I Dread Christmas, 2012

In a way, that's why I welcome January. I know it's a horrible wintry month but all the Christmas and New Year hoo-ha is finally over and once the decorations are down there's a fresh year, fresh start feeling about it.

nellie I think you are right ,the idealistic expectations that we buy into for people who either are on their own ,or are estranged from their families is very painful,we expect or I do anyway Christmas to be a magical times,almost fairy tale and as you see it on TV and as films and adverts would have you believe is the reality of it all,not having a large family,or hardly any family at all is painful,but more realistic than the perfect "oxo" family adverts,ana would love to sleep through my birthday,the anniversary of my daughter's death and that of my dad is on the same day January 3rd albeit 25years apart,I try to be quite pragmatic about Christmas,and really make an effort for my family ,but fear my expectations of a happy Christmas are too high,,and maybe it is me that is the problem and not Christmas or family...what ever it is still glad when it is all over..

nelliesmoluski Of course you will do your best for little legs and the rest of your family, and I'm sure they will appreciate it. It's completely understandable that you would really rather not bother - Christmas can be a very sad time for so many people - and yes, those adverts...

HunterF - Fran-, it sounds as though you have some lovely Christmases in the past. You are bound to miss your dad this year, but I think you are doing the best thing in going with the rest of the family to the other grandparents' on boxing day. I hope you have a lovely Christmas, though you are bound to be a bit sad.

Best wishes to you. x

Sorry. That should have read 'Frank' not 'Fran'.

nelliesmoluski I'm unable not to feel a raw sadness for the forgotten few many...children whose families do not give a damn, old folk without a visitor to cross their threshold, people living on the street whilst the rest of us spend far too much on tat and fill our bellies with too much food and booze. Oh dear! I'm such a glumster. Pretend that I'm not here.

soop I agree. But the poor and the sad and the lonely will always be with us. My family have reason to dread the run up to Christmas. Indeed I will never, ever buy another advent calendar again. But having cleared that hurdle we will try this year for the sake of other little ones to make it magical.

Soop, isn't that what this thread is for?
I read today that vulnerable homeless families are to be rehoused in the private rented sector often miles away from where they now live in order to free up social housing for priority households. I always thought that homeless households were priority.
It's a way to shift homeless families out of London.
Isn't that what Shirley Porter was taken to court for, gerrymandering?

soop if I didn't have family commitments would work in a refuge for the homeless,or a community Christmas meal for the elderly,we have always invited any elderly person on their own to eat with us,or gone in to visit and brought them in for a while..in our street...that to me is the true meaning..

nanad

Nanadog {{hug}}

soop you are no glumster this thread is for us to let of steam about the silly season ,hopefully we can feel less guilty by letting our feelings be known instead of wearing a grin and pretending we like it,and having done that actually enjoy some of it...if you get my meaning .xxx

Yes, there is comfort to be had from sharing those thoughts with like-minded folk! I can't moan too much to DH about Christmas because he loves it! If it wasn't for him I'd just have a small tree and NO decorations!

Ana thank you, so are a very kind person

For all of you...

soop (((hugs)))

Nanad (((hugs))) for you too.

jane x

Xmas can be so damn hard to some of us, I am sooo lucky have great son and his new partner has invited us to spend it with them.

Previous times our oldest friends have hosted xmas lunch before the estrangement from my daughter and afterwards.

However much I adoremy son my heart is always heavy missing my daughter and little grand daughters.

However must be thankful have fantastic husband and my son, far luckier than some to any one on here sad this Xmas for whatever reason.

Even if things were ok with my family I would still dread the commercial hype of it all!! I enjoy xmas meals, cards from people who do not see etc etc but please the continual adverts and gift idea!! abhor them.

celegran

I had a baby half-an-hour before Christmas Day almost 38 years ago.We love Christmas !

That's lovely johannapiano. I had one three weeks before Christmas Day almost 32 years ago. Made Christmas very special that year.

Oh! I've got to get him a present!

I had one ten days before Christmas 41 years ago. We had a tradition that Christmas preparations didn't start until after the birthday was over which made life a lot easier. No tree up on 1st December, no talk of presents, Santa etc. It helped stave off some of the hype.

I had one 8th December 1972. He was two weeks early, thank goodness.

I had one on 18th December 1971, I had the whole family for Christmas day plus the midwife, he was born at home. Now I go and look after his children while he and his wife go away and celebrate his birthday.