Christmas Loungeroom

@Zoe7 What a great idea Zoe7. I will be spending Christmas day like any other day with my children on the computer, reading books and doing 'normal' stuff. Wishing everyone a kind and compassionate day. Hoping we all survive the hype. xxxx

I am spending the day with my family @Bunniekins at my sister's place. Her partner's family will be there too so it should be a nice day. My sister only lives 5 minutes away so I can come home if I need to. I will of course take Toby with me - he might be dressed as an elf this year lol

@Zoe7 Ahaha! how gorgeous can you take a photo of Toby for us? 😄

I will @Bunniekins - I have both a santa and a reindeer costume for him too so it will be one of the three - he does look super cute in all of them - will definitely get a photo and post it for you guys on the day

This is a great idea @Zoe7

I'm in - I have no idea what Christmas will be like this year - so I have woken up today a surprise - an on-line please-yourself, tell-your-stories and I am sure partake of a Christmas feast with the forum family

Thanks Zoe - you have the best ideas

And hi @Bunniekins - we all like something different and festive for Christmas Day - it can be difficult for some people - ordinary things with your kids is one way but we do like to share the joy - and here we can

And I would love to see Toby if he gets dressed up as a Christmas Elf

Dec

I have to find the elf costume and see if it fits him @Owlunar @Bunniekins I have had it since he was a puppy so I suspect it might be too small for him now - might need to search around for a new elf outfit for him otherwise he might be a reindeer again. He does look super cut in his reindeer costume though - whatever he wears I will share a photo.

I am pretty short of money this year so presents will be minimal for everyone too - but I will buy something for everyone - just have no idea what. My family are so hard to buy for - it is not like they need anything! ...and my mother's birthday is straight after christmas so that is an added stress to think about.

Hi @Zoe7 and @Bunniekins and @Owlunar (long time no see, hope you are well).

Great idea for a thread @Zoe7

Christmas here will be the 4 of us that live in 2 houses and a cabin, plus around a dozen adults and a few children and 3 dogs. Most of them will be staying here at least a couple of nights. Most are sil's family but there's also my nephew and his partner and their dog

AND MY MOTHER. Luckily bro and sil booked her a motel so at least there'll be some reprieve. She will be the biggest challenge for me. Just hoping we can get through 3 days with her with no conflict or blow-out. I've raved about her not so long ago on another thread so I won't do it here now.

For over 2 decades Christmas was just me and sometimes my child (often they went to their father at that time of year) so not being alone at this time of year is something I'm still getting used to. When S was at home we usually booked into a motel for a few days and so all the feasting etc was turned on for us. When it was just me I did nothing - no decorations, no extra cooking. And I was alone but not lonely. Sometimes my special mate visited me and I was invited to a neighbours big Greek Christmas a couple of times which was fun, tho' I was still a bit of a fringe dweller. Even 2016 and 2017, when I was here already, we only had a couple of people over. So this is the first biggish group Christmas for a very long time for me.

I've told Mum I will need time out at times and that I don't want her to pursue me when this happens. Which she did when she was here last year. I'm anxious about her but I do know I have support here from bro and sil if it gets too tricky.

Wouldn't it be nice just to look forward to it all. What I am looking forward to is baking seeded pumpkin bread, making salsa verde for the bbq fish and a green salad and sharing them with everyone. Most of the adults are doing something to contribute to the feast. Sounds like there'll probably be enough food for a week!

Sending warm wishes to everyone for a peaceful time, whether sharing or alone. I totally get the desire to just withdraw from all the hectic chaos. And understand that for some navigating through family dynamics can be problematic to say the least. Sending strength and the ability to be your authentic self to all, and love xx

Thanks @Zoe7 and hi to everyone else here this morning. The Christmas loungeroom looks so inviting Zoe. A lovely place to come and spend some time at when we can. Thank you.

Sherry

@Zoe7 What a lovely pic that is for a Christmas gathering. I have always found Christmas extra hard, I don't actually know the reasons for the feelings, other than they come each year just as strong or stronger as the previous one. Thanks @Zoe7

Gift-giving when you are short of money can be really difficult @Zoe7 - I know - I have been through that in the past though things are much easier for me now - and having people with birthdays at or around Christmas time is awkward too -it's my Gran's birthday today - I have to think for a minute - she's be 130 by now (I think) - but she managed to tell us often that when she was given a birthday present she was told it was her Christmas present as well and not to expect more -

That would be horrible but it was a large family and they were pretty rock-bottom income-wise.

But if Toby gets dressed up I would love to see a photo - animals will not always comply to the spirit of the event - this I know -

I have a Christmas story from that family - Porky and the Christmas dinner - well - it was Gran's story - not mine - so I don't know the truth of the matter but when the story telling starts I have one

Dec