Christmas dinner alone

[Coconutstory]

Not wanting sympathy or any pity.
I just wanted to know if other mums are doing it alone for Christmas dinner.
I left my ex husband 8 years ago. My parents have both died in the last three years.
I have two siblings but they do stuff with their family.
My kids are teens and will be with me Christmas eve and going to their Dads for Christmas dinner at lunchtime Christmas Day. Leaving me home alone for the afternoon / evening.
I’m not a great cook and really don’t fancy cooking Christmas dinner for one.
Last year my Dad was still alive and he went to my sisters. I was home alone.

I just feel I can’t really face this one alone as it’s the first without my Dad.
I contemplated going away for the night to a hotel or glamping just so I wasn’t in the house alone.
Don’t know what else to do really :/

I'm sorry you lost your Dad. You can have a lovely Christmas afternoon on your own. Definitely don't bother trying to cook Christmas dinner for one! Just get some really nice snacks - cheese and wine in, and watch a movie or two. Bliss!

Alternatively, is there anywhere local to you needing volunteers? Day centres, soup kitchens, shelters?

Have Christmas eve as your Christmas day, do everything you would have done, then spend the day itself having a bit of a pamper day, chill out on the sofa watching TV with a nice drink and snacks..

I agree with pp get some snacks, a bottle of wine and relax on the sofa for the night

Does your sister etc know you are on your own? Maybe if they knew how you were feeling they would invite you to theirs xx

Get yourself some easy to cook M & S or similar lovely food. Plan a tv schedule with a film. Do a FaceTime with friends/family - they can spare 20 mins or so for a toast and chit chat. Have a long bath with nice products.

Or volunteer. There are dinners arranged for people who are alone to all eat together.

Can you not join your sister and family? My step nana has Xmas alone every year by choice she loves it

Go for it on Christmas Eve and do Christmas Dinner then you can enjoy the leftovers on Christmas Day. Plus, get some really nice wine and chocolates.

Make Christmas Eve your Christmas Day. Enjoy you kids being around and have fun. Set your expectations for Christmas Day - left over food or buy some nibbles for the house. Line up some Christmas movies or plan to binge a TV show, take a nap, chill out.

Just chill out and do what you enjoy. Christmas observance isn't compulsory.

If you use Twitter op, Sarah Millican does something called #joinin on Christmas Day, loads of people having a chit chat and some fun.

I’d eat exactly what I fancied, and ignore Christmas dinner convention. I’d probably have cheese and biscuits with a few glasses of wine.

My ex is very happy to not do Santa and prefers me to drop off dc after Christmas dinner. We spend the day with my family. I usually go home, get into pjs, and eat and watch shite :-). Its quite indulgent but I can have a long lie on Boxing Day! Do NOT watch Stepmom! Feel good movies only!

I'm similar in that I've got my kids Xmas eve until I drop them at their Dad's Xmas Day at 2pm where they'll have dinner. I'm then solo until I go over to my boyfriends when he's back from Xmas Day with his daughter (and ex 🙄) at 8pm.
I'm doing an Xmas meal for me and the kids on Xmas Eve so I won't have one on Xmas Day. I'm going to treat myself to nice cheese and crackers, pate etc. Won't be drinking until I get to boyfriends so will make up for it then!
Get yourself some nice treats, some new lounge wear and snuggle up infront of some Xmas films.

Would none of your friends adopt you? My home is always open at Xmas and I'd hate the thought of a friend being alone

We've had our Christmas Day on the 24th or 26th on a couple of occasions, out of necessity. It worked perfectly, and the day itself was just a relaxed day with treats and snacks.

I'd go for that option.

Getting through Christmas Day alone is all about planning.

Get snacky things bought, cheese, continental meats, pickles, also your favourite sweet treat. Have something tasty but easy to cook, a ready meal or a steak maybe.

No need to stick to a plan, you can be flexible as you only have to please yourself. So no worries about having to have meals at fixed times.

Make sure you have several things to do, a new book to read, crossword puzzles, a favourite film to watch, perhaps a craft project to start. I make myself a Christmas stocking of bits & bobs I’ve collected over the recent weeks, mainly just little fun things.

Do something that you wouldn’t normally have time for, like taking tea & toast back to bed for breakfast. Think of some little indulgences for your self and do them.

It’s only one day, with a bit of preparation it will just fly past!
🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄

I think everything is massively over priced on Xmas Day so I probably wouldn't go out to a hotel or anything. But I would go to M&S before and make sure I had my own fav food ready - cheese tear and (no) share, deli meats, whatever you fancy. Line up some good things to do too - new book, TV show, something on netflix, or bake a cake - anything to be busy and feel like you've done something. Sorry for your loss, my Dad passed away a year ago and I still miss him a lot.

I’ve got 3 days on my own at Xmas this year as my son is off to his dad’s. First Xmas without him so I wanted to do something different, but I’ve found it really difficult, finding stuff to do or finding places to go. UK hotel packages either seem to be for couples, or elderly solos aka Saga style, sitting in the communal lounge pulling crackers Going abroad is obviously difficult this year but toying with a cheap flight that I can change if needs be. A couple of friends have invited me to theirs which is kind of them but it’ll be very much their family Christmas and I know I’d feel a bit of an add on.

Xmas is a tricky time but there must be loads of single parents in a similar boat. Or just single people who don’t necessarily want ‘Turkey and all the trimmings’ with a load of strangers.

Not really helping you here OP, sorry, but you’re definitely not alone. One option I’m thinking about is driving somewhere beautiful for a long walk, taking a flask and some nice treats, then back to cook something that I like (but I enjoy cooking… if I didn’t, I’d just get decent M&S stuff). Do whatever YOU enjoy.

I agree, do an Xmas meal for the kids on Xmas Eve, then eat the leftovers Xmas day.
I love putting the turkey into a curry jar next day. Tasty, quick tea.

My 8 yr old DD had decided she wants to spend it with her dad and his parents. Have had so many invitations to join others but I am so looking forward to the chance to recharge, not be a parent for a few days and just sleep and chill. I love my own company enough so it's fine.

I would love a day on my own.

I would

Sleep in.

Coffee and croissants in bed
Watch a film.

Have a loooong bath and do my nails and straighten my hair etc

Open some prosecco and make a grazing platter for myself.
Cheese
Cured meats
Chutney
Good bread
Prawns
Smoked salmon

Potter around.
Watch more tv
Eat and drink

Snooze

Finish the prosecco, open the Baileys.
Bed.

If you live in London the Alexandra in SW19 is doing xmas dinner and all the lovely stuff for anyone on their own www.alexandrawimbledon.com/

twitter.com/thealexsw19/status/1467596742824767492?s=12

I am exactly like you. I shall be spending Christmas day by myself after 1pm. I despise Christmas, it's such a family time and I dont have any. I am working Boxing day so I can't drink myself silly in sadness.

I spend xmas alone every year. I don't cook. I buy something I really want to eat from M&S or waitrose and eat it sitting on the sofa in my PJs. Its absolute bliss.
I dare anyone to take my xmas away from me.

I get invited to various people for xmas but I love my routine and its such a lovely relaxing day with no hassle whatsoever.