Just The Three Of Us on Christmas Day... How to Make

[Goditsmemargaret]

I'm dreading Christmas Day.

For various reasons I've insisted on going NC with my extended family. It will be just me, DH and DD7. She still a firm believer in Father Christmas so I don't want to suggest having it abroad yet.

She is going to be devastated we aren't seeing her granny and cousins.

I am feeling so bleak about it all and can't think of a single thing that will make it fun.

Please somebody help me out. We live on a very friendly street opposite a green. I have in the past organised summer street parties or Easter egg hunts but I feel everyone just likes to be with their families on Christmas Day.

We also live near the beach and sometimes I get in for a Christmas swim but it's not much fun for DC watching.

If you plan the day and start to create rituals, it's going to be fine.

Make sure she has a stocking of small fun presents. Have her open them with you first thing in the morning.

Start a breakfast tradition where she chooses her dream breakfast, DC used to have coco pops variety packs or horrible pop tarts - just once a year.

Then maybe go to Church for the main morning service if you are at all religious. Or open under the tree presents. Take time to play with them - help her build any lego or make a start on anything crafty, read a new book with her, play a game.

If you think she might like a Christmas Day dip in the sea (nice tradition) buy her a wetsuit and a dry robe, and yes to wearing santa hats! If she'd get too cold going for a dip, she could still come and watch with a flask of hot choc.

Then Christmas Dinner and a family film like Home Alone, Paddington, Elf. Maybe a walk around the neighbourhood as it gets dark to watch twinkling lights.

We are on year 4 of ‘just us’ post estrangement from huge extended family who always celebrate together. We have made it much better than before and my DCs call it epic. Look at what’s on / open locally. Maybe Xmas eve church or carol service even if you are not religious or pop out for a walk to see the local Christmas lights when it’s quiet and the shops have shut.

Our village pub is open 12-2 Xmas day free drinks and nibbles everyone goes with kids and dogs wearing Santa hats - brilliant atmosphere. The beach sounds great as well. Your day will be packed - it goes quickly. Boxing day - always trip or panto - or invite neighbours in.

It’ll be magical OP!

Hopefully your dd will just be excited cos its Christmas rather than worrying about seeing her extended family. You could use this as a opportunity to start up some of your own new traditions, like special breakfast or a film that you continue to watch every year or playing board games in the afternoon, going for a wintery walk.

@Goditsmemargaret i remember feeling like this when we had to lockdown for Christmas and it was just the three of us versus the big family Christmas we were used to.
it’s actually one of our most favourite Christmas memories… we loved the slow pace of the day, playing with presents, watching movies and eating what we wanted when we wanted it.
Lean into it and embrace it for what it is… really quality time spent with people you love and who love too. (And no one who is toxic, abusive or any other reason you might have needed to go n/c)

My Christmas’ were me and my two DS’s.

I was worried that Christmas would be a let down so I asked them what they thought should happen.

Kids have great ideas!

They wanted a full Christmas meal ( they each had their jobs to help prepare the meal).
They wanted us to dress up for dinner.
They also asked that we eat later so that it is growing dark and we can light the candles on the table.
We still do all of these things.

Ask your DD? What might she want, she may surprise you?

(though the swim, hot chocolate and beach fire sounds fab!)

We have always had Christmas Day just the four of us, for various reasons. DDs are 8 and 6.

It is bliss, but I think you have to lean in to it being chilled rather than comparing it to the big, hectic, 20 people round a table Christmas days. It's a different thing but just as lovely.

We let DDs have whatever they want for breakfast (usually chocolate), we go all out on food and drink because we only have to feed the four of us so we can have whatever we want. We still do the traditional Christmas Dinner but often get a lot of it pre prepared from M&S so I can just drink Bucks Fizz, play with DDs, listen to music and pop things in and out of the oven.

We always go on a walk after lunch just as it's getting dark, just to get some fresh air.

Then home to cuddle up on the sofa together, eat all the snacks and watch whatever is on TV. We tell DDs they can stay up as late as they like so we normally end up all falling asleep on the sofa together. It's a lovely, cosy, calm day.

We mix it up by having a bit of an open house one one of the other days between Christmas and New Year for drinks, gammon rolls and mince pies for neighbours and friends.

Coming back to this thread to thank everyone who contributed. We had an absolutely gorgeous day. In the end none of us went into the sea but walked down to watch and stopped by the playground. My DH took her to see her cousins for a little while and swapped gifts while I made dinner.

It was such a lovely day full of gorgeous food, playing with her gifts and watching a movie. At the end she said she wished it would never end.

I hope everyone else had a nice time too.

Happy Christmas.