Xmas at home

[RedCandyApple]

Does anyone else spend Xmas alone at home just them and their children? Been seeing so many threads on MN lately where people are devastated at being home for Christmas and not seeing family or friends but that’s my reality every year, don’t have a great relationship with family and don’t really have any friends close enough to spend Xmas with, no partner on the scene. So it’s every year with just us at home, but seeing everyone so sad at the thought of it makes me feel bad, anyone else that has this every year and this year is no different?

Why does it make you feel bad? I'd be quite happy for it to be just me and my 5yr old daughter but go to my mams for everyone else (although I do enjoy stuffing my face with food).

Bad for my kids I guess, that it’s just us.

We had many years of just being us for Christmas - our little unit of 3 and then 4. We always had a lovely time, cosy and comfortable. No rows, no stress, no hassle.

We have a tiny Christmas - just me and DD. I spent years worrying I wasn't doing Christmas right. Now we have a lovely day, doing what suits us. We do meet friends for a quick drink at a local pub at midday, but other than that, we please ourselves.
It's great! Watch Die Hard, eat what we want, no stress.
It took me years to stop pressing my nose against the window imagining cosy family groups around the fire. Families come in all shapes & sizes - trite I know, but true. My wider family was never going to offer that idealised model of Christmas. Enjoy what suits you x

Yes I guess guess that’s what I mean all the big families sitting round the table at Xmas like you see on tv, I remember someone saying they felt sorry for me just being at home with the kids on Xmas and having no adult company... maybe I’m over thinking it feeling worried that they don’t have that big happy extended family.

Many big extended families are not particularly happy IME - just have a read of all the threads here with constant problems over Christmas, dreading it in the lead-up, or being upset in the aftermath: arguments, fallings out, awkward family gatherings and people taking the piss in various ways. It’s often not as idyllic as it’s made out to be...

Ah I guess I’ve spent more time on the Covid board seeing people devastated at not being able to be with their family. I will have to read more of the other threads!

Yes that's me and my dd although her dad joins us too for the day. I can't help but feel envious at people with large families at Christmas. Lockdown won't make a scrap of difference to us !! I feel bad and guilty for me dd though.

l love a quiet cozy christmas, most of the people gathered round a big table most probably don't want to really be there, l just love spending xmas in my home, much more relaxing.

@lollipoprainbow

Yes that's me and my dd although her dad joins us too for the day. I can't help but feel envious at people with large families at Christmas. Lockdown won't make a scrap of difference to us !! I feel bad and guilty for me dd though.

Yes that’s what I mean, lock down or no lock down our Christmas will be exactly the same, other people’s lock down Christmas is our usual Christmas

I seem to recall funny memes about how lockdown had made some people's xmas last year! My sister in law can be a bit divaish and cringy. At least I don't have to deal with the ex's family this year. Never faked it so much!

Me OP. Before dc it was just me. I like it this way, no stress, just us.

I understand what you mean about the focus on family get togethers.

Forget Christmas, lockdown is how our life usually is without lockdown. 😁

The vast majority of my childhood Christmases were the 3 of us, DF and DM. None of our extended family lived within 500 miles and it was rare for any to come for Christmas.

All 3 of us LOVE Christmas. We treasure our childhood Christmas memories and still replicate the same traditions together every year.

Theg have got bigger over the years as we have got married and I've had kids. But the vaat majority are still spent together.

Please please don't worry about your kids. I promise, they will rememeber the happiness, not how many bums on seats.