Christmas Day without family!

My husband and I spent last Christmas Day by ourselves and it was the worst day ever. My Son had cut me out of his life a month earlier, despite him telling me when him and his gf got the keys to their first house together a few months earlier that both sets of parents would be going to them and I would be cooking it. My Daughter and her partner wanted to be on their own again, as they had been the previous year, so it was us on our own and incredibly painful. We spend all year eating on our own and Christmas is meant for families to be together. It always had been and I loved that about it. Now I'm dreading it again and seeing things in the shops physically hurts. I can't understand why anyone would want to be on their own. It was one of the worst experiences of my life and I am dreading it this year.

Me and my DH are having Christmas alone this year . 2 daughters both pregnant due January and neither want to travel or a big Christmas meal . Happy to go with their decision as Christmas 2020 will be one to look forward to

Mississeff

It’s only one day out of 365, plenty of other time for family get togethers

My hubby and I normally spend Christmas by ourselves. We live in a rural location, and due to one disastrous Christmas when we had no electricity at all (in an all electric house) - we now cook a traditional Christmas Dinner on Christmas EVE. Relatives are welcome to join us and sometimes my niece, who actually lives in London, will do so! Christmas Day, we go to Church, eat easily prepared Party food (cold cuts, salad, nibbles, Pizza even!) open presents and choose a film to watch. If the weather is reasonable (not snowing or a blizzard) we might have a run out to the coast (It's not far from us, on the east coast). We will speak to our nearest relatives on Christmas morning, and catch up with others later. I thoroughly enjoy buying the smaller children presents and we always have a tree (which the cats enjoy enormously!).

Sad biddy I may be but the highlight of my xmas is the cringe worthy seasonal ads we have suffered for what seems an eternity will be put to rest in the advertiser archives.

As our 2 sons have emigrated to opposite ends of the earth, we don't have this problem! So OH cooks a nice meal and we have a quiet day - bliss.
VERY different from when he was newsagent, working late on Christmas Eve and up early [4.30am] on Boxing Day to sort the newspapers and open up the shop. Working in retail killed our our Christmases for years.

namaste that is such a lovely post. Far too early I know, but I wish you a good one.

'I would like to spend this day without family'. Sounds wonderful! Always, always someone manages to throw a mood or a tantrum (I'm talking about adults) and poison the atmosphere. I hate Christmas!

Tea3

It’s the drink that does it, and having to be nice to everyone!

Totally get where you are coming from, go for it , best wishes.

I must be odd, since I've never minded cooking Chr. dinner, though I don't do the lots of different veg/3 sorts of,potatoes some people go in for, so it's just a glorified roast. And for many years we haven't had dinner until around 5, which means a much more relaxed day for the cook.

Last year we had a houseful, inc. 2 little Gdcs, which was lovely. This year I expect we'll be at a dd's - she'll be heavily pregnant with no. 3 and not wanting to be far from the hospital, so I dare say I'll be telling her to put her feet up and doing much of the cooking.

Years ago when we were living in the Middle East, where the weather was lovely at Christmas (vile in summer!) we invited my ILs to come. My poor Mil had been cooking every Christmas for 12+ for 40 years! She straightaway jumped at the idea. FiL OTOH grumbled that he couldn't possibly leave the house at Christmas, what if the pipes froze (in London so hardly likely!) etc. Etc.

Good old Mil said, 'Well you can do what you like - I'm going!'
Of course he came in the end and enjoyed himself.

It is just too long these days. It used to be christmas day and boxing day, then back to work until new years day. People could cope with that. It is endless now, probably the worst time of the year for widows and single people, no-where to go for a pop out, breaking routine, visit. Shops are crowded and still clad in christmas decor. No wonder people go on cruises and the like, as though when they wake up, it will all be over

Since I posted early in this thread DD has asked if we mind them going away for Christmas as they have had a difficult few months. Needless to say I was suggesting they do this before she had finished her introductory sentence! Now for DS and his more complicated family set up ......

When my daughter lived at home and my son spent Christmas with his girlfriend and her family we had an alternative Christmas: a walk in lovely sunny weather, a Thai meal mainly prepared by my daughter, eaten in small portions throughout the day, and watched a selection of Christmas films and the entire 'Pride and Prejudice' series.
On Boxing Day, first time ever, we hit the sales, refreshed!

* Terrym* I remember Christmas 1968 when we were living in Australia and my Mum had flown over to visit us it was so cold that my Mum had to wear some of my winter clothes. The next day we went to visit friends for the day and they had lit the fire. This was in South Australia. Yet when Mum got the flight home one lady, who had also been staying in Adelaide, said what a marvellous hot Christmas day they had had and even had a barbecue on the beach because it was so hot.

Oh, eazybee, that reminded me of a Christmas back in the 90s, not long after the P and P series was first aired - and dh had bought me the box set - still videos then.

Dds and I, plus dh, binge-watched the whole thing on Chr. Day evening. Dh had been completely unfamiliar with Jane A but happily admitted to being hooked!

Since then dds and I have watched it over and over - and it's a standing joke that if we ever went on Mastermind, our special subject would be who said what to whom and when, in P and P. ?

Sarah65, not when your Son's disowned you and your Daughter only wants to be with her partner there isn't.