Jane10
The only Christmas I've spent on my own was when I was 8. I was ill in bed so the family left me on my own and went to the grandparents for Christmas lunch. I was sad then but pretty appalled looking back on it. I couldn't have left one of my children ill in bed and on their own at Christmas.
As callistemon said times were different then and many parents did this sort of thing.
Something similar (not christmas day though) happened to me!
I feel for the little jane10 who spent christmas lunch on her own feeling ill!