I shall be alone with my DS for Christmas Day etc almost the whole of the school holidays. Not really looking forward to that (again) Anybody else fancy admitting to being alone?

[SoleSource]

I have Sky TV this year

DS is severely disabled.

Seventeen nights and days is my Christmas lonely hell. Sigh. I think it'll be better this year as I have made friends with people over the last two years and life ha been better for me.

that's good to hear sole - it must be very hard even to get out of the house with ds. Can you get yourself some treats in eg a dvd or two, some nice chocs/bubble bath? And lots of MNing for support also

Some cinemas have autism friendly screenings. So no one will be looking at you if Ds is noisy

If he likes music and singing , there are lots of church carol services over Christmas . you want to go for one that aimed at families and children , so there will be kids runing around . Not the quiet ones with candles ( lovely as they are ) .

You don't have to be religious or believe anything to attend -everyone is usually welcome . Lots of people just go at Christmas because they like the music .

[mince pies] for Sole and SoleBoy.

Just me and oldest ds (16 and aspie) for Christmas. The two youngest are off with bastard exH.

When it was my Christmas last year I made a point of making sure he saw all the dc on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. This year it was his turn, so of course he is taking them away from the 17th to the 28th, having booked a holiday with his girlfriend and her child too. Far too much to expect any sort of reciprocity from him clearly!

Christmas will be a bit quiet for me and DS but I will try and plan some activities for us.

I'll be alone for some of it and just me and my stepdad on the other days. We lost my Mum recently and then exP left me so we'll mainly be trying not to cry into our mince pies. Dreading it, but looking forward to it finally being 2015 and hopefully a whole new start. I am going to do lots of housework to keep busy, then at least i'll start the new year with a lovely clean house! Hang in there Sole xxx

I nearly posted this very thread last week but chickened out so thank you.

I am alone with DS (autistic) - he's high functioning but highly anxious so we go away now as family Christmas is a nightmare. Currently he is coping because I don't put any demands on him socially at all... He started to become violent at special needs activities :-(

Just me and him all is ok and whilst it wil be worth it... God it's hard and to a degree (this the worst) I have done this or difficult, anxious, violent child every year. I find the shame worse as I don't want pity - this year I have plucked up the courage to tell school and it was ok.

Shall we pre-arrange a support thread - I will online whilst away and I would love company

Thank you all xxx

A support thread would be great if you start it dayshift?

I can if you don't feel up to it.

i don't mind starting it - so glad someone said something

We need a name though and I have no imagination

I will start it on Friday 19th as school finishes :-)

30 days we go puff after a while?...

Sole, you definitely not alone - this place is always here, and a bunch of friendly faces who are either alone themselves, or feeling alone surrounded by people (or would just like the opportunity to be alone for an hour or so).

I hope you get some excellent food in, and a bunch of cosy movies.

Thank you callamia kind x :)

dayshift Christmas Support Thread, getting us through...

and for all you lovely people.x

Next Friday school finishes ........17 days to go after that....

I've been a single parent for over 13 years, so yes, just me and the kids at Christmas (and the rest of the year!). I always have them Christmas Day, the normally go to their Dads Boxing day.

Only day that bothers me is New Years Eve, I really hate it. Can't even explain why.

Sheep I'll pop on NYE - bothers me less... It's NY Daytime I dislike for some reason :-(

NYE is lonely for me too...that is when I am thinking of others having a great time as I used to go out pre DS sixteen years ago.

What a great idea to have a Christmas thread. Am I right in thinking dayshift is starting it on the evening of the 19th in 30 days only topic? Do you have a name for the thread yet? I bet it'll be so busy!

This will be my first Christmas alone after huge family rift. I truly wish I could curl up and sleep for ten days solid over the whole 'festive' period.
I guess Christmas just highlights so many of the problems that we face every day. It can be a very painful, lonely time indeed for so many people for a variety of reasons.

Thanks Sole. I'll definitely check in on the Xmas support thread for a good chat and a virtual mince pie xxx

Thanks dayshiftdoris! I think it just brings it home to me that I'm single for yet another, and I think of everyone else all coupled up, having fun, and it makes me a bit sad. For the rest of the year I'm fine.

I am lucky, although I don't have much to do with my mother, I am very friendly with my ex-inlaws, so we get invited round on Christmas Day for lunch. My kids are 17 and 16 and are great company, and I love spending time with them, so I actually look forward to school holidays. I'm obviously in a totally different situation to solesource and I really feel for you, it is a difficult time of year.

Christmas just comes too early - November fgs, The people whom have lost loved ones around that time, or know they will get beaten up by their spouse or have to face relatives they try and avoid all year around I think of too....i;m just caring.

Yes I will - I have put an alert in my phone for 4pm on the 19th Dec

Our Christmas thread awaits in 30 days

As in the TOPIC -30 days not in 30 actual days....

It's fun already

Someone may beat you to it day ??

I'd love to join in first Christmas alone with DCs after becoming single parent in May, its a way better alternative than being with moody, unfaithful ex though but i will.feel lonely of course, why is it so embarrassing to admit to.others that my Christmas isn't like the Wham video, please confirm where thread will be? X