Does anyone else not feel festive or Christmassy at all. Im so down right now

[LTAS]

I feel so sad about christmas and I know I'm being silly probably but I don't feel festive or happy about this year at all as I'm sure many others do.

1- I've had a big argument with a family member who's been an absolute arse about it. But now has made me feel stupidly guilty for overeacting and being rude about the situation.
2- were isolating over christmas due to positive case so can't even get out for a walk.
3- plans we had to very briefly see family members have had to be cancelled
4- we lost a family member to covid only a few weeks ago
5- the world is crap right now and I just feel so sad about it all and when will life go back to somewhat normality
6- because of isolating and being in hospital only a few weeks ago for my son I don't feel I've got no where near enough presents for my 6 and 4 year old.

I got to get out of this gloom and doom mood. But I just don't know how to

Similar situation here.DD12 has been ill since the 8th November and was seriously ill in hospital for the last week of Nov. Has been having various test ever since and was in Gt Ormand st this past weekend for more investigations. We have a telephone appointment with GOSH on Xmas eve to discuss test results. Just feel that our lives are on hold until we can get a diagnosis and treatment plan. Until treatment starts she's just in bed feeling dreadful.

Christmas just feels very irrelevant to me at the moment. Luckily we got the kids gifts organised very early as we were convinced another lockdown was coming.

I have covid and have barely left my bed for the last 7 days.
I still have a ton of wrapping left today and I’ve no idea how I’m going to get it done.
Dh is now feeling really ill too.
So Christmas is going to be shit for our 4dc, with parents ill with covid.
How am I going to make Christmas Day special and not have it just like every other day this week (ie them just having too much screen time!)
It’s ds’s birthday on Boxing Day too and we haven’t even bought cards yet (I’d planned to do that this week.)
Not feeling slightly Christmassy, just full of guilt that it’s so crap for the dc.

Yep, feel really flat, I mean I know many are going through worse etc, but yeah, this year ... argh.

To be fair we don't do all the Christmas stuff. I have four children and two have autism and other ANs, so for us, we keep Christmas quiet take as they get easily overwhelmed and struggle with the chances and emotions of Christmas. However we usually spend a lot of time with my parents who live a few doors away (I moved close so we had mutual support) and they can't see them which makes this so so hard. We don't see them much as my mum is vulnerable but we have isolated for weeks to be able to be together and now we aren't allowed. So that's really difficult.

My husbands job is at risk, he has meetings throughout the day everyday and strike action scheduled (British Gas) as they are firing and rehiring them all. My husband is super ill with worry, he has migraines and IBS and he's physically not coping well. His boss told them today if they can't handle it they know where the door is, so that's not helping.

My self employed business dried up and hasn't earns anything this year.

Plus I had to cancel my holiday today, it was for March but clearly that's not happening. It was our first holiday abroad with the children and they had been years of planning because of their disabilities but i can't hold out any longer and cancelled. It's fine, we can rebook, we haven't even lost anything. So it's fine, but it's still sad and I'm super glad the kids weren't aware.

My grandma died of COVID last month, I see her house from mine (yes, it's weird, we all lived super close and I actually originally live 600 miles away from them) and that's hard. It makes Christmas easier, but equally it's sad.

My food is all "food to order", and I'm pretty terrified of going out tomorrow as it is crazy here and cases are over 1000 per 100,000 now. My veg box hasn't turned up either.

So it's just a lot. But equally we have it better than so many, my husband still has the option of a job, it's less pay, significantly more hours and will directly affect my ability to run my business as he won't be around as much to help with childcare, but it's better than most. Plus I do get to see my mum (and dad) Christmas Day, so the small stuff.

Going to get a gingerbread house out for the kids later and just look forward to better times.

Make it exciting for dc and eat cheese a lot is my response.

I don’t feel Christmassy either. I suppose in normal years there is a build up - working, shopping, seeing trees and decos...

I’m going to stick on a Christmas film and eat cake this afternoon...

Sounds like you've had a lot on your plate. I think it might help if you can give yourself some self-care. I like snuggling under my weighted blanket, colouring and having a hot bath or shower. With regard to the things you mentioned - I always feel awful if I've had an argument - especially when I've been invalidated like you. If I was you I'd just say - agree to disagree - Merry Christmas and don't get drawn in further - then you've done the decent thing. We're isolating too - I'm focusing on planning a walk when we can go out! Point 3 is yhe same for us too - myself and my DC have cried over it but we are planning a video call - could you do that, perhaps? As for you're last point - I'm sure you've got plenty! The thing DC want most is your time - try to focus on being able to spend time playing with your DC with their new toys rather than how many they've got. I'm so sorry for your bereavement - that must be so tough and I would expect makes you feel worse about the whole situation Hope you feel better if only in part and have some peace this Christmas.

@Marv1nGay3 - I'm so sorry to hear about your DD. I was discharged at the end of summer from a psych ward. I went through the first lockdown there so couldn't see my DC - it was hard but everyone pulls together. I also wanted to say the wards I was on over the period I was in hospital made a real effort at Christmas. Lots of activities, decorating the ward, Christmas party. I'm not saying that makes it all better but it does help. Hope you DD is home with you soon

I did before Boris torpedoed our plans.

Now it's just caused so much sadness and upset amongst my family that it's made me not want to celebrate at all.

Got to admit, when the announcement came on Saturday the Christmas feeling felt like it had been pulled from me completely. I feel a bit guilty about it as I still have my husband and a daughter with me but our other offspring g wont be able to come. Trying to get the feeling back but sadly it is just not happening