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This will be our third Christmas in London without any family. My parents cannot come because of visas and it is too expensive for us to fly with two kids.
Every year I feel very lonely in December. Everyone here is going to their parents' houses. How do other international mums handle this?
I'm Irish so it's easier for me to get home, but the year I couldn't go we did 'orphans Christmas' with other friends who were stuck here. Best Christmas I've had in years honestly.
We do video call with grandparents while children open presents. Not the same, but they feel part of it. And we cook my mother's recipes.
We don't celebrate Christmas but we feel the same in Eid. What I do is find community, mosque, friends from home. Maybe find a group from your country here, there are many in London.
Orphans Christmas sounds lovely. Maybe I will invite some families from my son's school who also stay here.
My family is in Lagos and I feel this every December. We've started our own traditions, a walk on Hampstead Heath on Christmas morning and a big jollof. The kids love it. Your kids will remember your traditions, not where grandma lives.
Thank you Sam, this makes me cry a bit but in a good way.
Some community centres and churches do open lunches on Christmas Day, whether you're religious or not. Even just going along as a family can feel less lonely than being at home.
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