Celebrating the first Christmas or holiday alone...

[Wanda Ring]

For those that are already divorced or separated for any length of time, did you spend your first Christmas apart or did you spend it together?

And for those just going through separation or divorce, do you plan to spend any part of Christmas together?

My husband is feeling awkward being on his own, our first Christmas apart so I agreed to spend this Christmas day with him. I am not sure if it's a good thing or bad planning on my part to agree. I guess we'll see.

How are you handling the upcoming holiday?

[anewbeginning]

Christmas was a surprise.. my son was able to come home.. I wasn't in the holiday spirit at all.. I hadn't started decorating or anything until today.. bought a tree and tomorrow we decorate it.. we string some lights inside the house.. and we dusted and laughed as we wrapped a few small gifts.. this year it isn't about the gifting.. we decided it is about being together for the first time since October.. my daughter is travelling up for a few days, as is my ex.. he wants to be with his kids too...

And the main reason I am happy that the kids and my ex are here is because the 26th of December also marks the one year anniversary of my brothers death.. so I am not only alone this holiday season... but I am also thinking about my brother and my mother being gone.. I have no close family left back home.. only my kids..

and you may say, but you aren't alone.. yes.. I am alone.. a have very few friends and only my kids.. this is actually the second year for me.. last year was much the same.. both years just before Christmas... I lost someone I cared for deeply.. and both years I had hoped to have someone special to share the holiday with.. even a really close friend... but alas... it was not meant to be.. and I am ok with that.. content..

[NotTooGirly]

I'm not planning to spend time at Christmas with my soon-to-be ex, but I am including him (and his new companion, a fluffy kitten) on my rounds of cookies-and-gift delivery - cookies for him, a little gift for the cat. To be honest, I don't know exactly what I'll do for Christmas proper...probably spend at least some of it with my family, but at this point I think I'm better off leaving things unplanned and just seeing what unfolds.

[anewbeginning]

I'm not planning to spend time at Christmas with my soon-to-be ex, but I am including him (and his new companion, a fluffy kitten) on my rounds of cookies-and-gift delivery - cookies for him, a little gift for the cat. To be honest, I don't know exactly what I'll do for Christmas proper...probably spend at least some of it with my family, but at this point I think I'm better off leaving things unplanned and just seeing what unfolds.

I don't know what I would have done if my kids hadn't both decided to come home.. I think I would have taken a few days and gone to the ocean.. either North or South Carolina or maybe even the Gulf Coast of Florida.. near Pensacola..

[Penny]

I cant imagine the holidays without my kids, even if they are spoiled brats.

[Lena]

Yes, nor can I imagine Christmas without mine!

[tallguy32]

I'm working. Problem solved. I haven't been "back home" for Christmas in 8 years. It's been so long I think I'd be a little lost.
I've spent some of them working, some of them with friends and a good deal of them alone. Some times it sucks but I'd rather be alone than with the wrong someone.

[Midlifecrazy]

My divorce was final Nov 19th and I spent Thanksgiving Day at my daughter's house, my exhusband there as well. It was awkward but it went ok...He was much more nervous than I was but we were able to talk a little. Not sure what will happen at Christmas....no decisions about that yet. Thankfully, my ex and I have managed to end things while we could still be friends...So far that is working. Have to be careful not to be too friendly to him as he seems to take that as signs of hope I will eventually come back to him.

[LadyMoon]

My husband and I just got separated.. but we will be spending Christmas eve (night) together after he visits his family. We will spend Christmas day as a family. After that I will be heading to my mom's and I don't think he is comfortable joining us, but I hope he will.

[anewbeginning]

the holidays were very different this year... my daughter only made a few days because of work and her boyfriend... my ex never came up... and Jr spent alot of time with his friends... but I had the important days..

I survived.. I handled the stress, the lonliness well.. one moment hit me... at midnight new years... I was talking to a couple of friends online... one was celebrating with his wife and they both came on camera to blow me kisses and to wish me a Happy New Year, but had to go back to their family and friends... and the other two said happy new years and then went to bed.. they stayed up with me but it wasn't exciting for them..

what brought the tears was me sitting there alone.. wishing I had a hug.. a kiss.. anything.. next year, I will not be alone.. if I don't have a boyfriend I will go out.. but I am not doing it at home alone next year... grrrrrrrrrr

[LadyMoon]

The Holidays were a bit weird for me.. my husband was around and we did a lot with the kids.. but we split-up the family dinner visits, and I missed him being there.

[NotTooGirly]

My first Christmas "alone" was really nothing of the sort...spent Christmas Eve with my family (which was the best it had ever been), and then Christmas night the bf and I had dinner with some friends of his (good people all). So I got to reconnect with my family and make some new friends, too - I honestly cannot recall feeling better about the day, not even when I was a kid and just all about the presents. It will be tough to top this one, but I can't wait to try.

[socialgirl73]

We spent it together and it was quite pleasant. No dishes were broken...no tables turned over...the best part was that I did not have to see my ex in-laws...AH!...The beauty of divorce....