I love my boyfriend and his family more then anything, but he is a very sad and depressed person. I am always trying to find ways to cheer him up, although my well being isn’t so well. Christmas is something he gets really sad over because his dad died about 6 days before christmas 6 years ago. His family just seems so sad and yet I can’t do anything to help them out. Most recently his sister just lost her apartment in a fire. She lost everything because she didn’t have renters insurance. Not to mention, the vehicals are in very rough shape and they don’t have money to fix them. They also haven’t been able to buy a christmas tree yet. I wish I could help them out so much.. but even I don’t have money because I am only in my 20’s and still live at home with my parents. I honestly thought Christmas was a time of giving and happiness. But there situation makes me really sad and it has made me lose all my Christmas spirit.
Answer:
My advice: cook them dinner.
Answer:
u can get a christmass tree for them. or ask their family to ur house, if ur parents dont mind - it can cheer up everyone and u all will feel like one big family :)
Answer:
Just a few words of advice, I think you should help them as much as you can but don't let their situation or your boyfriend's depression drag you inside it and become part of it or it will harm you and your parents as well, we all have situations to sort out and when you look at things from the outside solutions are easier to find. Keep up your Christmas spirit and transmit it to them, perhaps giving them a Christmas tree would be nice but maybe inviting them to join your family for dinner will make them feel better than a tree that will eventually have to be removed or dumped. It does not have to be something fancy but what is important is that they feel that there is good people around them and that they must look into the future and work towards it than dwelling on the past. I hope this helps you and therefore you can help them.
Answer:
I have to agree with iadem5 that is great advise. You can only help a person so much and then you have to backoff for your own well being. I'm sorry that they lost a loved one around christmas that does make it twice as hard as any other time of year and it is never easy, but maybe if you could get your boyfriend and his family to talk about the good times with thier father/husband it would help and inviting them over to your parents house would probably help as well. But don't lose focus on yourself and you can put the christmas spirit into them as well. Good Luck.
Answer:
I know you want to help, but you can only do so much you know? You have to take care of yourself, if this has been going on for six years, some family counseling might be in order. I'm sure his father would want them to be happy. I agree with Vickerhodesm, get them to talk about the good times. Maybe make a tape of them doing that, then every Christmas they could watch that, and then get on with some fun stuff.
Answer:
See if anywhere near you celebrate blue Christmas. It's a celebration on (or close to) the winter solstice, a.k.a. the longest night of the year. It's a celebration for people who have sad memories associated with Christmas to let go and cleanse their feelings for a night, so they can feel a little more hopeful going into the holiday. Otherwise, I just wish you the best of luck, and I hope things look up soon.