How to make Christmas special with just 3 of us?

[nancy75]

Due to various reasons it looks like our Christmas plans have fallen through & it will just be dp,Dd (age 12) and me for Christmas Day.
We are used to busy Christmas with lots of people & I’m worried it’s just going to be a bit boring & miserable with just the 3 of us!
Does anyone have any ideas of how I can make sure the day is a bit more exciting or special?

Oh dear, maybe we are doomed to a dismal day!

I would do something different.
Eat what you want to eat, not just turkey because it’s Christmas. Last year for us that meant lasagne.
Do something you might not be able to do with lots of people... plan a trip to a beach or a mountain.
Make a silly or not so silly rule for the day; play a game, watch tv, stay in pyjamas.
Use the excuse that it’s rare to get a day with no other obligations and just enjoy the time together.
(The majority of my Christmases have been as one of four or fewer)

It depends why you are without your usual table of friends or family.

The Xmas after we lost my Dad, my mum came to me and she got to choose dinner (goose, we had never had goose).

Or you could go out for dinner, if you would like that and funds allow.

PS we had a very happy Xmas that year, it was so special that we still had each other.

Line up a couple of films and a box of chocolates for after lunch. Spend the morning getting lunch sorted and doing the presents. Skype or call friends and family.

Maybe there's a local charity that delivers baskets to hospital wards or the elderly? Something nice to do for a couple of hours. Would you want to go to a church of carol service? Go for a walk or drive to see the city Christmas lights/tree?

Go for a Parkrun?

It’s just me and DD here for xmas! I’m quite looking forward too just the 2 of us. First thing she will open Father Christmas stocking -then a day of craft, games, tv! I’m going to ask her what she wants to eat xmas day. No doubt it’ll be pizza or sausage and chips! Lovely and easy . I’m quite looking forward to it.

Thank you for the ideas, church is a definite no I’m afraid, we have strictly santa Christmas.
We live in London so we could go & see the Christmas lights ( it will be different without the crowds)
I think what I really want to avoid is a day where we just sit about, being a bit bored & cant be bothered to get dressed or do anything!

Mary, I just saw the park run, it made me laugh - it is pretty much the last thing on Earth I would ever do

Could you team up with a few friends who would be on their own at Christmas and make it a busier affair? There maybe a few singletons or smaller families who are experiencing a similar situation to you & would like a bit of company. You never know, you might enjoy doing something different. One year I invited a few students who would have been on their own, my cousin, a few friends & my dp to a new year's meal & it was fun. Every one brought a dish and we played board games and chilled out. It was a relaxed gathering without all the extended family tension.

Go out to a restaurant for lunch. It's expensive but there's usually a good atmosphere. It's lovely to actually go out and no cooking/washing up!