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EmilyAlexandra
Guest
Due to the pandemic, millions of people in the worst affected areas of England had to spend Christmas this year alone, with the people they already live with, or with their support bubble. No doubt this situation will also be familiar to many people all over the world.
I don’t doubt that for many people, probably most people, a traditional big family Christmas is the highlight of their year. Unfortunately, it can also be a difficult time of year for many of us. I come from a very dysfunctional family. My mother is emotionally abusive and can be physically violent. In addition to this, I have an eating disorder, which my mother either doesn’t understand or chooses to overlook. Both of these things mean that having to spend Christmas with my family has for many years been something I feel I have to suffer through rather than enjoy. I do enjoy seeing my husband’s family at Christmas, although this in itself only makes my mother angrier.
This year, out of an abundance of caution, we were always planning to have a small Christmas just for the two of us even before the government announced the latest regulations. It’s also going to be our last child-free Christmas for the foreseeable future, so we decided to abandon all the Christmas traditions and just treat Christmas like an extra special weekend. This meant that we stayed in bed until 11, watched the live online service from Canterbury Cathedral, went out for a very cold 6-mile walk, and had “lunch” at 5. Lunch was butternut squash soup, pizza, and pistachio ice cream, soft amaretti biscuits, and chocolate sauce for pudding. In the evening, we watched Love Actually (again). It was my best Christmas Day ever.
Perhaps I sound mean-spirited. I am genuinely sad for all those people who didn’t get their perfect Christmas this year. However, I cannot be the only person who this year enjoyed having an excuse to spend Christmas exactly how I actually wanted to spend it rather than having the kind of Christmas that other people expect me to have. In fact, I have the suspicion every year that possibly nobody actually likes Christmas, but nobody dares to be the first person to admit it!
I don’t doubt that for many people, probably most people, a traditional big family Christmas is the highlight of their year. Unfortunately, it can also be a difficult time of year for many of us. I come from a very dysfunctional family. My mother is emotionally abusive and can be physically violent. In addition to this, I have an eating disorder, which my mother either doesn’t understand or chooses to overlook. Both of these things mean that having to spend Christmas with my family has for many years been something I feel I have to suffer through rather than enjoy. I do enjoy seeing my husband’s family at Christmas, although this in itself only makes my mother angrier.
This year, out of an abundance of caution, we were always planning to have a small Christmas just for the two of us even before the government announced the latest regulations. It’s also going to be our last child-free Christmas for the foreseeable future, so we decided to abandon all the Christmas traditions and just treat Christmas like an extra special weekend. This meant that we stayed in bed until 11, watched the live online service from Canterbury Cathedral, went out for a very cold 6-mile walk, and had “lunch” at 5. Lunch was butternut squash soup, pizza, and pistachio ice cream, soft amaretti biscuits, and chocolate sauce for pudding. In the evening, we watched Love Actually (again). It was my best Christmas Day ever.
Perhaps I sound mean-spirited. I am genuinely sad for all those people who didn’t get their perfect Christmas this year. However, I cannot be the only person who this year enjoyed having an excuse to spend Christmas exactly how I actually wanted to spend it rather than having the kind of Christmas that other people expect me to have. In fact, I have the suspicion every year that possibly nobody actually likes Christmas, but nobody dares to be the first person to admit it!