For the first time in nearly a decade, journalist Stephanie Ward will wake up on Christmas morning to a silent house, navigating the complex emotions of a festive day spent entirely alone.
The Echo of Christmases Past
Stephanie vividly recalls the joyful chaos of last Christmas Day in December 2024. At 5am, she performed her signature belly-flop-hug to wake her son, Jack, before he raced downstairs to find the sofa overflowing with presents. The scene was one of controlled chaos, soundtracked by a digital fire on the TV and filled with the smell of coffee and scattered wrapping paper. It was, she remembers, a perfect day.
This year, the contrast could not be starker. With Jack now 13 years old, it is his father's turn to have him for Christmas, according to a co-parenting arrangement the family established years ago. This marks the first time since 2015 that Stephanie will face the day completely by herself.
The Rhythms of a Blended Family
Stephanie's relationship with December 25th has been complicated since 2013, the year she separated from her ex-husband and, due to a hospital admission with a severe kidney infection (pyelonephritis), spent her first Christmas without Jack. From that point, a system was born: when Jack's age is an odd number, he spends Christmas with his dad; when it's even, he's with Stephanie. Similar swaps are made for Easter, with New Year's plans negotiated annually.
She expresses profound gratitude for this amicable arrangement, which was decided without solicitors or court orders—a fortune not shared by many separated parents. For most of the years she was without Jack, Stephanie had a partner to share a 'mini-Christmas' with, creating a relaxed celebration with favourite foods like lamb, roast potatoes, and pigs in blankets. However, that relationship ended in August 2025, leaving her truly solo this festive season.
Christmas traditions have also been adapted for Jack, who has autism. A previous attempt at a formal dinner with crackers led to sensory overload and meltdowns. Now, they prioritise a nice, relaxed Christmas with minimal pressure, which provides just enough variation from routine for him to enjoy.
Embracing the Silence and Recharging
Faced with well-meaning questions about her plans, Stephanie has made a deliberate choice. She has declined invitations, including one from her step-mum, and will instead spend Christmas Day 2025 at home alone, treating it as a masterclass in self-care.
Her plan is a conscious departure from the norm: sleeping late, drinking coffee in silence, binge-watching Grey's Anatomy, and forgoing a traditional roast for a massive charcuterie board. She stresses this is not an act of self-pity, but a practical decision to save her festive energy for when Jack returns home on Boxing Day.
On 27 December, their real celebration will begin with a proper dinner, movies, and the exchange of presents. Stephanie admits she will desperately miss the noise, mess, and early wake-up call, but finds solace in knowing Jack is happy, safe, and loved with his father.
She frames co-parenting as a life of constant transitions between 'Mum mode' and 'Solo mode'—a jarring but accepted reality. This year, she is choosing to embrace the silence and recharge. Next year, Jack will be 14, and the beautiful chaos will return to her living room once more.
