Anyone else lonely this Christmas

My 2nd Christmas as a widow. I shan't be alone as I'm going to DD and family. They will be kind to me.
But I'm finding these days leading up to Christmas quite hard, remembering the fun and joy we had, and also I think provided for others in former times
I know I'm luckier than many.

Dempie55

This will be my 4th Christmas as a widow, but my first completely alone, as my AC are going to their in-laws (which I am fine with.) I considered going away on a Solo break, but I’d rather be at home with my cat. I’m well prepared, with a stack of books, jigsaws, two hats to knit, and plenty to watch on TV or listen to on Radio 4. I’m having a Waitrose delivery with lots of treats. Will go out for walks every day if the weather is dry. I’m quite looking forward to it now, and very thankful that I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to cook a huge turkey or hover over umpteen steaming saucepans!

Hear hear! Especially the steaming saucepans. 🤣

Germanshepherdsmum

I remember you posting some months ago about being lonely wfh and having difficulty socialising OP. You were given lots of advice. You said then that although divorced, you have a daughter who you see every week and some friends who visit occasionally. That’s a lot more than some have. Can’t you see your daughter at Christmas? And a friend at NY? And build on those relationships to get more of a social life next year?

Unfortunately my Daughter will be down south with the in-laws this Christmas & friends all busy with families of their own

Germanshepherdsmum

I remember you posting some months ago about being lonely wfh and having difficulty socialising OP. You were given lots of advice. You said then that although divorced, you have a daughter who you see every week and some friends who visit occasionally. That’s a lot more than some have. Can’t you see your daughter at Christmas? And a friend at NY? And build on those relationships to get more of a social life next year?

Unsure how to take this post. I was just wanting a chat if anyone else felt lonely this Christmas & how they coped but I don’t think I will initiate anymore chats of this nature

That’s a shame but it happens to so many of us. I have to share my son (only child) with his in-laws, alternate years - we live too far apart to all be together. I would love to see my son more often but distance and his very busy career make it impossible. He does call every week though and I’m grateful for that. Can your daughter meet up with you in the time between Christmas and New Year? These unrealistic ads showing the happy family around a groaning table of Christmas food have a lot to answer for don’t they? Real life can be very different.

We light candles for those we miss all over the Christmas period. My brothers who both died in their early thirties. My DF and MrA's parents. This year a B-in-L too. Plus close friends. They are fake candles (batteries) but look very real. They all have a name and we actually call them by their names as in 'T needs a recharge, he's flickering a bit'. We joke about them bringing a glow to the room and how every year they join us for Christmas. It sounds a bit daft, and I think our neighbours think we're a bit nuts, but who cares.

That's a lovely idea arewethereyet and it doesn't matter if folk think it's silly.

Not silly at all. We all have our ways of remembering those who are no longer with us.

Lupatria

i will be alone over christmas but i won't be lonely.
i can please myself about everything from when i get up in the morning until when i go to bed at night.
i will cook a traditional christmas meal, watch what tv i want and eat and drink what i like.
and i will see the new year in on my own with a glass of something alcoholic and with the wish that 2024 will be better than 2023 (not difficult as 2023 has been my annus horriblis).
i hope that everyone can have as good a christmas and new year as they can.

Your Christmas sounds good to me! It’s far better than family conflicts and pressure to do the expected thing and see the right people, with the added stress of getting everyone to agree on what is the expected thing and who are the people😂. It’s only one day, so let’s all focus on the bigger picture 😍