To have to do an ‘Emma Thompson’ this Christmas?

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We all know the scene from ‘Love Actually’. AIBU to think I’m not the only one who is doing an Emma Thompson this Christmas? I.e. putting a brave face on whilst everything else crumbles around you?

You can share why you’re Emma Thompsoning your way through the festive period or just give a knowing nod whilst you scream inside.

Me? I’ve split up with my partner as I’ve realised it’s a toxic relationship after an incident last week. I’ve told no one and he’s back home after 4 night away. I am just smiling through it all so our daughter doesn’t have a shit Christmas and more difficult memories to work through in future therapy.

Separation, divorce, grief, bereavement, complicated family, homelessness or financial ruin?

Here’s to getting through the next few days and a brighter 2026!

Sending hugs to everyone.

Definitely not as bad as others. But the lead up has been the most stressful one for me in recent years. My aunt has just been diagnosed with cancer and it doesn’t sound like the prognosis is very good. I’ve had hardly any time without the kids which has made getting everything ready hard. Their dad has barely seen them in the last 3 weeks so I won’t be getting any presents from them. I had Covid last week so I’m really behind. With this came another reminder how useless their dad is, I told him not to come in my house due to me having Covid but knew he hadn’t seen them much so suggested he take the kids out for dinner. No interest from him at all. No offer to help when I was really unwell. Just “I’m not around”. I had to cancel visit to family (supposed to go for 3 nights) last weekend. My mum’s car is in the garage until the NY now so I’m running around after her and will have to drag kids out Christmas morning to pick her up. Realised I’m the one that everyone relies on but I am not even sure I will have any presents to open so I’ve just bought myself some. Been single for 5 years now and just starting to get fed up with it and feeling lonely on my own.

It’s quite lonely seeing everyone’s happy posts on social media, photos of my happy friends with their lovely, hands on, husbands who all have jobs and financially contribute to their households, and the insta-worthy less chaotic houses.

It’s also just hit me that after 3pm on Christmas Day I won’t see the kids for a week and don’t get me wrong I desperately need the time to get the house sorted- SO much to do- but I will also find it unbelievably hard.

So sorry reading everyones situations. A great thread though for support..well done OP. Sending you all strength for the days ahead x

Yes. Christmas 2020. I’m not going to give the incredibly outing details. Every moment that year as I trudged through our old traditions for my children were like swallowing ash. We had to go for a walk on Christmas Day as the walls and ceilings were coming in. Nothing in the world makes you feel shittier than a walk at 7:30pm on Christmas Day walking past window after window after window of other people’s Christmas.

That all sounds unbelievably hard (and a big Fuck You to your oxygen thief of an ex). You sound utterly knackered and I’m not surprised. I know you’ll miss the children when they’re not with you, but I hope you’ll also get some proper rest and do a few nice things to restore your batteries xx

Faking my way through too…
-Mum passed away 7weeks ago, from a long cancer battle
-Hubby got laid off last week, after 8yrs in the same office.
-Eldest just accepted uni place.. which means £££
-youngest needs an operation on her back
*Hubby has secured a new job, but will be away a few nights…
Am more than ready to say Feck off to 2025!!!!!

,it was a mistake!! and from what you’re saying you were under pressure at the same time and panicked ? It happens. you’re not the first and you won’t be the last. You said no one was hurt, so it can’t be that bad and If it’s financial it’s only money. At the end of the day…it’s just a job.
It will work out , things always do .

😔 I hope he’s doing ok. I’m sorry that you’re going through this.

Husband was made redundant the day before his office Christmas party. We haven’t told anyone yet, he’s pretending he’s still working! We’ve become THOSE people.

mainly haven’t told anyone because we don’t want the added stress of them fussing

I'm so sorry for your loss @Notashamed13 😥❤️

Sending you love and strength @Nsws2015 - this is so hard. ❤️

I am so sorry to read this - can we help? xx

Thinking of all of you on this thread. I had a breakdown in September and survived 10 weeks on statutory sick pay. My landlord increased my rent by 55% during this period, which meant I had to move out (move day was yesterday). I am being made redundant and cleared my desk last Wednesday. I have 10 relatives (and 2 dogs) coming for Christmas from tomorrow until the 30th. Trying to act sane when breaking inside.

What an extraordinary moving thread.

I am so, so sorry for what so many of you are going through. Wishing you all the strength in the world to pull off your aim, and hoping that there will be just moments of genuine warmth or laughter that sneak through.

So sorry for reading all of these posts, you are so amazingly strong, all of you. This year I'm ok, I have had difficult years which I can't think about out, they're not forgotten but now buried deep and will stay there- so I'm feeling mindful how fragile life is and will squeeze everyone close to me tighter in the morning.

Best wishes to you all xxxx

I'm sure if you weren't trying to be a bit of an arsehole you'd know that Emma Thompson has said that that particular role was very real for her, because her acting was informed by Kenneth Branagh having an affair and leaving her for Helena Bonham Carter.

And let add my virtual hugs to you all as well.

Me too!! So glad I only need to see her one day but it really sucks!!

awaiting the missed calls & a drunk text...8 years after he blew up our lives over nothing.. that's my moment

I had a massive heart attack earlier this year, im only in my 40s

I feel like im swimming through treacle just living every day. This christmas im so exhausted and cant wait for it to be over but want dont want to ruin things for DC or DH so desperately plastering on a smile as they have all been through the mill with me and have been brilliant. I feel like i should feel lucky to be here celebrating when it could easily have been a different outcome but living with the side effects from the medication I have to take for life is hard work and I just dont feel anything at the moment, let alone christmassy.
Thinking of everyone else how has posted, know you arent alone in what you are going through 💐

I'm so moved by this thread. The strength people have to get through the shit that life throws at them. Sending hugs to you all; I'm in awe.

Weirdly, it is, in a way, a really uplifting thread; so much resilience, fortitude and love

Merry Christmas to you all. May you get through it in any way you can.

Just pondering which category to report you under.

Sending my love to all of you. Women really are strongest of the sexes. To those in pain, I wish you relief and to all I will raise a glass to you all on Christmas Day xx

Had an abusive long-term relationship end so traumatically I can barely even talk about it with my therapist. ExP seems to be under the impression that we might get back together. Every time he contacts me I feel pure terror.
Trying to stay alive long enough to have my long-awaited day in court. In childhood I was abused by a Care provider along with many others, all of whom are either permanently damaged or dead. Trying to hold down a job when I am very clearly not well enough to be in work is killing me, and if I don't somehow win a significant lump sum of money I am not going to live to see my mid-30s. Anyway, I have precious little time off over Christmas so I'll be making the most of what little respite I have from putting on a cheery and quasi-functional face for everyone else.

FWIW I hope you can all go as easy on yourselves as your current predicaments allow. Christmas creates a huge amount of pressure to have the perfect day, but sometimes it's just shit. There will be better days 💐

Damn, some seriously painful stories here but also, some superhuman level strong women. Sending tons of support to all of you who are having a shit time at the moment.

I'm ETing my way through tomorrow at work, supporting the staff who work on our 24/7 mental health helpline. I wasn't looking forward to it, it's always a tough time of year and we have a lot of folk off sick. I'm exhausted, stretched thin and burnt out, and grieving our much loved dog who crossed the rainbow bridge a few weeks back. But this has made me put things into perspective a bit, so if I can help those staff give a bit of comfort to someone who needs it, or advise them on how to keep someone safe, that's worth doing, and worth doing well. Perhaps even someone on here will speak to one of them.