I know it's only September but anyone else alone with their dc's this Christmas?

[cupcakesmakeyouhappy]

It's not our first year without their dad, it's actually been 5 years but each year we have managed to share Christmas with others.
This year it's just me and my 2 dc's. I feel quite sorry for them that they only have me.
I am alone quite a lot as a single parent but we keep ourselves quite busy but there is something about being alone and admitting we are alone over Christmas and the new year that makes me feel so sad. I feel more sad for my dd's.
I know there are lots of people alone, which makes me sad so don't want to come across as feeling sorry for myself just wanted to ask how you all cope/find it if you are also alone with your dc's?

I don't have children, but hoping I can contribute from the viewpoint of having grown up in a one parent family with no other family nearby?

I remember Christmas as an absolutely magical time. It wasn't about any of the commercial stuff (we had absolutely no money) but it was the little things that really made it special. The traditions we made as children have been carried on into our own homes. It was the best time, quite simply because it was just us, in our own home, relaxed and having a wonderful day.

June - thanks :) that's very true and up until this post, I have never thought of it that way. There are some lovely ideas and I have already started thinking of my plan thanks to them. Another lovely idea from you too. I think I will get my girls involved in this too :)
Oh thankyou everyone :) life as a so gel parent can become lonely and then you discover MN :)

I have only just started feeling excited about Christmas, I was actually petrified of it this year. Last Christmas I found out (3 days before Christmas) that my partner had been cheating on me, I was already leaving him as he had lost his temper with one of my dd's. Christmas was ruined and I was advised to spend it in a refuge, I didn't go, I stayed at home and with family but it was horrible, everyone else was enjoying Christmas (or so it seemed) and my world had been turned upside down. I tried my best to make Christmas ok for the dd's but I was a mess. This year I felt like just running away, taking the dd's abroad and not celebrating Christmas at all but now I have realised that what the dd's need is to see me coping, to see me strong and to have a nice Christmas at home without any stress. I'm sure there will be moments that are hard and their will be memories of what happened last year but I will try my best to make it good for the dd's.

Sn0tnose - thanks:) posted then read your message. Aww Really? That's lovely. Thankyou for sharing, makes me feel better :)

Lovemusic - I'm so sorry to hear this, I really am! That must of been hard for you. I know how you feel, wanting to run away from situation sometimes, because of bad memories but you are doing the right thing and making new memories this year. Take some of the tips from this post :)
I'm definitely taking some of your tips :)

Hi OP, try and ignore all the adverts, hype, social media. It's not reality. I was on my own for 5 years with my eldest DS. I am now married with two other DC but you know what, often I miss when it was just DS and me. We seemed to be a little team who totally did what we wanted. I loved it......

Mylittlepony- thanks :) I will try to ignore, thankyou :)
Aww do you?! Thankyou for sharing... I honestly appreciate my messages this evening. I feel so much better :)

Yes I really do. Life was so much simpler then. Look at all the threads on MN from people in relationships who come out of them and feel so much more in control. Yes I sometimes felt a bit down on special occasions and stuff but nothing in comparison to living with someone who can gaslight you and change your mood at the drop of a hat........enjoy your special time with your DC. You will remember it fondly, I promise x x

Mylittlepony - your post means a lot to me, thankyou :) I'm sure your Christmas will be super lovely :) I completely see what you mean. I will, thankyou.

Get all the food leaflets from the supermarkets before and plan your Christmas food with the kids. They will be having a family Christmas with you and they will probably love doing some menu planning and maybe do some home baking.

I have spent Christmas as a "Just us" event for a lot of years - (not through choice initially) at first I tried to make it 'normal' - only it turns out 'normal' is some weird pastiche of a snowy Victorian day done in a modern semi - with no snow and a large tv and a lot of food we don't really like

And then - surprise - I realised I don't like spending all day cooking - and the kids would rather spend time with me there with them than shouting from the kitchen
So all of us - got together and decided what we'd keep and what we wouldn't and what out ideal Christmas would be...its lovely, really really lovely to be free of the endless lists and the stress of planning something so ridiculously complicated when all the shops are horribly busy..to not be wrestling the roasted beast
or telling the kids they couldnt eat any of their edible presents so they could fit the damned thing in..
Its like a huge and pointless burden has just disappeared - I cant remember why we used to do Christmas like that any more.

User - thanks :) yes that's a good idea.
665- thanks :) I cooked (expecting a joint effort) for my very dysfunctional family and extended family of 10 last year and absolutely refuse to this year. Hence the 3 of us. I will be cooking axactly what we like too :)