First Christmas with an empty nest what did you do differently?

Billybagpuss · 2022-08-18T05:45:57+00:00

This will be our first Christmas with no adult dc still living with us. I think we will still host Christmas lunch itself but our family has traditionally just eaten lunch, maybe played a game then gone home. We have a very large artificial tree that is only a few years old but just seems too big for just the 2 of us and we’re going away for new year. What changed for you, is there anything you do now to make it not seem so weird after years of preparing stockings and full calendars of events etc.

mam0918 · 18/08/2022 14:32

If/when my family all have their own kids and have settled I think going on holiday somewhere warm sounds like the best option.

I LOVED christmas as a child and LOVE christmas with my kids now but the time in between when I was in my teens/young adult years I HATED christmas... without the kids here it wouldnt be christmas for me so a holiday would be a nice distraction.

Original poster

Billybagpuss · 18/08/2022 16:25

I think that’s a good plan

OP posts:

KentuckyDerbyandJoan · 18/08/2022 17:20

Could your DC not come and stay over the Christmas hol?

MintJulia · 18/08/2022 17:22

Watching. I'll be at the stage soon...

MyfavouriteisA · 18/08/2022 17:26

Went to Morocco for 2 weeks!

hellcatspangle · 18/08/2022 17:42

Ours still come for Christmas Day and stay at least a couple of days - last year we went to DD's which was a nice change

mdh2020 · 18/08/2022 17:59

Stay in your pjs all day. Drink champagne, watch what you like and don’t bother to cook. We usually have pizza with all the sides. One Christmas we watched re-runs of Criminal Minds all day. It was great.

MissyB1 · 18/08/2022 18:08

Not too long and this will be us. I often think of the options
Going abroad somewhere sunny.
Going abroad somewhere snowy.
Going to my sister’s (would love to do Christmas with her)
Popping over to adult ds for a drink and mince pie in the morning, then having Christmas dinner out just for Dh and I at a posh restaurant.

CanaryShoulderedThorn · 21/08/2022 18:50

My sis and I have a plan for this. We are going to allternate, one year at hers and the next at ours.
New Year is always with the in laws.
How about going to a nice hotel in the countryside, fresh air, swimming pool, decent food.

Bickles · 21/08/2022 18:53

We have one DS and I know we will therefore have some Christmases without him when he’s grown😢
Although I’m an only and am yet to spend Christmas Day without my parents and I’m 45.
Anyway we will be going somewhere hot and sunny when that day comes. Unless we have any old friends in the same boat in which case I think a SC cottage in this country with a lot of wine and walks.

IggyAce · 21/08/2022 18:56

Our dcs are teen & tween but I fancy staying at Ladore Falls in the Lake District for one Christmas when it’s just DH & I.

grayhairdontcare · 21/08/2022 19:06

It was our first Christmas without the DC's last year.
We completely changed Christmas Day from what we normally did.
We had smoke salmon and champagne in bed in the morning and watched Die Hard.
Then we went for a lovely walk and came back and cooked our dinner. We got everything from M&S.
Then we exchanged gifts and spent the evening relaxing.
It was totally different but I bloody loved it

LaTangerina · 21/08/2022 19:11

grayhairdontcare · 21/08/2022 19:06

It was our first Christmas without the DC's last year.
We completely changed Christmas Day from what we normally did.
We had smoke salmon and champagne in bed in the morning and watched Die Hard.
Then we went for a lovely walk and came back and cooked our dinner. We got everything from M&S.
Then we exchanged gifts and spent the evening relaxing.
It was totally different but I bloody loved it

That sounds like bliss actually!

Original poster

Billybagpuss · 21/08/2022 19:59

grayhairdontcare · 21/08/2022 19:06

It was our first Christmas without the DC's last year.
We completely changed Christmas Day from what we normally did.
We had smoke salmon and champagne in bed in the morning and watched Die Hard.
Then we went for a lovely walk and came back and cooked our dinner. We got everything from M&S.
Then we exchanged gifts and spent the evening relaxing.
It was totally different but I bloody loved it

Oh god that sounds perfect

OP posts:

CredibilityProblem · 21/08/2022 20:05

It depends what the living situation is of your DC. If they're single and in their early twenties and you're expecting to host Christmas lunch and they're expecting that too, then I think it would be natural to put the tree up and have them over for a Christmas dinner and exchange of presents, just without the stocking ritual the night before. Suddenly saying "we're off to the Caribbean for Christmas week, you're on your own" would be a bit odd.

Are they living close enough to reasonably come over to yours for lunch and then go back home?

Ahwig · 21/08/2022 20:16

My son has a child he shares with his ex and he does shift work, so often works over Christmas. His partner is an only child so she goes to her parents when he works. I am very laid back about when we see him his partner and son BUT we have one day over the holiday period when they all come to us and we have Christmas then. On Christmas Eve we go to midnight mass then onto a friends which means we get home about 3am. So Christmas Day itself we wake late, visit siblings and drop off presents then come home to a chilled relaxed day, eating what we fancy , maybe an afternoon kip and some Christmas tv.