Sorry honey:) Yeah pretend to be happy for your son and next year will be a little easier. Soon you will enjoy these holidays and know your dad IS with you and your son. I think it's good for your son to know you are sad and missing your dad, but you don't want to ruin his holidays either. That is how I ened up having our holidays become celebrations. My husband, my so and myself would celebrate almost dedicating them to mom.
You will get through this, not that it will be easy. You have a precious little guy:)

I am taking it one day at a time. We have what we need for life today.

We aren't even promised the future.
Obviously.

But, I have thought a little about it. I think I'm going to do something that is completely out of the box. Don't know what is yet. Something new.

Here is the thing. Holidays do not make the pain of our loss either better or worse. The same holds true for anniverseries. Concentrate on how you can make sure that those around you enjoy their holidays, and you enjoy as much as you can too. Nothing disloyal to your loved one. In fact, the hard truth is that people soon start to avoid a miserable face, so you need people to support you. Don't make them pretend not to have seen you. I know this is tough to ask of you, but have a serene face to wear for the most part. You find more than enough time to cry, I promise you. The more you can show a concern towards the needs of others, the more you help yourself to heal. Death is the natural order of things, so acceptance must happen eventually. Don't for one moment think that I do not understand your pain, we are all here because of it. Please do phone the church and arrange for you dad's memorial, sooner than later. That also brings a measure of peace. Soft pink kisses, BARB xxxxxx

I lost my dad just last year...a few days after Thanksgiving. So i can relate to being worried about the up-coming holidays. The 1 year anniversary of his death will be around thanksgiving and it will be hard for me to be in the holiday spirit when im thinkin about how it'll be 1 year that ive been without my dad. I dont have children but im a caregiver for my mom. She has brain damage and so it is hard for her to cope with my dad's death. So i always have to try and stay strong around my mom! I just put on a smile...and then when im by myself i let it all out and cry! sorry for your loss!!!

I say - fake it, til you make it - If you are thinking about it already, try thinking about doing something new. Make some new memories and new traditions, but honor your father by remembering holidays past with your family. Good luck G-

Thank you everyone for your wonderfull responses. I'm going to try my best to get through the holidays.

Your fatiher, and all of our loved ones who have gone on....would want that for us. Don't you think??? I'm sure my mom would be elated if I were full of the Spirit of the Holidays!

I'm thinking about volunteering too. That sure puts my life in proper perspective!

I am going to struggle with my thirtieth birthday its kind of a big one for me and my mom will not be there to share it (she obviously played a part in it). That is in November a week before thanksgiving. I have to get through that first and take each holiday one at a time. God Bless.