Is anyone else just so fucking proud of their Christmas?

[Minjou]

I have four children. They are adored by their parents. But both those parents grew up in, frankly, different but shit homes. These children have a dad who was beaten and belittled and who grew up with no self esteem at all. And they have a mother who was neglected and abandoned and grew up in and out of care, with the sort of issues you'd expect.

But these children....they have been prioritised and loved and cared for every day of their lives. They have parents who are far from perfect but who have never stopped trying. They have had another happy Christmas day with gifts and great food and games and fun, which is every Christmas they've ever had. They have only the vaguest idea of their parents background.

I never normally talk like this, but I'm drinking the gin my oldest child bought me for Christmas, because he's lovely and he knows me 🤣. AIBU to be just so fucking proud that we broke the cycles we both grew up with, and created this happy new family for ourselves? Because I am. It's the joy of life. It makes everything worthwhile

Yanbu OP. Christmas is as good a time as any to give yourself a quiet pat on the back.

I grew up in a FSM household with an abusive f and an exhausted dm. We were cold, scruffy, overcrowded and excluded from all normal childhood activities. I left at the first opportunity.

I'm a single mum but

• My ds is happy, healthy, well fed & clothed
• He goes to a lovely school and has all the support and encouragement I did not.
• We live in a warm comfortable home with privacy and hot water
• He has friends and hobbies, a social life, sports.
• He is kind, thoughtful, confident, relaxed.
• He is loved and knows I have his back.

And I cooked a storming Christmas lunch. 😊 It might be hard work but we are doing OK.

Well done ❤️ Breaking the cycle is unbelievably hard, and people who haven't done it will never know. You should both be very, very proud (and feel a bit sorry for the arse who has to pick fault at people in the internet to feel good about themselves)

Well done @Minjou, it's so important that we break these cycles. Single mum and it's been my mission to ensure DS does not take after his paternal family.
DS got me gin too ... we obviously have boys who know their mum's like a treat!

Oh dear lord ....😂

Well done @Minjou and all the other folk who have broken /are breaking the cycle!

This thread really made me happy.

Happy Christmas all!

Yeah, but you’re clearly not normal.

OP, you and your husband are amazing 💕

I LOVE THIS.

AND YOU.

Well bloody done.

Mrs Scrouge - bah humbug off with yourself.

Did yours buy you glue?

Well done, breaking the cycle is so hard and for some people it’s impossible. Your post is lovely to read.

I had a lovely childhood and Christmases with an amazing Mum and Dad and this makes my heart hurt that you didn't but also full of love for the Christmases you are experiencing and creating now for your family. Merry Christmas to you all 🌲⛄❄️

@Minjou You are amazing and what a lovely post. You should feel proud of all you have achieved 💞💪🏾

misses the whole point of the thread…

How lovely OP, what a wonderful gift you have given yourselves and your children

Well done to OP and elm26, so lovely read these stories of people who have overcome adversity. You deserve to be proud.

You've come a long way, baby!

Well done for breaking the cycle. You are rightly proud!

Do you change your name for every new thread, or is there really more than one of you!?

Your child needs to buy you a fucking grip!

Well done op, great thread fo read after all the Mumsnet doom and gloom today

Teetotal here and even I think you're an absolute dick for that comment. Adult DC buys alcohol, shock horror!

What a lovely read. It brought a tear to my eye.
I’m glad you’re proud of yourself. You and dh deserve to be proud at what you’ve created.

Ps my dc bought me a bottle of gin too!

What an up lifting thread. I’m so very happy for you @Minjou 💃💃💃.

I brought my mum gin. Oh dear, I didn't know it was terrible and I'm a recovering alcoholic.

(She is not though.)

To be honest I’m only in my 20s but I’ve hit that age where I can’t stop thinking about old Christmases when Christmas comes around. I think it’s because I haven’t done Christmas at my parents since the pandemic, and honestly I used to dream about the Christmases I have now. It’s just so mind blowing how…normal(?) my Christmases are now.

My Christmas wasn’t even extremely spectacular, it was good and indulgent in some ways, but ultimately the main thing is it just wasn’t stressful. Didn’t have to worry about family arguments, people drinking too much, shitty presents, bad dinner etiquette, randomly late lunches (it’s basically dinner at my parent’s house). It’s so nice having my own house, being able to decorate how I want, have the food I want, the guests I want and basically be able to create the day I want. When I was a kid I loved Christmas but also used to dread it due to my family’s tendency to get into arguments over silly things. Now I can just be happy about Christmas without the background dread, totally unfiltered, don’t need to anticipate drama etc.

Seriously WYAF ?? My DC other bought me gin because that’s something I enjoy. Get down off your high horse and stop judging people ( you twat)

Post of the day! Wow so happy for you!

You sound like amazing parents and your kids sound wonderful. Merry Christmas OP, this has warmed my heart ❤️