to order a take away on xmas day?

[Marmalade85]

I've had a horrendous year and not feeling festive at all. I'm a single mother to a one year old so will wake up alone with my mum coming round later. I've not got a tree or any decorations and quickly bought some presents in my lunch hour yesterday.

AIBU to just get a take away for xmas dinner?

I'm in London so assume some places will be open.

Definitelty get a small tree....you can take a picture of the baby next to it. I love a small tree myself....with some lights on, they're really pretty.

I know a family who does this every year. They have Chinese. It's just their thing and for the mum makes it much lower stress. I can't get my head around it but I just think to each their own and if that's easiest for you, then why not? At 1 I wouldn't bother too much what your son would make of it as he'll have no idea!!

OP, I think you should do whatever will make you feel better. If you think you'll regret not getting a little tree and some lights, then push yourself to do that. If you think the hassle will make you feel worse and you really won't care, then just go with your original plan. People put themselves under a lot of pressure at Christmas, but if it's not going to bring you any pleasure, then it's not worth it!

Could also head outside. London empties out at Christmas and there's lovely parks to walk in. Could fill a flask with some hot chocolate and you and your mum take little one for a walk outside for a change of scenery. If you have a playground chances are it's empty, she can throw old bread at ducks or pigeons also.

Yes I was kind of planning to get the Cook Christmas dinner bundle for two but I called today and they've been sold out for two weeks

I live next to a Marks and Spencer food hall so could have a look. Dreading the idea of cooking as my oven is tiny and awful and kitchen is open plan.

I would check today where will be open tomorrow too. Sites like JustEat should tell you opening times. I would run to the shop though and get some nice snacks things in and maybe a ready meal as a back up.
We're not doing a traditional meal either, it's just me in the afternoon with the two babies so it's pointless anyway. Doesn't matter to us, no point in stressing over something when there's no need to. Have a lovely day and hope next year is better

YANBU my DH likes a curry christmas day evening. Even after a big dinner at lunchtime

There is always take aways open near us.

We got a Chinese one year, it was great, just make sure somewhere is open first.

Takeaway or M&S party food, and a day snuggling on the sofa with your lovely baby... That sounds DELIGHTFUL. Throw in a box of roses and a bottle of wine and I'll swap you for mine?

Do exactly what you feel like. A small tree or even a bunch of flowers or a plant from the M&S food hall would brighten up. DH's family are from a different culture and don't do Christmas, they often have Chinese takeaway. I hope the new year will be better for you!

I have my own baby, so we don't need to swap those

Marmalade you can eat exactly what you like. But do check that places are open.

In your shoes I'd still prefer to know what I was having and either have it ordered or something simple to cook.

Like duck breast in orange sauce or nut roast that you simply wack in the oven for a set time with a jacket potato.

If your mum is coming over what will she eat?

At the very least please do buy yourself some nice chocs and a nice pudding/dessert if you like sweet things!

Please do not take this the wrong way, but you sound a little depressed, could it be post natal depression? If you are at all concerned that this could be the case, please do visit your GP after Christmas.

The bottom line is do what makes you happy tomorrow, tree , no tree, whatever, but look to getting things better for you in the new year, counselling or whatever may help.

Babies can be quite tough, lone parenting can be very tough too. You are not wrong to feel under pressure and YANBU to want to make tomorrow easier.

Please do find some bright spots if you can. The penguins of Madagascar is on TV today, very good - It's a wonderful life is on TV tomorrow. Find some top TV, nice chocs, lay off the wine and take some beautiful pictures of your baby and your mum. Babies grow so fast . Find some points of light.

Go to M&S about an hour before it shuts and see what they have. You could pick up some spectacular bargains and eat like Queens tomorrow.

If that doesn't work out, go back to plan A and get your takeaway. Have a lovely Christmas whatever you do .

I had a teddy bears picnic on the carpet for Christmas dinner with a one year old. It was just us so easy and fun, with no stress! Do whatever you fancy.

Op you can have what you like but I second what pp have said re checking were will be open . I think a little tree and lights will be lovely if you can easily get one today ? And a trip to m n s ( am sure you posted you live near to one sorry if it was another poster ) before closing should get you some reduced treats .
The poster who said a walk in a park if possible and take some hot choc sounds lovely too

I hope you have a relaxing peaceful day with your baby and your mum

I'd buy a ready cooked chicken. Frozen veg etc rather then takeaway. Your call though

I'm a single mum and it's just me and DD (18 mo), luckily we're going to family this year but I imagine there will be future years when it's just us... I'm planning on adapting something one of my ex boyfriends did with his mum (he was an only with a disabled single mum), where they went to the local supermarket one or two days before Christmas and got all their favourite snacks and random bits of food that didn't require much cooking (ready-meals etc) and regardless of whether it was traditional or even "went together" and then just had a massive feast in the living room on Christmas day. I joined in one year and it was fab tbh and took loads of pressure off!

Also YY to the lights! Even if you don't get a tree see if you can get some twinkly/flashy Christmas lights just so you can see his wee face light up!

Hope you have a good Christmas OP and if that means take out then get take out (but definitely check if anywhere is open!)

Thank you for all your kind words. The relationship I came out with was very abusive and I'm currently going through the family court which is just soul destroying. Also going through the process to get a restraining order on my ex as he is stalking and harassing me. I work long hours full time and it's just so tough sometimes.

My son turned one two weeks ago and I cried all day as it felt like such an achievement.

You've all given such good ideas.

I'd go for the take away. Sounds like you want something totally stress free and if you have a crap kitchen and a tiny oven even 'just a few m&s bits to pop in an oven' isn't stress free. I live in a small scottish town and our chinese takeaway is open so I'm sure there will be one near you that is.

Grab a delicious M&S meal and a bottle of something lovely (if you drink). Sorry you're not feeling it this year.

I'd ring round and find out which are open tomorrow.

I have had more than one kebab delivery on Xmas day in different towns.

I phoned one to ask if they were opening and got told, "Yeah, our boss is the Muslim version of Scrooge"

When my ds was 2 it was just us and we had a lovely day, listened to music, danced ate m and s party food and I drank bucks fizz. I had come out of an abusive relationship , 6 years later its all a distant memory, take care, be kind to yourself and concentrate on you and your ds.

Pre dc, me and my sister would just buy a Christmas dinner ready meal from Asda. It did the job perfectly adequately!

Yes, but they aren't very nice. Takeaways are lovely

So sorry to hear about your abusive relationship. Please ignore what AI said about post natal depression. The situation sounds tough but take heart 2017 will be better.