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Christmas

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A different Christmas Day this year

2 replies

peachleaf · 22/09/2025 10:55

My ex and I separated earlier this year, when we were together Christmas Day was always very hectic as we both have divorced parents so it would tend to look a bit like this;

morning at home, my family come to visit, DD dad come to see her opening some presents, Christmas dinner at home with my mum and stepdad. At about 5pm we’d go to ex’s dads for an hour then to his mums where it would be a house full of his family and at around 7pm I’d drop DD at her dads house as she spends Christmas night with him, then we’d go back to ex’s mums for drinks and a buffet. Usually going to bed at midnight absolutely exhausted.

This year is going to look completely different, my mum and stepdad are going out for Christmas dinner so It’ll just be me and my DD for a big part of the day, until she goes with her dad and then my new bf is going to come over (we haven’t been dating very long so he hasn’t met DD yet), the plan is likely to look like this:

Me and DD in the morning, her dad will call in to see her open presents, my family will call in until around midday then it’ll be just be me and DD until she goes to her dads around 5/6ish.

I want to make the day special for her, it’ll be such a change for her not seeing as many people (or the extra gifts that come with that), even though Christmas days were hectic in the past, it was nice to see so many people and it reminded me of my childhood where I’d see aunties / uncles / grandparents and play games in the evening. She’s also not bothered by food and doesn’t like a roast dinner, so I’m wondering whether to just do snacks and have a proper meal with bf when he comes to mine in the evening.

Any thoughts on how I can make it special or anything I should change up? My mum has suggested us going out for dinner with her and stepdad, but it’ll cost £200 and I don’t see the point in spending that when DD won’t eat the meal.

OP posts:
WhereIsMyLight · 22/09/2025 11:05

Christmas will be special enough without you doing something specific. Your DD will enjoy the time to play with her new gifts. There’s still a lot of people calling in, so it will still be busy. You’ve got gaps with people calling in so you don’t actually have to fill that much time.

I agree with not doing a roast if she doesn’t like it. Ask her what her favourite Christmas time meal or snack is and get that in.

Put some of your favourite Christmas films on with hot chocolate or go for a walk. You can try something and if you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it next year. We went for a meal one year but didn’t really enjoy it and so haven’t been out for Christmas Day meal since. It doesn’t need to be perfect this year, it’s just trying different things and seeing what feels right.

LlynTegid · 22/09/2025 11:07

I agree about not having the meal. Having a quieter day in itself is different and there is nothing wrong or sad about that.

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