Hi Everyone
I'm linni and am from the UK. I work as a school administrator, and am a very mature student of social work, going into my second year. I know I'm veering on the mad side!
I hope you all enjoyed a Christmas that means a lot to you. For me, it was a topsy turvy one, but then the year has been a topsy turvy one! During the festive season friends and I got talking about what Christmas means to us all. For most it is the gathering of family and friends, whether at home or away.
For us, we are just a threesome, myself, husband and son who is 24. We used to have Christmas at home until he was 8 and then we started travelling at Christmas time, mainly through the United States, but have been in othe places too, such as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
I am an only child and son is an only child. There is always pressure because of being that only child. They say what goes round comes round and it certainly did for me this year. When I was my son's age I spent a Christmas in Greece, when I was working out there, and another time in Austria with a boyfriend. You can imagine that my parents' upset that there only child wasn't with them over Christmas.
Now it was my turn. My son, at the last minute, announced that he was going to spend Christmas with his girlfriend and her family, who lives some distance away. He had been overseas for 10 months and came home in the summer. Conseqently they haven't spent much time together. However,I was devastated. For the first time in 16 years we hadn't planned to go away this Christmas due to circumstances, but I assumed he'd stay home and he would join her or she would join him after Christmas or for New Year.
Long story but I ended up taking a short holiday in her hometown, and stayed in a nice hotel, hoping to share just a little of her family's Christmas. It didn't go down terribly well, as I hadn't met them before, but at least I got to see something of my son. I think the family were a little bit surprised that I had left my husband at home, but he had very little time off work this year, so it wasn't possible for us both to go.
I couldn't stand the fact that there would only be the two of us, and not only that, the three of us weren't away as we usually are. When there are two or more children in a family, it's easier because if one is missing the others can make up for it.
Does anyone in a similar situation know what I mean? I know I crossed a few boundaries but I love Christmas and I just wanted our little group, however depleted to be together. However, Son wanted to spend time with his girlfriend, enjoy times out, and experience a traditional family Christmas, which he doesn't really remember having.
Selfish of me, but we all have issues and life can be so hard at times. I can't accept that things have changed and are changing. Oh why didn't I have more children.....! :cry:
I'm linni and am from the UK. I work as a school administrator, and am a very mature student of social work, going into my second year. I know I'm veering on the mad side!
I hope you all enjoyed a Christmas that means a lot to you. For me, it was a topsy turvy one, but then the year has been a topsy turvy one! During the festive season friends and I got talking about what Christmas means to us all. For most it is the gathering of family and friends, whether at home or away.
For us, we are just a threesome, myself, husband and son who is 24. We used to have Christmas at home until he was 8 and then we started travelling at Christmas time, mainly through the United States, but have been in othe places too, such as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
I am an only child and son is an only child. There is always pressure because of being that only child. They say what goes round comes round and it certainly did for me this year. When I was my son's age I spent a Christmas in Greece, when I was working out there, and another time in Austria with a boyfriend. You can imagine that my parents' upset that there only child wasn't with them over Christmas.
Now it was my turn. My son, at the last minute, announced that he was going to spend Christmas with his girlfriend and her family, who lives some distance away. He had been overseas for 10 months and came home in the summer. Conseqently they haven't spent much time together. However,I was devastated. For the first time in 16 years we hadn't planned to go away this Christmas due to circumstances, but I assumed he'd stay home and he would join her or she would join him after Christmas or for New Year.
Long story but I ended up taking a short holiday in her hometown, and stayed in a nice hotel, hoping to share just a little of her family's Christmas. It didn't go down terribly well, as I hadn't met them before, but at least I got to see something of my son. I think the family were a little bit surprised that I had left my husband at home, but he had very little time off work this year, so it wasn't possible for us both to go.
I couldn't stand the fact that there would only be the two of us, and not only that, the three of us weren't away as we usually are. When there are two or more children in a family, it's easier because if one is missing the others can make up for it.
Does anyone in a similar situation know what I mean? I know I crossed a few boundaries but I love Christmas and I just wanted our little group, however depleted to be together. However, Son wanted to spend time with his girlfriend, enjoy times out, and experience a traditional family Christmas, which he doesn't really remember having.
Selfish of me, but we all have issues and life can be so hard at times. I can't accept that things have changed and are changing. Oh why didn't I have more children.....! :cry:
