Dreading Christmas

[CandyGirl17]

Help! I need some inspiration for a new different Christmas.
Im seperated from my DH and in a new relationship but this year it will be my, dp and my two dc for Christmas day, ive always spent it with my family but this year this isnt an option and i am dreading a 'new' christmas, i need some new traditions and new things to keep us having fun an occupied this year, my DS is 16 and my DD is 12.
Help!

Are you not able to see family because they don't approve of your new relationship? Why are you dreading it if it's a chance to get on with your life?

my family are going out this year, and they dont really approve of my new relationship at the moment, i may be able to see them at some point during the day, but i need to think of things to take my mind off of what my Christmas usually looks like to starting new traditions etc

It does sound like this is an affair partner, so I guess you just have to accept that Xmas will be very different for everyone if you usually have a big family one as people will still be very hurt.

I'd probably just do the bits of Xmas you like - croissants in the morning, presents, a walk, lunch, cheese, silly Xmas films, bed would be my choice.

Perhaps your relatives feel it’s a bit soon to be “doing Christmas” with a new partner when you have kids to think about, who presumably are still coming to terms with your separation from their dad.

If the children want to visit your family as usual, it may be worth explaining to your boyfriend that he needs to sit this one out so that the children can have something resembling normality and stability for the first Christmas post-separation. Just a thought. There’ll be plenty more Christmases with this new guy and if he’s a decent person, he’ll understand.

Board games. Maybe start logging m Ng at Xmas movies and record any decent ones you see to play at Xmas as TV at Xmas is generally shit with repeats on all day.

You could go bowling in afternoon on Xmas day but you'd need to book early.

I would ask your dc and be led by them. If you are dreading Christmas, I can imagine they feel even worse - even if it doesn’t show. They might not want to do anything Christmassy at all and just have a chilled day like a regular weekend. Or they might prefer to spend the time with your family - perhaps they would like to stay with your family Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and you can go to your family on Christmas Day as normal and leave your dp behind this year. It seems really harsh that the kids are cut off from their family Christmas Day and I wonder if your family might soften on that point in the spirit of the season. Poor children, caught in the crossfire.

I can fully understand why they don’t want your new partner for Christmas if it is very early days.

Bin off the new partner for the day and spend it with your family.

How long have you been dating the new boyfriend? Are you sure your kids really want him in their home?