i've done something similar. i went thru the decorations and pulled out all the ones he bought me (there are certain ones i collect) and i pulled out all the ones we bought together or that i bought for him and put them in a box, up high in the closet. i will not use those this year. i will be mailing him the ones i got specific for him (the baseball players etc)...

i've also been thinking i may go out of town for christmas. visit out of state family - something different. i need to make it different.

i'll be looking for those who have other suggestions too!

For me, everything came down the day after Christmas last year. So the kids and I discussed it (they aren't really feeling the holidays either) and we are not going to decorate the house this year. Instead we are going to Oklahoma to spend the holidays with my mom, my brother, and his wife and kids. A cahnge of scenery is just what the doctor ordered!

I really think this is the time to double our efforts to help others. While this is the first season I will be alone, I know that my traditions of giving will be doubled this year. We have rang the salvation army bell, adopted an angel, worked at the food bank. This year we are going to do some work at the homeless shelter--it's appalling at how many children don't have a home. So, I guess I'm imploring each one of the DS'ers get out, find a chairity, and make someone elses' season merry. It will help you as well!

OT MAYBE:

I had inlaws...lol!

Every Christmas I would sit and visit, pretending I was having fun.

Every Christmas I would sit and listen, same old boring stories over and over every year, about a time way before I was a part of the Family.

Every Christmas I would sit, and try to interject something, try to be part of the group, and I would a least get a look, but nothing else. Like I was interupting, even if nothing was being said.

I could easily sit in a room alone, and feel the same warmth.

Every Christmas I would sit, thinking, this year will be different, just to recieve the same old Fake cheer.

Every Christmas I spend without them, with others, is a special gift for me.

This christmas things will be weird. Xmas eve we all gathered at my parents house, where there were always a few Polish traditions. When my stbx came into the picture (he's from England) I a bunch of English traditions, which my family welcomed and incorporated. Christmas day my stbx would sleep a bit late, open gifts and visit with relatives. This year, I'll go to my family's celebration without the English traditions. Christmas day??? I don't have a clue, I think I'm going to try to get out of town - at least for new Year's eve. I hate this. Even my therapist thought it was odd that he was leaving before the holidays. Typically people leaving wait until after the holidays. In my opinion only, I think stbx is leaving now, because he would feel like maybe he wouldn't go if he got into the holidays and everything. He has no family here, and he absolutely LOVEd the holidays with my family. He really has built up an attitude to intentionally ruining for me any of the special events and places that we found special. It one time he told me he was "teaching me lesson". Yes, cut your nose off to spite your face. Too bad, so sad :(

We had all of these family ornamants with my ex, me and the kids names on them. My best friend got me a new one last year. Me, kids and the dog. I threw the other ones away.