This is the first year I will be alone at Christmas. My son will be spending Xmas Eve and Xmas day with his dad, and his dads family. Mostly because of financial situations, and I want this Christmas to be as normal as possible for my son. My new boyfriend has prior obligations with his family, and because of my work schedule I am unable to travel with him. Does anyone have any creative ideas on what to do, to keep yourself occupied? All I can think about are the normal traditions that l did leading up to Christmas and on Christmas day and am getting increasingly more depressed and bitter. I hate feeling this way and want to show excitement with my son for the holidays, but I just cannot find that spirit.
2007-12-12 18:10:14 · 12 answers · asked by soloatxmas 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I checked into this, but I live in a very small area.
2007-12-12 18:18:05 · update #1
i always felt bad for my mom when she had to be alone at christmas and i was off at my dads house. but i bet your son would still love to hear from you on christmas day. so give him a call and ask him how his holiday is going. also, check to see if you have any friends that are also alone. if you do, then start cookin and arrange a nice dinner with a bunch of grown-ups! or if you can't find any friends that are also alone on christmas then see if you can possibly tag along to some of their family dinners/events. i know, i would never mind if one of my friends wanted to come to my family gatherings and share in the joy and cheer! actually at this past thanksgiving, i had dinner with not only my family but also a few friends of my aunts who had no place to go... and i didnt mind at all. i didnt really know them but the more the merrier! or if the friend option is completely out of the question, then volunteering would be a nice alternative. and if you cant do any of the above then, treat yourself. sleep in. watch your favorite christmas movies. participate in some hobby you have (ie. reading, scrapbooking, cooking, writing, etc). indulge in some fine holiday treats (i love egg nog and cookies!). and also, movie theatre are pretty much always open on christmas... its actually one of the most popular day to go to the theatre. so go see a movie and possibly find a friend to go with!
i hope that helped! Merry Christmas! I'll be thinking of you! God Bless!
edit: someone above mentioned a nursing home. i think that is a great idea (especially if you already know someone at a home). my grandma is in a home and all the other residents love when i drop by. they love seeing new faces and having vistitors. you could call a home a week or so ahead to make sure it would be alright, if you want. and if you do feel comfortable going then bake some cookies or something and go visit them! i bet it would fun to watch its a wonderful life with all the elderly and gobble up some christmas cookies!
2007-12-13 17:46:17 · answer #1 · answered by Kitty Genovese 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a Long Term Single Parent ... so I know what you are saying ...
Here is my SUGGESTION:
FIND some NEW 'traditions' that you can START this YEAR with your Son ...
1. Christmas comes EARLY or LATE ... depending on the year! You can make the day special with your son if you just RELAX ... and move to accomodate the Child Custody Sharing Schedule! (so ... be CREATIVE here ... and don't open your presents UNTIL you and your son have time together).
2. FIND something that you ENJOY -- and yes, do IT! Give Back during the Holidays .. Find a Church Group with a SPECIAL 'Singles' Celebration Event (sometimes, they will have a Singles Fellowship and Christmas Dinner .. and the same with Single Parents Groups as well ... NETWORK!)
3. CALL your son on Christmas Day -- and just have cheer when you talk to him!
4. Share the Day with your Boyfriend -- remember ... Reach out and Touch Someone (via the Phone or Internet!). Try Arranging a Video or Webcam Appearance between you two to ENJOY a few minutes of Christmas together!
5. DECORATE! Yes, Decorate! Put out those lights, put up the tree .. have your son help with the Decorating .. and when he is at his father's home -- MAKE some NEW decorations to share with your son when he returns!
6. COOK! Yes, make that Pumpkin or Spice Pie ... Apple Pie -- just bake! Hey, children LOVE cookies -- so make them of different Christmas Theme Shapes .. and when he comes home -- have all those WONDERFUL and Varied Icing Colors on Hand so that YOU and HE can DECORATE those cookies together!
7. Make a Paper Chain for the Tree. Add links for "Blessings" and "Wishes" -- and add to it each year! WRITE on each one -- "I appreciate you" .. "I am proud of ..." ... whatever .. just do it!
8. BE HAPPY -- because you are out of the relationship that was NOT good for you ... you have started another NEW relationship (and .. hopefully better) .. and just THINK -- LIFE is so much better when we are HAPPY .. and only WE Can affect OUR Emotions .. so HAPPINESS comes when we THINK Happy .. (NO depression here!).
2007-12-12 18:24:56 · answer #2 · answered by sglmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I had to spend christmas alone, I would check out some places to volunteer at such as the soup kitchen, homeless shelters, nursing homes, orphanages, hospitals, etc for
Christmas/Christmas Eve just so I can make a difference and be around other people. There are plenty of places to volunteer at and there is a high demand for volunteers too.
If you have to drive a long way to these volunteer places, at least you won't be stuck at home and risk being depressed. So if they don't have volunteer places in your small town, volunteer in the closest city or a bigger city.
Being home alone on a holiday can be very depressing. Especially, if you are not used to it. Unless you have a big project you have to finish for you r house, maybe that would be an excuse to stay home but I wouldn't recommend it.
2007-12-12 19:30:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The very best way for you to have a Merry Christmas, is for you to make it a Merry one for someone else. If you lose yourself in service, you will find great happiness. Get involved with Sub for Santa, helping to purchase, wrap or deliver gifts. Volunteer to help serve dinner at the local homeless or women's shelter. Invite others who might be alone to enjoy Christmas with you at your house. Wrap up some gifts and deliver them on Christmas Eve to a family in a more run down neighborhood.
Better yet - choose someone (who could use some cheer, is alone, out of work, etc.) and do the Twelve Days of Christmas. Every day, leave a goodie, story, ornament, etc. on their doorstep. Do this anonymously. I promise you... you will look forward to it and get excited about it every day.
These things don't have to cost you any or just very little money, if that's a problem. If all else fails, on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, get yourself to the local hospital or elderly care center, and spend some time reading and singing to, or just visiting some elderly, sick, or children.
No matter how bad out situation is, someone out there always has it worse. If you do the twelve days of Christmas, your son can help for a while. We do this every year, and my children LOVE it.
I promise you, if you just get out and do it, your heart will change, and you will have one of the happiest and most fulfilling of Christmases you've ever had.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, FRIEND!
2007-12-12 18:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by ubtinamarie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have spend many Christmases alone. Maybe 10 of them overseas while in the service. While my wife was sick for 19 years there were a few when she was in the hospital that I was alone. After she died my son and I spent Christmas together, however when he turned about 14 we jointly decided not to put up a tree anymore. Now that my son has left for bigger and better things in the Army I am spend my Christmas's alone again. It is okay, you need to get involved with something. Maybe you should volunteer for the red kettle campaign a few hours per day. you can also have Christmas to day after or the weekend before. Also, I would bet that the Salvation Army is serving dinner that day and needs volunteers there also.
Put simply, get involved helping others! It will keep your mind off of yourself.
2007-12-12 18:26:09 · answer #5 · answered by Old Goat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about giving up some time to go to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, to make Christmas better for those even less fortunate than you.
It might make you feel tons better, knowing you've helped someone, and give you something constructive to do without moping around at home all day.
2007-12-12 18:14:59 · answer #6 · answered by catwomanmeeeeow 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
bake cookies and spend the day at the local nursing home! You would be surprised how many of them will be alone as well. They would enjoy the company and so will you :) Remember it doesn't just have to happen at Christmas they would love to see you anytime throughout the year!
2007-12-13 05:21:50 · answer #7 · answered by frogbfound 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know what I would do? Pamper yourself with a store bought mudmask,paint your nails,make a pizza and some coco with just a little butterscotch snapps in it and watch old movies.Its fun,Ive done it and its only really one day to be alone so pamper yourself.Enjoy it.You could also play music and dance to it for exercise.
2007-12-12 23:23:07 · answer #8 · answered by butterflyspy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a christmas without my kids one year they went with their dad to our home state to spend it with family...and i couldnt get out of work...i think you should a either give your time at a soup shelter or something similar or pretend its another day thats what i did...i played on yahoo and that was it...it sucked as far as christmas goes but i had my day with my kids a few days before they left...
2007-12-12 18:19:25 · answer #9 · answered by bailie28 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what dose he like ot do??? if he likes to play vidio games then play a good game or two also you or do somthing childish it is bothe fun and relaxing. too many adouts do things too sophysticated or conplex in simple terms. act like a child and you will feal both good ahd yung again (so much for depresion) a good idea to keep in mind is that you should keep up with technology s ogo educate yourself on somthing new!!!
2007-12-12 18:17:55 · answer #10 · answered by muggy8 the dragon monarch 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋