Anyone else looking forward to Xmas day with just you + the kids.

[Meglet]

I know I am for once. First Xmas Day at home in years, don't have to rush, kids can play with their toys, we can go for a walk after lunch and a couple of relatives are popping round in the afternoon.

It's nice to not be on the 'family stress' threads .

I am trying to. Was doing great until an hour ago now having a big wobble.

Must read these family stress threads

I don't even have any alcohol in the house, that's how relaxed I am .

Me

No grumpy Ex snarling at being woken so early, no stilted conversations with in laws pretending to like each other, no stressy lunch, just me and my favourite small people in the world. Happy Christmas single parents

At least we can all work to our own timetables tomorrow. I get fed up fitting the kids in with everyone else's plans as I have to deal with them when they're tired and whingy at the end of the day.

My first solo Christmas, we've had pizza and movie night today after having the In-laws over most of the day. We have our day planned out tomorrow with breakfast, presents, movies, playing and eating a big roast dinner and Boxing Day we are going to head off for a walk if the weather is good and make burgers for dinner. We're making some new traditions and generally just chilling out with no drama at all.

Ds was ill last night so I screwed up the leaving out for Santa, stocking stuff as I couldn't get away from him. He's really poorly .

He didn't seem that pleased with his presents (he's only 2.5 though!) and wanted to play with something we've had for ages that was 75p from Charity Shop. Then he had a shot on his new scooter in the kitchen so I felt a bit better. Tried to get him to nap but predictably he fell asleep just before dinner was ready. So I'm eating on my own. Feeling pretty down although we've had some nice moments. Ex is too busy to see him today although I offered. He was crying for him this morning.

double . I hope your DS perks up tomorrow. Did he eat much?

We've had a nice day, bit shouty this morning when I was trying to single-handedly combine present constructing + Xmas dinner cooking but felt a lot perkier after an afternoon walk. Got enough food leftover to feed us a second roast tomorrow, so no cooking!

Yes, but I'm used to it now anyway and he children are older. We skiied most of today in the Alps actually so that was pretty nice. There are lots of advantages to being single.

Thanks Meglet. Feel worn out by this year and I'm just having a bit of a wallow.

DoubleYew I ended up with a sickie child too. We still got through most of the day as planned but Miss 8 slept on the sofa quite a bit, missed Xmas Dinner and I had to juggle cooking dinner with cleaning up a vomit phobic child..bit chaotic but we've planned to do Christmas dinner again next week for New Years.