I’m posting here for help - would love any ideas and wisdom…
I’m on my own with two primary aged children. We only have one relative who is in a care home (we will visit on Christmas Day).
The presents are (mainly) wrapped but the tree isn’t up and there are no declarations. (Tree is in garden waiting to come in).
I’m feeling swamped, very sad and in desperate need of help to move some things around to get the tree in. I think in all honesty, I’m probably depressed and it all feels so huge. This stuff wouldn’t normally phase me. I used to love Christmas. I cried so much yesterday that I feel really unwell this morning.
It’s so sad and hard being the only adult. I’d love a Christmas lunch but my children hate every bit of a traditional Christmas lunch so why bother. It’s soul destroying making things that only I will bother to eat. What’s the point.
I know I have to be ok for the children to enjoy Christmas but I feel so low. It’s such a struggle at the moment.
So tell me - what should I do? What should I prioritise?
The Christmas that tv sells us with extended family is illusive to us. There is no family. My children would love it if there were. So would I.
Be gentle, please. I’m feeling so fragile. Also, because of being careful, some of the presents I would normally get from friends haven’t arrived (meet ups were cancelled). I have two presents and it’s fine, it’s about the children, but I miss having my own parents to love me and buy me things. It’s part of my grief - realising that there’s no one I can say “I’d love new kitchen scissors for Christmas!” The intimacy of being able to ask for something specific is much missed.
Sorry this is so long.