To find this time of year hard being no contact with family

[busyweeks78]

Just seeing everyone’s happy family post and feeling upset by it.

yanbu but don't be fooled. Plenty of people are relieved not to see family. Some people's families aren't nice and so a peaceful xmas day with carols on the radio and cooking your favourite food with no time pressure or arguments is much better.

Some people make out their xmases are wonderful while really they are fantasising about lacing the mince pies with something nasty.

We are spending xmas tea with a friend & her daughter, partly because her vile husband won't start arguments when they have visitors.

So chat to friends and enjoy your peace and freedom x

You're not alone. I have a DH and a DD but not really in contact with any other family members, most not even in this country. Come from a complicated and difficult family background. I find holidays very emotionally challenging but try to stay cheerful for my DD. Thank god for my therapist is all I can say! Try to be kind to yourself and practice lots of self care - I'm baking this morning and off to the spa this afternoon.

Same

It's hard

It's the supermarket adverts that kill me

YANBU, you’re grieving what you never had.
I’m not going to tell you how you should feel, but maybe a different way of looking at it may help? I’ve been NC for 3 years, and Christmas is better than it’s ever been - freedom from the family bullshit means I can truly enjoy it after 40 odd years.

Honestly? It is so much better without my family. We can actually relax and enjoy it, rather than live with mounting dread and anxiety as the day approaches, working out strategies that don't work, just for the day to end in screaming abuse and one room trashed.