theatres where more artisan and much cheaper for local Xmas theatre oh and of course making a ginger bread house

Thank you, making a gingerbread house sounds great. I did make one when DD was 2 but never made one since.

DD has 2 good friends however one won't be around and she can meet the other one a couple of times but Christmas break is long :(. She tells me she'd rather be at school :(.

I can relate to this.

I try to plan lots of things we can all do together (Christmas lights, markets, theatre) and we also travel to stay with friends in another city for a few days, or they come to us.

This year, I'm planning to set up a couple of play dates and making sure I have some nice treats to share - like a gingerbread house.

I find the time between Christmas and New Year the worst tbh. DD was looking forward to doing some holiday camps during that time, but I can't see any at the moment. Lots to do during the few days before Christmas though.