How to make our tiny family Christmas magical when 1. We are both ill and 2. Our own Christmases were crap?

[fuzzpig]

Need the wisdom of you lovely festive MNers please!

Xmas has always been a bit of a struggle for us. DH had a horrific childhood and obviously has no good memories of it. My own family is dysfunctional and toxic and my parents didn't like Xmas so didn't see why their only child should .

We have an agreement that Xmas day itself is just for us (me, DH, DD 5, DS 3) - my family believes it is just because we want to enjoy the day ourselves but basically it is because the alternative of having them here is miserable, boring and stressful.

But even on our own, Xmas has never been that great. It feels like Sunday with presents and more food. We are good at the present part but it seems like that is the focus of the day which is not what I want.

Hopefully DH will be in good health by then, as he has just had an operation on his spine having been injured for 2 years (he couldn't even sit at the table!) but I am unlikely to be much better as I have developed a chronic illness - it is unpredictable and I don't even know if I'll be able to work by then.

I am not going to put loads of pressure on myself to make it 'perfect' because I know that's a bad idea. So I'm just looking for a few easy ways to make it more fun and different :)

Norad Santa is great, tried that for the first time last year. We always try to go to the Crib service, but I prefer the Christingle one, so we try and do both. Also

Our local light switching on thing is rubbish though, we always go, but it is packed, full of traders selling glowing light sabers etc, a few fairground rides, a stage that you can't see with endless school choirs that you can't hear properly and when the lights do finally come on they are a real anti climax.

The other thing I love is the Lions Club send Santa round the streets here on the back of a big tractor sleigh giving out sweets and playing carols about a week before Christmas.