Can't help but feel a bit sad at the thought of my boys waking up Christmas morning without their daddy there.

[Pinkchampagne]

It was as I was wrapping their presents up that it dawned on me that this Christmas is going to be so different, in that when my boys wake up & open their presents, their daddy won't be around to share their excitement.
We have been living apart since May, and have adjusted ok, but the Christmas morning thing has made me feel quite sad.

Has anyone had similar feelings as they approahed/are approaching their first Christmas as a single parent, and how did you find it on the day itself?

Thanks, bubble. Just been having a bit of a moment here while wrapping presents.

DS2 has actually found some big card tree thing he made at nursery last Christmas, and hung it from our Christmas tree - the tree that is still without lights!!

I have some lights if you would like them? Honest!

PC did you get it? i sent to wrong address first time!

Blu I LOVE that getting the dc to choose a christmas decoration.......hope you don't mind if I steal that one

lsct

I do think its a great idea! anyone should go for it, even if you don't have ant special reason, just another year is a good enough excuse!

It is a great idea to get the boys to choose a decoration for the tree, and they would love it.
My youngest son is very hyped up about the whole Christmas thing, and came into my room at 1am the other morning, smelling of chocolate, announcing "It's the number 11 day, mummy!"

Missy - will check now.

Oh yes, the raiding of the advent calendars! DS was awake at 4 am the night before the end of Nov, too excited to sleep as it was almost time to start opening advent claendars!

You see - a bit of chocolate and they ARE already enjoying everything about christmas, already!

This is my first Christmas on my own. It is going to be hard because my two are actually going to my ex. BUT, Christmas will arrive early in our house and I am so excited. The tree is up and no one is undermining the sheer fun of it all. I am doing fine by enjoying the moment, and whilst there are the sad and bad moments, they aren't as bad as living with my ex. Hard, at times, isn't it?

Bless him, Blu! It's amazing how much excitement an advent calendar can cause isn't it?!

1066andallthat - good for you! You have a great outlook on it all! I have just been having a silly moment today.

I don't think it's silly; the lows are really low and feeling sad that things didn't work out for you as a family is just part of it. Definitely agree with the Pink Champagne idea. I will be having Bucks Fizz on the 22nd (the New Christmas Day in our house!). Only a week to go .....

reading this it just occurred to me i have no idea what exh is doing for xmas and i dont actually give a shit, as long as he isnt with us

Well another one facing her first Xmas as a single parent too. Funnily enough I'm just going to go with the flow. It can't be anyone worse than last year when their father was here and didn't interact with us at all. As for New Year, another single friend and I are getting our boys together, watching DVD's and generally having a blast together. Shall totally make the best of it.

Good luck with yours.

Thank you. I'm being silly as Christmas when he was around could be a pretty stressful experience - it was just a pang as I was wrapping the boys presents, as it suddenly hit me that this would be the first year they haven't woken up with both of their parents around them on Christmas Day.

Thinking back to last year, their dad was pretty ill with a stomach bug, so wasn't actually around in the morning to see them open their presents then.

I'm sure the boys will still be pretty excited Christmas morning - it was just me having a bit of a moment.