Single adults with no kids - what do you do at Christmas?

torbrex

PasturesNew wrote: »

... speaking as a single old enough to be the OP's mum.... twaddle

There isn't somebody for everybody.
You don't find somebody when you're not looking.

This ..... is probably as good as it gets

Are you my twin sister? :rotfl:

torbrex

OP, why do you feel that you NEED to do anything?

Speaking as someone that doesn't celebrate the event, I have never understood why people feel that the have to do something.

duchy

Why not maybe make it different in other ways ?

If your Mum usually cooks - take over for the day and sneak in changes ....or perhaps "host" a special Christmas eve supper for your parents (I'd suggest a posh Christmas mornng breakfast but you are workng). Maybe make plans to meet up with friends on Christmas night after you've done the parent thing ?

TBH it sounds like you feel in a bit of social limbo because you've moved home rather than Christmas day itself so perhaps make a bit more effort between now and Christmas to expand your social circle - perhaps Meetup would have some things that might help you with that ?

Oh and stop watching all those blinking adverts that strive to make 99% of the population feel inadequate because we aren't having a sparkling, social Christmas -Most people just make the most of a couple of days off to relax and do as little as possible as life is too busy and tiring and they need the rest

miss_independent wrote: »

Thanks everyone, sounds like a lot of you are in a similar boat!

a) I do have to/want to spend it with my parents. We only have each other so it feels right and unfortunately I am also having to live at home at the moment due to having to resign from a live in job in October.

b) I would volunteer for a charity but I currently work for a charity and I need a break from it on Christmas Day. Its an extremely demanding hands on job due to the client group (mental health needs, learning disabilities, physical health problems, often violent towards me).

c) Going away isn't an option this year as I am working most of Christmas (but only working Christmas Day morning) and my parents also still work.



I suppose I would have liked for us to maybe go out somewhere nice for Christmas dinner or go for a walk and play some fun games or something after dinner at home. I've just raised it with them and Mum has says she absolutely categorically is not leaving the house on Christmas Day and says pigging out in front of the telly is what its all about!


I think the main thing is that I usually feel bored and alone! So I am trying to come up with ways to entertain myself.

I think people are right in saying that we tend to compare and feel we are worse off when many people would wish they were in our position.

sulkisu

Before I had my children I did various things on Christmas day - one year I volunteered, another year I went on holiday, I invited other single friends for Christmas day, and I have spent the day alone in my pyjamas drinking cocktails (back when I used to drink) and watching telly.


I don't see a problem here to be honest - you just need to decide what you would like to do and do it. Your parents have each other - it's not as if you would be leaving one of them all alone for the day - and they seem happy enough to spend the day together, watching telly and eating. You live with them anyway, so you see them all year round.

miss_independent

torbrex wrote: »

OP, why do you feel that you NEED to do anything?

Speaking as someone that doesn't celebrate the event, I have never understood why people feel that the have to do something.

I just hate sitting around doing nothing/being a couch potato. I'm someone who needs to keep myself occupied and I'm trying to plan ahead so I'm not a miserable scrooge on the day lol.

jackomdj

miss_independent wrote: »

You must be very kind! i

Probably quite the opposite. We will not go and visit people on Christmas Day (we don't live close to either set of parents) my parents come to us one year and the next year we invite the inlaws who don't come. Now the children are older we will think about visiting my folks, but the inlaws would not be enjoyable for our children so we won't go there.

But we would welcome friends to come to us and enjoy the day.

torbrex

miss_independent wrote: »

I just hate sitting around doing nothing/being a couch potato. I'm someone who needs to keep myself occupied and I'm trying to plan ahead so I'm not a miserable scrooge on the day lol.

Go a walk, feed the ducks, wash the car, go to the beach, plan next holiday, these are all things that I tend to do, I am not one for just sitting around so I tend to do what I would normally do on a day off.

pinpin

If there is 'somebody for everybody' then she must be a right strumpet, and i'd like to meet this girl! I hope she's pretty

miss_independent

duchy wrote: »

Why not maybe make it different in other ways ?

If your Mum usually cooks - take over for the day and sneak in changes ....or perhaps "host" a special Christmas eve supper for your parents (I'd suggest a posh Christmas mornng breakfast but you are workng). Maybe make plans to meet up with friends on Christmas night after you've done the parent thing ?

TBH it sounds like you feel in a bit of social limbo because you've oved home rather than Christmas day itself so perhaps make a bit more effort between now and Christmas to expand your social circle - perhaps Meetup would have some things thaat might help you with that ?

Thanks Duchy I usually do the cooking and we have an Indian Meal (made by me) on Christmas Eve before I have to work.

I've got lots going on in the lead up to Christmas, its just Christmas Day (and Boxing Day but some places are open then at least) that's quiet. I've got a fairly big social circle otherwise and am very busy usually!

miss_independent

torbrex wrote: »

Go a walk, feed the ducks, wash the car, go to the beach, plan next holiday, these are all things that I tend to do, I am not one for just sitting around so I tend to do what I would normally do on a day off.

Yes, I think I'm going to say sod it and go for a walk after dinner. Whenever I've said I was going to do this in the past my parents have seen it as me abandoning them but they fall asleep anyway (and don't allow me to change the TV channel even though they are sleeping!). I'll go and look at the Christmas lights and either Skype some friends or get a head start on some work/de-cluttering - just treat it as a normal day!