IT’S GOING TO BE A LONELY CHRISTMAS

I am a single man in my 50s – no children, no job and no friends. My mother, who sadly died earlier this year, lived in a care home. I have two elder sisters who have grown-up children but they are both selfish and left me to do everything for our mother, such as her shopping, the laundry, taking her to the doctor and the hospital. At Christmas I am never invited to their family get-togethers and am never shown any affection. That is so sad and unkind. Families are important and should help each other, especially if they are going through difficult times or looking after an elderly relative. Your sisters should have spent more time with your mother. It is sad that they don’t include you in family Christmases. I wonder why and, if they were writing to me, what reasons they would give? Have you fallen out with each other in the past, or do they ignore you, and if so, why? They sound selfish and self-centred. Can you gently ask them why you are not included and explain how excluded you feel? If nothing is resolved, try to find something else to do on Christmas Day – perhaps getting involved with a local homeless charity. Contact Community Christmas (communitychristmas.org.uk, 0800 063 9285), which organises fun things for people on their own to do during the festive season. Also check out Meetup (meetup.com). You sound very lonely, so please contact Mind (mind.org.uk) and search ‘loneliness’. You should also see your GP for a referral for counselling to help you deal with this.