Spending Christmas day on your own

fairy_lights

Skint_yet_Again wrote: »

If all else fails it will be a bottle of plonk and a box of chocs in front of the tv. Maybe a long walk by the sea front if the weather is ok.

That sounds like a very enjoyable way to spend the day! Maybe you could postpone your Christmas dinner until your sons next day off work so you can enjoy it together.

PasturesNew

Blimey ....

Skint_yet_Again wrote: »

We will have Christmas breakfast together and open our presents
he will be getting home around Midnight.

I'm going to make Christmas dinner a few days before the 25th and portion it up so DS can take one to work and I can warm one up at home.

I realise I'm lucky and some people will have no choice but to be alone on Christmas day but I must admit I'm not looking forward to it once DS has left for work.

I have told friends I am going to be home alone but I haven't had any "pity" invites to lunch / dinner. Is this unusual ? Should I take it personally ?

Anyone else spending Christmas day on their own ?

I'll be on my own "proper alone". Just me. Actually, I've not spoken to anybody else since the first week of November, and I've even had a birthday since then (got 1 card, 0 presents).

Re dinner: I'd have probably either had Xmas Dinner on Xmas Eve or Boxing Day.... or just cooked my own on Xmas Day and not sent him off with a packup.

Other people's Xmas dinners aren't like your own. You'd probably be more miserable.... they do things differently, eat different food, eat food you like but done differently, eat at the "wrong" time for you, you can't choose the telly, you can't relax/slob out. You're better off on your own really.

I've got no cards yet, so I doubt I'll get any now. I'm not expecting any presents - if I do get something it'll be under the "we spend £1 each" rule of the giver (I've got something here for them, for whenever it is I see them next).

If you do go out on a "pity invite" - or even a proper invite - you spend most of the day wondering "what bl00dy time can I leave, this isn't enjoyable at all"

iammumtoone

You are not spending Christmas day on on your own, you are spending Christmas dinner on your own, there is a difference.

Some people put more emphasis on Christmas day than others, to me its just another day, but others as yourself see it as something more.

I suggest you delay it. Treat the day itself as any other day and have your Christmas day when your son can be at home with you (could he do boxing day?) You could save your presents until then and have a Christmas dinner together as normal.

Marvel1

I just think of it as a normal day and enjoy my time off work.

Newly_retired

You could have your Christmas dinner together on Christmas Eve, or whenever you are both free, and plate up for the next day, or, just choose your own food for your Christmas Day meal on your own. Get stuck in to something you want to do, and celebrate Boxing Day.
It is tempting to think that everyone is enjoying family time but there are many people at work, or alone.

Verix

I'd definitely go for the walk along the seafront. It's always nice getting some gentle exercise, all wrapped up warm, wishing Merry Christmas to people you pass by. One of my favourite parts of the day I think!

As others have said though, if your son is free on boxing day you could just postpone your presents and Christmas dinner til then.

janb5

Hi Skint yet again, I empathize with you as I have a similar situation. One son always spends his Christmas with his in laws and the other one is having lunch with me and then `running` back to London to have dinner with his father.His father is prepared to come and pick him up but he would rather run back! I should say he is 26.

I live in Bromley and so quite a run back!

Like other posters, I envy you your sea front! Sadly Bromley doesnt have one * sigh*!

Februarycat

I'm on my own over Christmas, and was last year. I just treat it as a normal Sunday and enjoy the time off work, doing what I want and watching what I like on TV. I cook a turkey dinner and enjoy that and have plenty to eat over the weekend.

[Deleted User]

Look on the bright side:

You don't have to pretend that "this is just what I always wanted"
You don't have to pretend that the Regina monologue is fascinating
You don't have to pretend that turkey is a special once-a-year treat
You don't have to pretend you like xmas pud & mince pies
You don't have to pretend that you don't feel a tw.t in the paper hat out of a cracker

SailorSam

Pollycat wrote: »

We know someone who will be on their own but they would hate being invited to ours for Christmas dinner.

My neighbours, we talk when we pass in the street or out doing the garden, but i'd hate them to knock and ask me to join them for Christmas Dinner.