Feel like a failure at Christmas

[Imanautumn]

Does anybody else feel like a failure at Christmas as they don’t have any family friends to socialise with.

AIBU to feel I’ve let my kids down by not being able to provide these fun get togethers with other families and friends.

If you have kids then you have family, focus on making their Christmas wonderful.

Ah Imanautumn, please don't beat yourself up over this, goodness knows there are so many pressures on families at this time of year. I watched a feature on the morning news today - 12 yes 12 billion pounds spent by shops & manufactures on Christmas advertising! All to make us feel 'behind' if we aren't feasting, frolicking and spending like there's no tomorrow .
So, we all end up feeling low for not buying (literally) into their hype. Just focus on your lovely family and let Christmas be a time of peace and gratitude. x

Have a lovely family Christmas. I think the socialising is often hyped up, look at all the advertising pressure.
But if this is bothering you, maybe in the New Year look at joining something to meet new people?

Plan some lovely activities as a family. It's not a big deal, I promise you.

I don't know about these fun get-togethers you speak of. It's pretty much only been the 4 of us for ages. Now the kids are older they organise themselves

Thank you everyone. I think new years is particularly difficult. As my kids get older just doing family things isn’t exciting enough as they see friends having parties and socialising.

Well, do you want family friends? If so, work on making some? If you don’t, but just feel you should have them, don’t. Though I do think modelling good friendships for children is important, it doesn’t have to be other entire families, just that they see you interacting with people outside the nuclear family.

These "get togethers" aren't worth the hype. Advertisers big them up, because it encourages people to spend.

After all, I don't want to squeeze into something a shade too small, and uncomfortable, to trek out into the dark and cold for an event I have no real interest in!