Aibu to feel sad for staying Christmas, Boxing Day and New year with

[btfly2]

Dh and our kids only...? No plans, no extended family nearby, no other people's invitations? It makes me feel rubbish, sorry...

I think it is all the Christmas ads that make you feel like you should have 100 people around for Xmas dinner.

I think the majority of people actually spend the celebrations with the immediate family with maybe one parent or two (if they're lucky). My aunt always came over on Xmas morning but then had lunch with her friends (she was unmarried). My mother used to come for lunch but they would never meet as they'd fallen out after my mothers divorce from my aunt's brother! So it's not all happy families although all the hype makes us feel like it should be.

You have a lot more people than some do so on that score yes yabu.

However I kind of understand where you are coming from, when my eldest was young it was just us two and I often longed for a large gathering (I was not close to my family) and thought we (or rather DD) was missing out on something. Now it is me, husband and two children and it is lovely and really couldn't imagine spending it with lots of others everything fits around us, if we are not hungry because we have all eaten masses of chocolate then dinner can happen later etc. or toddler dd decides she is going to nap at dinner time fine, it can wait until she is awake, the kids can play with their new toys (or gadgets for the teen!) - no constraints on our time for a change is lovely!

Chickoletta loved your comment! That image is pretty funny! Bless you! Thanks

Thank you Italian for your post. I do volunteer work and am going to put myself forward for a Christmas day shift, it looks like they have no cover at the moment. It's not my choice to be alone, parents dead, no DCs and no family close by, recently split up from STBXH so it's going to be a tough day. At least if I do some voluntary work I will have something to do and something worthwhile.
Sorry to derail thread but being totally alone at Christmas is new to me this year and OP, be thankful you have your lovely small family around you

ohblissjoy it would be my worst nightmare to be alone over Christmas, and I think it's great that you'll be doing some voluntary work. And do check out Solos Holidays, they do a good range of UK and overseas short breaks, that cover the Christmas period.

ohblissjoy tell me to mind my own business, but I've looking on your behalf and found this ......

www.solosholidays.co.uk/uk-short-breaks/dances-and-festive-breaks/christmas-in-yorkshire/

OhBlissOhJoy [smile} I hope it is a good one however you spend it.

We go to church on Christmas day. I would hate to miss it. It just would not feel like Christmas. We are Christians so I guess it is no surprise. But even for people not especially 'religious' it can be helpful for some.