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Original poster

The empty chair - raising a glass to those we miss

44 replies

Jackfrostnippingatmynose · 24/12/2023 10:02

My DPs and Dgran who we were lucky to share Christmas with for so many years. We lost the last - DM - this year.
They loved the bustle of Christmas with all the kids. DF with his Christmas jumper and bad jokes, DM bringing the overnight cooked turkey round as our oven wasn't big enough, DNan helping to prep the veg and warbling along to the carols.
Merry Christmas to them and to us all 🥂🎅

OP posts:
AndAllOurYesterdays · 24/12/2023 10:05

I always miss my mum this time of year. She made Christmas for us when we were little and would have loved spending it with her grandchildren. I will be raising a glass of bubbly to her tomorrow

HappyHamsters · 24/12/2023 10:23

This is my first Christmas without both my parents and inlaws. I always remember the wonderful Christmas we had as children, dad washing up, mum cheating at monopoly. Bless everyone who has lost their loved ones.💔

lollipoprainbow · 24/12/2023 11:27

My darling mum and sister who made Christmas . Will be raising a gin and tonic to them. ❤️

ButnotforLola · 24/12/2023 13:07

My first Christmas without my Dad.
He always spent Christmas with us as he never met anyone else after my parents divorced.
I'll be raising a glass to him tomorrow 🥂
My thoughts are with everyone who has lost someone dear to them.

Ficidy · 25/12/2023 01:05

My first Christmas without my amazing dad, who died a month ago. It still doesn't feel real. Does it ever end up feeling real?? I miss him dreadfully. Just going through the motions for my kids' sake, but can't wait to just get through Christmas. Will raise a glass to the greatest man I've ever known 💔

mrsfollowill · 25/12/2023 01:19

Mil died this year- she was 92 yrs old and a legend- still lived in her own home- did her own cooking and cleaning and was not ill even at the end- she had an aneurism out of the blue and that was it. We are down to one surviving grandparent for DS ( he is early 20's by the way not a tot) My dear mum is 80 and poorly but still with us.
We take Christmas to her these days - I buy (mum pays towards) and cook everything- DS and DH will do drinks and the washing up- we'll have a good few drinks (mum still has a glass of fizz) and a quiz after lunch. We live 5 mins walk from her so will totter home around 8.30 to give her some peace and let her get off to bed at 9.30-10pm. We will raise a glass to my lovely Dad who went way too soon in his early 60's , dear FIL who was 91 to be fair but had dementia a long time and formidable MIL. To absent friends! 🍾

Pattygonia · 25/12/2023 01:21

My darling dad. I miss you and wish you were here. Your grandson is over 6ft now and he wore your smart coat to church tonight. It’s the first time he’s worn it and he found one of your business cards in the inside pocket.

Bunda · 25/12/2023 01:38

To my dad who must be looking after my unborn baby. I love you both so much xxx

Love to everyone here. X

Ossobuco · 25/12/2023 01:43

To my absent friend, I wish you a very happy Christmas and hope there is an old style chocolate Orange and Christmas Top of the Pops and a lovely Christmas dinner wherever you are now.

Love to everyone who’s lost someone

4catsaremylife · 25/12/2023 01:51

Second Christmas without my lovely mum, made so much worse by my dad's increasing dementia. This year is the first year we will be a family of 4 because he's too unwell to come to our house and wouldn't cope with me cooking at his.
I specifically cooked an early Christmas dinner today just for him and it's been taken to his house so his carers can reheat it and he will get a Christmas lunch tomorrow not that he will remember it 😭 but it matters to me.

caringcarer · 25/12/2023 02:19

I've never really got over losing my Mum. 10 Xmas without her. Here's to you Mum. Merry Xmas. 💓

mrsbyers · 25/12/2023 02:23

Second Christmas without my lovely dad , miss you so much Popsie

Run4it2 · 25/12/2023 02:25

My lovely little sister. Hugs to everyone x

DyslexicPoster · 25/12/2023 02:30

First Christmas without my mum. Visited friends in my home county abd it was so weird not popping in yesterday. It sucks. Hugs to all x

eatdrinkandbemerry · 25/12/2023 02:34

Lost my mum a month ago and Christmas was always our special time.
The kids are missing her terribly and I feel like I've lost my best friend.
But I've drilled it into the children that she wouldn't want us to be sad and she will be watching us smiling .
I've never felt so sad but I'm trying mum I'm trying to keep smiling x

Wouldyouliketo · 25/12/2023 04:17

To my mum and best friend who died 4 days ago. I hope you are with my dad now and happy and loved up in heaven. I miss you and I love you.

RogersOrganismicProcess · 25/12/2023 05:23

🧸 for my beautiful DD. Our 8th year without you. I wonder about the young lady you would have started to become. Holding you in my heart, as always, this Christmas.

Hoping that you are having your own wonderful celebration with the other lovely people mentioned on this thread. ✨

🎄love to all of you missing someone this Christmas

Babybelle23 · 25/12/2023 05:27

My nephew who was such a smart, funny, beautiful little boy. That would have been an 18 year old young man now.
my dad and my stepdad, who never got to meet my baby daughter ❤️

palmtreesoliveleaves · 25/12/2023 05:29

My lovely MIL who died last month. She has always been part of our Christmas day and this year it's just me, DH, and our 2 children for the first time.

I'm feeling out of sorts and trying to keep everything running smoothly for the kids and DH.

Solasum · 25/12/2023 05:31

This is the second Christmas without my father. He was the glue that held our family Christmas together. I still can’t believe he is gone, and that we will never speak again. My siblings and I have been rubbish about seeing each other this year as well.

I wish we had spent more time with him.

Lifeasiknowitisout · 25/12/2023 05:34

Christmas hasn’t been the same since mum died. It’s nice and special. But not the same. This is our third. She died a couple of weeks before Christmas so our first Christmas without her, was before her funeral.

A piece of me will always be stuck in that Christmas. But I actually out more effort into Christmas now for the kids, so they don’t miss out on the things she did. Christmas was huge for her. So we are making new traditions.

Christmas was her favourite and I will raise a glass to her tonight. And have a chat with her in my head.

Love to everyone missing someone today.

Lollywillowes · 25/12/2023 05:35

To you, Mum.

You hated Christmas since Granny died but always took it on and brought our tiny misfit family together. This year you knew it was going to be different.

I'm sorry I haven't been able to face joining Dad and my brother today but it doesn't feel right without you. It's a tide of grief and, like an animal, I have an instinct to be alone and go within.

I couldn't access the feelings of deep love when you were alive recently because they were behind the hurt and grief about your life. You were in your struggle and I was in mine: a struggle with your struggle - a codependent mum and daughter dance of years.

What remains is not your failures but your sincerest, pure care. My heart is so broken. You had the biggest heart and life was hard for you.
I wish I had hugged you more.

Toooldtoworry · 25/12/2023 05:51

To my Godfather, Granddad, Glen & Kellie. The latter taken too soon earlier this year. Merry Christmas wherever you are 🥂🎄

Roselilly36 · 25/12/2023 06:19

Sorry for all those missing friends and relatives at Christmas, it’s really tough. We will be raising a glass to many sadly today. You learn to live alongside the grief, but it never goes away. Especially those gone too soon.

Isthiscorrect · 25/12/2023 06:25

Missing the DH of my friend. She's coming to stay with us today, he passed two weeks today. also missing DH of my other close friend who passed this summer.
And always remembering PM who took his own life and Boxing Day will be his birthday.
I will raise a glass to the three of them and hope they can do the same, for sure they would all enjoy a glass of red.

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