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 am not a fan of Christmas ever since my mother passed away it is just not the same as she used to make the day so special
Me and my sister are not close with my dad - he drinks heavily and is verbally aggressive - she never spends the day with him and leaves me to spend the entire day with him on my own which I dread
Daughter at her dads this year
Have you thought about volunteering to spend some time with someone through Age UK - or the homeless - it may be a good distraction
So many people are alone at Christmas - or wish they were alone - it is so false having to spend the day with people you don't actually like or would chose to spend time with any other day of the year

Not spent Christmas Day alone, although it has been just me and my DD for a few years, but had New Year's Eves on my own. Don't know why it brings up such feelings of loneliness and abandonment for me but I coped with it by doing all the things suggested by other PPs to make it 'my' time plus I made sure I didn't watch or listen to any celebrations going on elsewhere which helped. Watched my one of my favourite feel good films like It's Complicated after a nice bath and in warm PJs.

It's just a day in reality but we are socialised to be believe in the families together thing. Have a look at the thread on AIBU about worst behaviours at Christmas, it's not all it's cracked up to be! I also found being invited to other people's family christmas celebrations, which we did a couple of times, worse. It was kind of them and made to feel welcome but still felt like an 'outsider'. Nothing better than your own home on the day.