tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post1490667717575766526..comments2023-08-26T17:43:53.223+02:00Comments on The Other side of me: A single mother at 53.. what ever next!!Un Peu Loufoquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09387826515638192265noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post-1636016113889225252011-12-12T15:16:30.013+01:002011-12-12T15:16:30.013+01:00Oh - just remembered - and always a good party on ...Oh - just remembered - and always a good party on 12th Night to round the whole thing off and get rid of the decorations.Fenniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02377814681496294457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post-44152065848213696532011-12-12T15:14:21.916+01:002011-12-12T15:14:21.916+01:00An exciting and a harrowing post in equal measure....An exciting and a harrowing post in equal measure. I can well imagine how your boys feel having myself had to put up with one parent divorcely absenting herself between the ages of 4 and 16 and knowing it was somehow all my fault. But provided the boys can learn from you that everyone carries gremlins around in their heads, gremlins that talk an awful lot of convincing nonsense about being at fault and that they learn that the only way to silencing the gremlins is to show love whether for self or others and that (even) worse things do occasionally happen, they ought to be fine with you to guide them. I hope so. <br /><br />As for Christmas traditions: capacious stockings of course, presents bought from the charity shop almost at random, presents given from and to the dog, cat, squirrels, mice as well as from the members of the family, champagne with carols on Christmas morning, a film, a dark fruit cake large enough to cover with an ice rink of royal icing on which to build a village with houses that have lights in them and little elves with wheelbarrows, trudging through the snow or rather the ice (ing) on the cake. Puddings that never get eaten on Christmas Day set alight with brandy and eaten with 'Randy Rutter' as youngest said when she was three. Party poppers and silly hats. As Private Eye might say (That's enough tradition-Ed)Fenniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02377814681496294457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post-79386773214088996492011-12-11T15:38:38.135+01:002011-12-11T15:38:38.135+01:00I am so sorry for the hard times, but I admire you...I am so sorry for the hard times, but I admire your spirit. Try not to worry too much about money and presents--that's not what makes a Christmas.<br /><br />I just wanted to say, being a child of divorce myself, your boys will be okay. It must be so hard for you to see them hurting so badly right now, so try to hold this in your heart--they <i>will</i> heal.<br /><br />Merry Christmas.Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02011180576782676523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post-30096818411404254602011-12-11T01:29:09.946+01:002011-12-11T01:29:09.946+01:00Hit the (cooking) sherry before lunch and make mer...Hit the (cooking) sherry before lunch and make merry on Christmas Day.<br /><br />Dressing the tree, singing along to whatever lights your candle sounds good; Traipsing into the woods and collecting greenery also makes my season jolly; that's something you can all do. Games are good, at least part of the time. <br /><br />Actually, not having any rules is good, nobody being strict, staying relaxed even if it all goes pear shaped. <br /><br />"Do you remember that awful Christmas when x was sick all over the y, or the dogs ate half the turkey, or the tree fell over because z crashed into it', that sort of thing can make for jolly memories if you don't get uptight at the time.<br /><br />Even if you find it hard, laugh. They'll laugh with you.<br /><br />Good luck, old girl.Frikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277167831642088694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post-27050396125195010772011-12-08T10:13:11.525+01:002011-12-08T10:13:11.525+01:00Like the wise heads who've commented before me...Like the wise heads who've commented before me I just know that you're going to make Christmas special however small the budget.<br /><br />Some advice that served me well during some particularly dark days was that my children would be 'as good as you are' so I kept my chin up and, lo, they did too. Having said all that I hope Santa puts a few treats in your stocking, because you surely deserve them.Chris Stovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03741359642268813093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post-42243099260389434832011-12-08T00:13:56.453+01:002011-12-08T00:13:56.453+01:00You sound like the kind of woman who will pull som...You sound like the kind of woman who will pull something off by sheer willpower. I think you will make a success of this Christmas come hell or high water. I wish you the best of luck and lots of good cheer. For yourself first of all and for the boys second. XOXIrenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05043376053971475659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post-73998685133333767492011-12-06T06:30:47.831+01:002011-12-06T06:30:47.831+01:00This Christmas will be the one that the three chil...This Christmas will be the one that the three children will look back on in 10, 20,30rs and say to one another 'remember when....'. You are going to make it that Christmas, by grace and sheer will - the best Christmas ever.Pondsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407539138546412482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972490967689236572.post-13566535464417137702011-12-05T15:05:29.150+01:002011-12-05T15:05:29.150+01:00Christmas tradition here is opening stockings in ...Christmas tradition here is opening stockings in my bedroom with all the dogs and kids together at sparrows fart o'clock. It gets kind of crazy but its the only time we have as just us as we have extended family to stay.<br />There is usually a CD from Ftraher Christmas which we then sing a long to and it helps get us moving with making Christmas lunch. Lots of singing and dancing round the table...Tattieweaslehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10723634612274763884noreply@blogger.com