Ideas to make Christmas special, when it's only 3 of us?

[TortugaRumCakeQueen]

So, for Christmas, it will only be me (53), DH (50) and DS (25) here. Just looking for ideas to make this exciting and special, when it's just the three of us? Our DD is abroad with her fiance and other relatives are very far away, so no option to make it a bigger affair.

At least every other year there has only ever been three of us. From what I gather, our day was no different to anyone else’s, other than there were less of us. It was certainly more laid back but was fun and special. We would dress up for dinner which we ate when it was dark and ate by candlelight, but would also do that if we were entertaining.

Why can’t you replicate what you normally do? Other than people, is there something you think is missing from your usual arrangements, or something that you can’t do that you think will make the day less special?

We are the same this year and am looking forward to it as a change. We are going out for Christmas lunch, in the morning we are going to do something active like a long hike, or mountain biking. Will bring a nice champagne breakfast with us.We may also go the casino in the night ( good change it will be open but not sure). We will be on the coast so that will be different for us. In short we are going to do the things we like doing but make them a bit more special.

Board games, that kind of thing? Something you wouldn’t normally do? Could you go away?

I think it just seems so different from when the kids were young, as there's no build up from school, with all the parties, nativity etc, there's no pretence at Santa, no advent calendars. We can't go away, as DH has to be up at 530am on Boxing day for work (which is crap!). We do have matching pyjamas, lol. I think DS will come over a few days before Christmas day, so we could do dinner out on the 23rd or 24th. There's a nice restaurant close by that does a 3 course Christmas menu. We do have board games, all the old favourites. I guess I was just looking for anything a bit different that others might do?

Everyone invents a cocktail?
Walk to pub for drink before lunch?
Walk before / after meal?
Choose a movie no-ones seen?
Candlelit dinner sounds nice
Everyone makes a course each?
Save presents till evening?

Christmas being special isn’t determined by numbers.

There are 3 of us this year (baby DD) but we’ve had Christmases the two of us. We get up when we want (which we don’t do this year), we have some pastries in the freezer so have them warm with Buck’s Fizz. We walk the dogs, call family, eat when we want and work our way through our favourite Christmas films or play games. In the lead up to Christmas we walk round the village and look at the lights, have mulled wine and watch Christmas films.

What do you actually like doing? What makes you happy? Do you want a lie in? To go to church? To go for a walk? To have friends over for brunch?
What do you want to eat? And when? If you have to prep items, will that impact on what you end up doing?
I think that, sometimes, you have to take a step back and really think about what you like doing and then do it. There's no obligation to have a traditional day.

Of course its different from when the kids were young, but by the sound of things it has been a few years since your’s where young. Instead of looking back (and to a degree with rose tinted specs; was it really that good dashing about, kids getting over excited etc?) look forward as to how you can make new traditions, or at least do something different.

Think about which days you want to make different, who is going to be involved and what you could do. Not everyone has to be involved in everything. A lot will be determined by your interests, finance and possibly the weather. You will have to factor in DH having an early start on Boxing Day; he is unlikely to want to stay up late on Christmas Day drinking copious amounts.

On Christmas Day itself, do you want to be more traditional (present opening, typical dinner, some TV, a walk and games is what most seem to do), or do something different?

Would you consider moving your Christmas dinner to the evening of Christmas Eve and eating by Candlelight? You could then do something quite different on Christmas Day which may fit in with DH working on Boxing Day. A friend of mine always has a BBQ on Christmas Day regardless of the weather. I have personally quite fancied having the main meal on Christmas Eve and then a trip to the coast on Christmas Day with a picnic of some description and then coming home to something simple but tasty to eat such as a casserole which has been cooking away in the slow cooker whilst we have been out.

Will meeting up with other people factor into any of this and will DS want to spend all of his time with you, or will he have places to go and people to see?

It's. always just 3 of us but with DD being a child, now teen, that's slightly different.

I love what friends do, they take make a breakfast hamper (oven backed pastries, yoghurt, fresh fruit) and take non-alcoholic Buzz Fizz plus hot chocolate in a flask and go to the beach. They have chairs and blankets, hot water bottles and handwarmers and have a Christmas breakfast there.

Then back home, hot shower, giving out presents and a light lunch.

You could do Christmas dinner later (5-6pm), dress up properly for it. Cook what you like, maybe try a new meat instead your usuals.

Cheese and wine tasting session?

Op rich or poor I loved Xmas with my mother.
With very basic presents etc it was the feeling,the atmosphere etc.

The only times I've felt depressed or like it wasn't special was at my wealthy in law's hi oise

With regimented Xmas where in every breath mil told us how she had saved money

One year we volunteered although I think it’s prob too late to apply for this year.

One time we invited friends round. One year we celebrated on 24th and spent 25th on a beach a few hours away.

I would like to mix things up a bit when youngest DC is an adult.

Pre Christmas-
Go to watch an old film at the cinema /lots of hotels have bespoke cinemas now too.

Christmas Eve prep together then dinner and drinks at the pub. Home and into new pyjamas, cheesy film or Die Hard and sweets.

Christmas Day -
Stockings in the morning before breakfast.
Beach walk.
Home for baths and into fresh clothes.
Pre dinner aperitif as we open the tree presents.
Meal in the evening with lots of candles.

Boxing Day long lie, read, walk - board games and picky food when your DH gets home.

Start now, each of you thinking about what you would each like to do.

With three, it's most likely possible to accommodate everyone's wishes. When there are more of you, it becomes necessary to 'join in' and go along with whatever is planned.

We see family in the days running up to Christmas Eve, so are often just the two of us for actual Christmas.

When it's just DH and I, we tend to go out on Christmas Eve, often dancing and get home quite late or even early on Christmas Day.

Sleep late but not too late as DH looks forward to presents first thing (adult first thing, 9:30 - 10ish, not 6am

I'm not a big drinker but Christmas Day we open a bottle of vintage champagne (DH has a cup of tea to go with it). Open presents from family and friends then each other, DH loves surprises and is not difficult to please present wise, so no drama picking things which are beautifully wrapped.

By 12:30 we are washed and dressed for traditional Christmas Dinner at lunch time in a local (walking distance) restaurant. We stumble out around 5-6pm and may walk the 'long way' round the village green.

Home and the delights of the television and drift into the sunset perhaps with a morsel of cheese.

On Boxing Day DH recovers while I go out for a good long walk to brow away the cobwebs.

My favourite adult Christmas.

Walk to see Christmas lights
we do cracker presents now, each person picks a gift for a cracker
best charity shop gift
board games - scruples is a new recent fave and I’ve found the kids game speak out hilarious with adults but I love with foreign speakers which I’m sure makes it funnier with the accents

This might not be your thing at all - but we go to Xmas Day parkrun. It's pretty much always DH, me, DD and DS. DH and DS run and DD and I volunteer. It's all very good natured and positive. Then home for bacon sarnies, presents, chocolate and tea with brandy in. Main meal at about 5pm.

Your son is 25, it must have been a while since there was a build up from school before Christmas! What did you do last year - or is it that you are missing your daughter?

Some good ideas here, thank you. Yes, missing DD and her fiance, as it seemed easier with 5 people. Last year we did the Hello Fresh Christmas Dinner which was a DISASTER - so complicated that we spent the whole day trying to figure out the food. Won't be doing that again!! We certainly could do something on a beach, as we live a short walk away, but it would be FREEZING, lol.

OP, focus on the people that ARE there, not the people that are missing even if they are your favourites Is there actually any reason to change what you would normally do at Christmas, has anyone else mentioned changing things this year? Because it does come across as you wanting to change things simply because your DD won't be there.

Freezing is part of the appeal of going to the coast along with being blown away and then getting back into the warmth afterwards 😃

The beach on Christmas day is the best! Last year our local had people with Xmas trees up on the beach! Take a flask of mulled wine and a mince pie :)