Anybody sad this Chirstmas?

[Puffy2]

I think this is the third year I have posed the question; to start a thread where people can just "vent" if they need to.

So if you are feeling sad this time of year, or are finding it difficult in any way - chat away!

As for me, it's a little sad this year. My best friend of 15 years and I are no longer speaking to each other. My family usually spends Christmas Eve with her family, but not this year. It's too long of a story to go into (but something that needed to happen; she is an alcholic and "things" just got so bad that both of us are better off apart at this time). Anyway I still miss her.

So , I sort of hinted at my sister if she would like a visitor for a little while during the day tomorrow - things are hard for her right now and she is really stressed out, so she said it "wasn't a good time". and I understand (I really do) , but it is still lonely.

Not to worry though, I'll have my children with me tomorrow and I'm really lucky for that. I just have to come up with a "new" way to make it special for them. Any suggestions?


ALSO, to lighten the mood, if you have a joke to share - lets hear it!
I'll start:

Why don't cannibals eat clowns???


Because the taste funny!

 

[floridafam]

I just started crying because I realized how much I miss my brothers. One died of a heart attack and the other of colon cancer. I wish they were here.

 

[grover]

Well I hope tomorrow turns out to be a happy day for you! Why not start a new tradition...how old are your kids?? You could bake something special or rent some xmasy movies and have a family movie night and go all out on the goodies!! Could build a gingerbread house or something like that. Outdoor activities are fun and refreshing..up here we do tobogganing-fun no matter the age! You could read a good ole fashioned xmas story and have hot cocoa!
Have a wonderful holiday season...remember those you can't be with and cherish those who are º0º
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[browneyes]

Yes, I'm sad this Christmas.

 

[Nutsy]

I am disappointed more so than sad I guess.

Disappointed in someone who I thought loved my kids, but it seems I was very wrong.

I'm angry too, at what this person put my son through, the humiliation of it & the obvious lack of concern.

I'm sad for my son that he has had to learn such a hard lesson about someone he thought loved him & at this time of year too.

 

[twinmomplus2]

I have a friend whose a single mom to begin with, and her SIL died last April, and she now has custody and no help of 3 boys. 8, 6,And just turned 1. She has no finacial help as the parents were to young to have paid in SS, she gets total 300 per month. If she turned them over to foster care she would get some financial help. But would you be willing to give up your nephews?
I am sad because she is a little sad.
The boys are missing mommy.
This is thier first Christmas without her.
And we are missing thier mommy. It's very hard to see these kids the baby most because he is never going to remember her.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Yes, I'm quite sad.

Sad because it's the first Christmas without my dad.

Sad because of other people, friends and family who are no longer here. Several went so suddenly there was no time to say goodbye and I miss them tremendously.

Sad because I know that others are hurting this holiday.

*HUGE hugs to anyone who is in need right now*




Here is my contribution to help lighten the mood:

What is the best thing to do if you find a gorilla in your bed?







Sleep somewhere else.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I am sad in that I miss those who are no longer with us. I hope that they have found peace and forgiveness.

 

[Manda1219]

Dissapointed because I've been with my boyfriend for 5 years and all I wanted for christmas is a little round white gold thingy with a little diamond...(and I know for a fact its not happening this year)

 

[Magix]

Yes, I'm sad too. My mom's colon cancer is growing and now she's sounding like she doesn't want to do any more treatments, even though there are two clinical trials she might be able to get into. She's tired all the time and she doesn't seem to want to do much of anything around the house anymore. I mean, I can understand it's difficult for her, but it's like she doesn't even try anymore. It's frustrating. All our Christmas traditions are out the window because everyone's stressed and we all feel like we don't have time to get things done. Heck, we haven't even decorated the Christmas tree yet and we've usually got that done at least a week before Christmas. My dad's desperate to get her to continue treatments, or at least to have her talk to her doctors more - I know he's scared to death because he doesn't know how to be alone. I don't know how I feel anymore. Mostly I'm just stressed to the max and angry and constantly on the verge of tears... My family has never known how to talk to each other about anything important and this is the most important thing of all. Do I keep my mouth shut and let it play out? Do I scream and yell? Do I cry and plead? Do I run off to Jamaica and never come back? How the heck am I supposed to deal with this?

Yes, I'm sad this Christmas. My mom will probably die in the coming year and it sucks.

 

[tiggerlover]

I m a little sad too. We will be alone this Christmas for the first time ever. We live in Italy and our base is closing so our friends are slowly leaving....my best friend here left last week. We are thousands of miles away from our families and this is the first Christmas we will spend Christmas just the three of us.

I am thankful for so many things, so that will have to outweigh the sadness.

I am sorry for everyone who is sad this year, {{{HUGS}}} to you all.

 

[WDWLVR]

I have a lot of sadness in my heart this year. First off I miss my mom - this is our 6th Christmas without her and it just hasn't been the same since she's been gone.

I'm feeling more and more estranged from my in-laws. My MIL is constantly complaining about how much her life stinks and is just making things miserable for everyone. BIL and his wife are turning into mopes that don't want to be here when they come over so I don't know why they bother. It just isn't fun anymore.

I think work is what has gotten me down the most right now. Things are really bad and we just had someone else quit yesterday. I keep getting so much piled on my (because there is no one else to do it) that I feel like I'm going to break down (and did end up in tears yesterday). The good news is we have hired some new people (which will help but they need training). I'm also actively looking for a new job so that will help as well.

The saddest thing about sending out Christmas cards is when you get a note back that someone you sent it to is no longer with us. This is the 3rd year in a row it has happened. Not unexpected as the woman this year was in her 80's but sad just the same.

Hearing about the loss of Nate Page is very sad as well.

Chirstmas is a wonderful time of year and definately I have many blessings to count. I'm very thankful that I have a wonderful and loving husband and that we just got to spend some time at Disney and truly enjoyed the holiday spirit there. We have much to be thankful for.

Puffy2 thanks for starting this. I feel better just getting it all down in print.

to everyone! May the blessings of the season be on each and every one of you!

 

[Snowwark]

I'm feeling a little down this Christmas.

My 10 yr. old nephew has been diagnosed as Bi-Polar. He hasn't been able to attend school for months, and has been in and out of the phychiatric unit for the last few weeks. His parents are devastated and struggling to deal with the chaos as best they can. He's just a little boy....

My parent's neighbour's daughter killed herself two weeks ago. She was 43. She sent her 3 yr. old daughter to the babysitters, and committed suicide. Her family is completely heartbroken. We grew up with her and her siblings.

We thought my Mom had a heart attact last week. Thankfully she didn't, but in the New Year we need to (as a family) sit down and make some changes in their (parent's) living arrangements. This will probably involve us moving, and them moving in with us. My Father's dementia is making it more and more difficult for the two of them.

People can be very cruel.

{{{{ Hugs }}}} to everyone who is hurting and feeling sad.

 

[Puffy2]

Where are the JOKES people??? Loved the one about the gorilla - I'll have to tell that to my kids today!

Let's see, here is another one:

Knock Knock....

Whose there?

Interrupting Cow....

Interrupting Cow w.....

MOOO!!!!! (really loud before they can fully answer)

Ok, so it loses something in the traslation................

To those of you who lost a parent recently:

I too lost my dad about a year and 1/2 ago. I woke up this morning hearing in my head his favorite song and it made me cry, but I kind of like to think that that is his way of saying "I'm still with you". I think I talk to him more now than I did when he was alive. It is comforting to know that these relationships go on - just in a different form. At least that is my (strong) belief. In some way, I feel better having someone so close to me on the other side waiting for me (and helping me through issues while I'm still here)

I am a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason" and the reason is "we are either supposed to learn from it or someone else is." I think we are all here to learn and to love and that's pretty much it. Even when bad stuff happens, I think there is purpose in it....we might not know what it is right away (or sometime never) but I'm convinced everything (life experiences, events, interactions) has a purpose. So, I try to ask myself, "what am I supposed to learn from this?" - I might be sad and cry too, but I try to learn as well.

Who saw Monday's Oprah show on South Africa or even better the Prime Time Special on the same subject? Really moving. At least for me. Here is an example of a woman finally discovering her calling/ her path (and now understands why all these years she has remained single and childless) . I've never contributed to charities on a regular basis, but this may just be the one. Anyone see it?

Snowwark, bipolar is a really tough road to hoe; my thoughts are with your family. Education on the topic is very important; the family should learn all they can. I have a cousin with bipolar. And I have had friends with experience as well.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm always a little sad at Christmas time - but not for myself.. I think about all the people who have nothing - the children that won't receive a gift or have a nice meal - the eldely people who are all alone - parents who have lost their children - children who have lost their parents - and I wish I had a big magic wand that I could just swing around in the air and making all of the pain and heartache go away.....

Hugs to all who are hurting....

C.Ann

 

[Puffy2]

Magix,
I was a hospice nurse a few years back (I'm not working at the moment). Your family's situation is common. Illness is VERY stressful.

The most important thing is to know what your mom wants. You can ask her privately to get her wishes known. She needs to know that you (or someone) is strong enough to accept whatever she says.

Cancer cure rates vary widely. Some have a very good cure rate. Others do not. The chances of remission/cure lower if a cancer returns after a full course of treatment. The person's age and the prognosis (sp?...don't have my dictionary with me) should guide the patient into making correct choices for themselves.

Sometimes, enough is enough. Usually the patient decides this well before the family. It is common for the patient to then start a withdrawal process - kind of retreating into themselves in preparation of "leaving" .

If your mom has been given a good prognosis, however, and still is retreating from therapy, perhaps she needs a support group or counseling.

Support groups are there for families too - even if you are the only one who chooses to go. It might help to talk to others and they are usually led by counselors knowledable in the area.

If your mom chooses no treatment, you may wish to contact hospice services in the area. They provide lots of information, support groups, can help you with end of life care (both in the home and some in an inpatient setting), they offer "respite care" (someone will care for your loved one for a couple of days while family members get rest. Best of all they are good at providing guidance and a calm voice during a stressful situation.

My best to you.

 

[Puffy2]

Bowneyes, why are you sad?

 

[EdiePA]

I've been separated for two years and Christmas (as are most holidays) is just brutal. It's such a family day that you don't want to burden your friends. My family (parents, sister, BIL, niece and nephew) will celebrate with us tonight. I'm cooking the dinner, working all day today, and singing tonight in a midnight service. (My sis is off all week, my parents are retired and I'm the one cooking??? Something is wrong with this picture!)

The hardest time tomorrow is when my sons will leave to see their Dad and I'll be all alone. That's when the tears will really start. Please, if you know a single parent, be there for them!

Edie

PS - my joke

How do you make a kleenex dance??

Put a little "boogie" in it!

(it was my son's favorite joke at age 5)

 

[Puffy2]

Edie,
your joke ....
but gross.

Did you know that they are showing a Disney Parade from the MK at 11AM EST on Chirstmas day?

 

[C.Ann]

Just wanted to add - that for anyone who is feeling sad, will be alone, or doesn't celebrate Christmas for one reason or another - I will be on these boards tomorrow as our family celebration will take place tonight rather than on Christmas Day..

If you want to chat on the board, I'll be around!