Few things bring more joy into a home than the holidays. The sights, smells, sounds and warmth of family joining together does a heart and soul more good than one could fully express.
And few things can bring more loneliness, pain and heartache. Particularly if you are away from family as you celebrate.
We have been out of the U.S. with our kiddos for almost four years now; before that we lived an 18 hour drive from the closest family.
We are no strangers to doing the holidays “alone.” However, one holiday season in particular stands out in my mind as one of the most difficult and lonely ones of my life. And, strangely enough, also one of my favorites.
Join me at The Better Mom today as I talk about how we survived that season, and share my Top 5 Tips for Surviving the Holidays “Alone.” I hope you’ll join me, and share your tips and tricks as well. And maybe even be inspired to reach out to a college student, young family, newlyweds, or elderly friend to help make their holiday season more warm and bright. See you over there!
If you’re joining me for the first time from The Better Mom, I want to extend a very warm welcome to you! I’m delighted you’re here! Make yourself at home, take a look around, and let me know you stopped by so I can say hello! 🙂
Comments 2
I’m glad that you shared this. I know what it’s like for one reason or another to be away from extended family at Thanksgiving or Christmas. These are all great suggestions. I’m afraid I did not do as well on some of those “alone” holidays. I would try to fill the gap with special activities for the kids but when things didn’t go perfectly I would have a tantrum which would really spoil things for everyone. Somehow ,we would repair the “mess” but I would still feel sad and ashamed of myself . Praise God for His grace!
Now, for the 8th holiday season we will not be alone. For that I am very thankful. We are headed over to Rhode Island for TG tomorrow eve. to be with my parents , my brothers and their families. Once again my mother has also invited some people who otherwise would be alone. We’ll have a beautiful day, I trust.
For Christmas we will once again host my parents.
Throughout , I have a feeling I’m going to be thinking of you often. I pray that God would give you strength and joy. I pray that He will help you to follow all your own suggestions since they came from Him in the 1st place. May you be a blessing to each other and to those around you. I think of the blessing your Irish friends will receive as you serve them an American Thanksgiving dinner. Am I safe in assuming that you have some folks invited ?
How do you say” Happy Thanksgiving” in Irish?
Author
Hi, Heather! Thank you so much! It didn’t work out to host friends for thanksgiving dinner this year, but we’ve done it the past couple of years and hope to again next year! We did host a Cinco de Mayo dinner that we a big hit! 😉 And they don’t have a way to say “happy thanksgiving” in Irish directly because they don’t have the day here. But they would say something like ta la buiochais shona duit [tah lah BWEE-huss HONN-nuh gwitch] which translates to “happy day of thanks” 🙂