To never feel more glad I am a single parent with tiny family than at Christmas!

[oftenbaffled]

On paper…. It’s not the traditional happy image of Christmas

But mumsnet really shows to me how you can have all the trappings of a happy family ie husband, parents still alive and healthy, extended family local to you etc…. And still be deeply unhappy

Single parent
Two primary children
Parents deceased
No family other than two childless (free) siblings

And it is just wonderful. I have my sister over. So 4 of us. No arguments, no tension, no martyrdom, no lazy DH, so issues with inlaws

And yet, as I say, on paper - it sure as heck isn’t the cover image for a Christmas calendar!

Tell me about your non-nuclear and very happy christmases

YANBU. Single parent of one DS here, I'm an only child. It's just the 2 of us today, and tomorrow my mum and her partner are coming over. That's it.

When I read on here about all the in laws and siblings coming over it makes me shudder!

Just me and 3 DC this morning. Two dads involved but this is the first year I have all my children together for a while day in over five years! It's lovely, peaceful, quiet, no rushing around. Last year DD went halfway through the day and we spent the rest of it with ex P. It was stressful and I cried for a good few hours. Today feels just perfect. We'll go for lunch later with mum, dad, my sister and her family. There are only a small amount of us but it works. Merry Xmas OP!

Oh @Waxonwaxoff0

Sounds lovely. What you up to?

We’ve just had some croissants and heading out for a walk. I love watching my sis with the children, makes me so happy.

Then home for presents and twister and a very easy lunch on (we aren’t food fussed so I just got a load of put in the oven Christmas roast bits from marks!)

@oftenbaffled

Oh *@Waxonwaxoff0*

Sounds lovely. What you up to?

We’ve just had some croissants and heading out for a walk. I love watching my sis with the children, makes me so happy.

Then home for presents and twister and a very easy lunch on (we aren’t food fussed so I just got a load of put in the oven Christmas roast bits from marks!)

Turkey is in the oven. Just having a Bucks Fizz and playing Uno with DS, might go out for a walk later and take his new scooter. It's bloody lovely just doing what we want to do with no obligation to see loads of people!

Your Christmas sounds great. I hope you have a lovely day!

I am a single parent and have had four Christmases as part of a married couple and six unmarried. The difference is like night to day.

When I was married I was constantly walking on eggshells, desperately trying to please him, I did 90% of the food while he slept.

When it’s just me and my daughter it’s blissful. Two of us and we just please ourselves. No nagging, no moods and sulking, half the work. Wouldn’t go back to a nuclear family for a million pounds.

I'm a single parent too, with 5 kids aged 14-22. Parents deceased, sibling deceased. Aunts and cousins live the other side of the country so we only do phone calls. Ex doesn't seem to have bothered with his kids this year

But we are enjoying our lovely Christmas at home. We have opened our presents so my lot are either playing new console games or reading books. I'll start on the lunch soon.

I bought Operation as a fun game we can all play so we'll do that later.

When I read about all the strife other people have I'm glad it's just me! Even when I was with my ex and our parents were alive we still stayed at home every Christmas Day, no faffing about who to see, no arguments.

Single mum of 3 teens here. Parents both deceased. XH works abroad so not here at the moment. Siblings not that close, but saw them last weekend for a family lunch.

Recently separated from DP of 9 years (not my DCs’ dad) so I have really struggled the past couple of weeks.

However knowing that he would have been spending today with his ex and her family today anyway, while my day would have been much the same, helps! He was never really committed to being a team with me, had one foot stuck in the past the whole 9 years. So this year I’m looking forward. Quit one of my PT jobs and looking for new work, joining the gym and hoping for a better 2022.

So far today I’ve had a lovely day - DCs bought me lots of thoughtful gifts and were very grateful for theirs, we were planning a walk later but it’s a bit wet out there so may just huddle up and watch some tv. They don’t like Xmas dinner so I’m making a stew, it’s nice not to have any pressure!

Merry Christmas to all the single mums doing it all today (and every day!)

Just me and 4DC. 3 of them off to their dads today so we did the whole of Xmas yesterday and it was bloody great. No rows, no strops, no in laws. Today is our Boxing Day, we’re all in bed eating chocolate and watching Mr Bean. Me and DD (different father) will have our own little mini Xmas when they go at 12

Sod the nuclear family, no thank you!

Yanbu. I'm a single (lone) parent to two too. Seeing my Dsis too, although she has DC, but we generally all get along. Ex and exes family are completely indifferent to DC.

Like you say, not the cover image of a Christmas calendar but we are HAPPY! I don't believe for one minute the hype on social media.

Just me and my 3DDs. Eldest 2 will be off to their Dads around 4pm; other ex isn’t around (abusive addict).

Me and my 5YO will spend the afternoon playing with her new toys, watching Encanto and eating picnic style food - which is what she asked for.

I’m making a big breakfast for us now - sausages, eggs, hash browns, beans. We had fresh baked brioche and OJ at 8am.

I’ve been NC with my mother for over a decade, all my siblings still go to hers. My Dad likes to spend Christmas “just him and his wife” - like every other fucking day of the year - I’m LC with them.

We will FaceTime my Grandparents later.

Tomorrow I’m having my closest friend, her husband and their 2DC over for music, games, movies and he’s cooking Jamaican food.

It’s fucking bliss.

Next year, eldest 2DDs will be at their Dads till 4pm on Christmas Day, so I’m considering booking me and DD3 in for Christmas dinner somewhere nice.

YANBU. I started a similar thread last night. I’m LOVING just being with my 2DSes. We’re going to see my parents and brother later, but it will be low key and drama free. Quiet Christmases FTW!

I love this all so much

Just me and 16 yr old ds. Both only children. His dad lives in London but ds is awaiting pcr. Probably wont go next week.

My parents are deceased so no grandparents.

I still enjoy the day although do miss my mum who died years ago when I was pregnant.

Enjoy all the festivities everyone!

Single parent here so just the three of us today. Remaining parent lives a flight away.

Woke up at 6 to open presents and after that I stood out the front door in the snow for a smoke and watched cars full of relatives descend upon my neighbours.

I poured a large baileys in my coffee and started prepping the veg whilst listening to an audio book.

Bliss.

I know for a fact one of my neighbours spends most boxing days in the GP begging for antidepressants because she finds it all so grim.

Just me and my dd too after family losses, her dad will come over for a massive roast later and we'll have crackers and a game. My bro will probably pop in for a glass off wine. It's fine !!

Ha could have written your post! Just me and Ds (12). Presents opened, nice bacon rolls. Took ddog for a lovely long walk and back home relaxing on the sofa with some Prosecco and a new book from DS (although I did have to send him the amazon link to get it ).

Lunch is cooking and he’s playing his new switch game, all calm and happy here!

Single (no term, no desire to be partnered up), alone with 2 cats. Basically don’t celebrate Christmas beyond some family phone calls.. It’s bloody brilliant. Did whatever I fancied, ate what I wanted.No expectations, no obligations, no guilt. My family are scattered all over the place and I’m not travelling in a pandemic.

I read the Christmas posts here in horror 😂. Like woah, did I dodge a bullet staying single!

So many so unhappy with their presents or their children are unhappy.

Maybe children of single parents with very small families have lower expectations…. But I can’t get my head around older aged children (and mumsnet tears!) having tantrums.

Every present I received from my children was handmade (and neither of them are remotely interested in craft so was whipped up yesterday afternoon ), and I received one present from quite low income sister…. But it meant the world to me!