Single mums at Christmas - what are your plans?

[Welshcakes0]

Single mum here - feeling a little anxious about the Christmas break. I am a student nurse so no Christmas work parties planned. I don't have any friends (just one or two I message from uni) so no evenings out planned. Currently on a placement and everyone is discussing their plans for Christmas and New year and I'm so embarrassed to say I don't have any. Waiting in the que at the school gates listening to two mums discussing their plans. Looking at Facebook posts of people already enjoying the festive celebrations. I know you shouldn't compare and Facebook only shows you the good parts but its real, people have lives.
I'm looking forward to spending time (2 weeks) with my 2 dc's but I'm also feeling a little anxious as it hits home more so than ever that I am single, not alone but lonely.

I'm inspired by so many posts :) thankyou all.
Reading here has made me feel so differently and I am grateful. I haven't felt upset at all. Me and my dc's have made gingerbread and watched Christmas movies today. I'm actually thinking how lucky I am. Thankyou everyone :) I hope you all have a lovely Christmas as CatherineofTarragon has totally helped me see things a little clearer.

All, shuks... you are making me blush :

I really really really am very unremarkable and flawed. I will use this xmas to look at myself and have some time of self reflection in the hope that future xmases will be more full for me on a personal level and my desire for grown up interactions. I think on this thread I have for the first time ever, vocalised how I really feel in a very brutal and
raw way and in a sad indictment of our society lots of you have identified. This thread has made me not only look,and indeed appreciate , at allI I do have, but equally all that I do not have in terms of real life people. I needed to see that. Today again I have new a reminder, I sent my five closest neighbours xmas cards last week. All addressed to them , by first names , that I have deliberately remembered as a mark of respect. As of almost 5.50pm today... on a
Xmas eve ..i've not had a single card back. It's not personal I'm sure, everyone's just busy with their life long friends and family and me and my boys are not in that category.

People who have never experienced loneliness have no real idea what it is really like ,so they don't actually know how it feels. So they don't give it a second thought.

Although I can't make the world a better place for me and my boys, I can change how I personally interact with it and show my sons by example. I wished I had realised this years ago. I have wasted so many decades being angry, bitter and jealous and reliant on the friendship and family crumbs offered by others. My happiness has always been in others hands. But,something changed this year. I have had my Dorothy Ruby slippers moment... there is no place like home and ' I " am home.

Merry xmas and every health and happiness to you all for 2019. xx

Before the DC left today, they said they wanted chocolate fudge icing on the Devils Food Cake so here it is, badly decorated and all!

Can't wait as I'd forgotten I'd bought a carton of Bailey's cream which I've heard amazing things about but never tried.

I've done most of my chores so now I think I'll have some cider, watch some rubbish or other and think about bringing the pressies down.

It's been a nice Xmas Eve this year even though I was working this morning. May our mornings be magical - speak to you all then

CatherineofTarragon same to you. Have a lovely day. Thankyou for your posts :)
SanFranBear that cake looks absolutely yum! Well done! Enjoy your evening :)

I'm a single mum with 2DS. This is my 2nd christmas single and the boys are at their dad's tonight. I found it really hard dropping them off earlier (first xmas eve without them), especially when my ex texted me to tell me they were already fighting. He hardly sees them as it is.
I'll get boys back tomorrow then I drive 2 hours to have xmas day and boxing day with my parents.
I don' t live near family which is hard this time of year. I have a few good friends but most are with families. My best mate is in a new relationship so she is busy with her new boyfriend. She did invite me over for a few drinks with them tonight but I don't fancy playing gooseberry.
I just try to remember Christmas will be over soon and things will get back to normal.

Happy Christmas Eve lovelies.

I am fed up this evening as ds is being difficult but I am ploughing on through. 3 course steak dinner 3/4 through and totally unappreciated.

Ds gound a bag of jelly tots. “ these are dad’s leftovers you can have them as your Christmas present” then proceeded to take them to eat himself. I reckon that’s a bit of a metaphor for my Christmas 🤣

We had a nice few hours out last night at a quiz and I’m very grateful for a few good friends at this time of year

We have just come back from church and being the only one on my own there well apart from DS was awful. I am making a start on my assignment tomorrow whilst DS plays with his presents at least it will help pass time @SanFranBear please can I have the recipe. It looks so yummy and I loveeeee chocolate . Merry Christmas everyone

I completely get what your saying and after 10 years of doing it alone I can tell you what my kids now 18 and 13 think . They say they loved our Xmas eve present that they had to find as Santa hid it . They also loved a whole day in Xmas pyjamas where i cooked dinner then we cuddled under a duvet and watched Xmas films. They also liked bath bombs and boxing day cinemas. Get loads of treats for you all and enjoy it in your pyjamas also Fancy hot chocolate too and special Xmas cups. I also play Xmas music all day and picnic on the lounge carpet in the evening :)))

I’m very fortunate in that I still have both parents and niece and nephew very close by, plus my lovely daughter so 10 of us in total for Christmas. I honestly don’t think I’d mind being on my own- I know that one day my daughter may want to spend Christmas elsewhere - so I will just relax at home and enjoy good food, tv and books. If she’s happy, I’m happy.

A very merry Christmas to all of you lovelie 🎄🎅🏻🍾

Merry Christmas all, I hope the Santa's didn't have to get up too early! 🎅🏻

Merry xmas everyone! Blessings to you all.🎄❤️❤️

Merry Christmas 🎅🏻🌲 .. hope you all have a lovely day!

I’m not a single parent, but I just wanted to stop by and wish you all a Merry Christmas and to say that you’re doing a fantastic job! My mum was a single parent and it wasn’t until I became an adult that I realised how blooming hard she worked to keep things going (and I still have fond memories of the Christmases we had as children).

Our xmas table set for 3.

A very merry Christmas to you all xx

Just sat waiting to hear if I'm to get them or they're being dropped off... All ready and excited though!!

My lounge is out of bounds until they're home

@SanFranBear fantastic idea! I didn't know to do that. Next year!

So, me and my DC's made it through this Xmas season. We have had a lovely time,despite the fact we have had no visitors, no invites, no txts, no phone calls and no neighbours calling. We have watched the world from our windows celebrating xmas and today new year.

The boys were also away for a few days over xmas but I binge watched The Crown with a big box of chocs and I enjoyed myself. I really did.

Our New Years table is now
resplendent and again a table for 3, we are back together and I'm proud we made it through this xmas and New Years, just the 3 of us. My boys have fantastic happy memories of xmas 2018 and are excited for tonight. Memories that will stay with them for a life time , as do I, and I did that, and I did it alone and it was a success and me and my boys are happy and had a great time.

Happy new year to you all. x

Happy New Year everyone

@Wolfcub Happy new year to you.

catherineoftarragon you really are an inspiration, despite the isolation, you’ve found the motivation to make it memorable for your boys.

Avery happy new year to you and your family..

A very happy new year, to everyone else who also made it through such an emotive time.

@Itsallpointless . Thank you. Happy New year you and your family for 2019. Blessings. 🍾x

Happy New year lovely people 🎉

Ahhh such a relief I'm not alone in how I'm feeling (single mum one teenage son) ... I dread Christmas and new year think the dynamics of just me and one teenage son makes having fun really hard... I really feel the pressure of trying to make Christmas special for my son, but deep down it kills me that I could never give him the large family chritmases I had growing up.
We are lucky that he's had nice presents and went to my sisters for dinner over Christmas but it was really really dull. I can see it on my sons face he feels miserable and missing out on what his friends with siblings and larger families have. I'm soooo relieved he's gone to his dads tonight as think they are having a gathering... it really really takes the pressure off me to try to make it special.
Thinking of you all..... you are not alone.... there are many of us in the same position.... much love to you all and wishing you all a happy healthy and fun 2019 xx❤️❤️

I could have wrote this. On way home currently and will be spending the evening in pjs. Also student nurse on new placement and have two DDs. Happy new year !!!!