A letter read out on RTE Radio One this morning by presenter Ryan Tubridy, an Irish mum opens up about her struggles this festive season.
The nameless woman who has a son with severe learning disabilities asked the listeners to appreciate the small things in life and to “enjoy that smile of Santa arriving on Christmas morning.”
The woman said: “I’m a single parent, I’ve a son with learning difficulties.
“He would not know Christmas if Santa’s sleigh ran over him.
“When all I see is happy excited children, and the parents giving out about what they all want, all I think is ‘aren’t you lucky?’
“I always had a great family Christmas so the tradition is well instilled in me.
“But will I tell you what I did yesterday? I had to look in the toddlers’ toy department for a noisy yoke that my 22-year-old son might like.
“I’ve been doing this for 22 years. No computers, no games, no books. Just basically a rattle if it makes the right noise. She revealed that she buys herself a present from her son each year, which she opens alone every Christmas day.”
The woman continued: “So I sat here and wrapped a present that I bought for myself from my son, which I will open on my own. Surprise. I even brought a present from my dog to my son.”
“I’m not a poor mouth giving out. Sometimes, well a lot of the time, parents should be thankful for what they have. Don’t get into debt over Christmas, be thankful your child will talk to you. Feel lucky that you can enjoy that smile of Santa arriving on Christmas morning.”
“I never had those things with my child. We struggle to get through this time of year but we do. It’s just a little but harder when you’re on your own. Christmas day is not really our day. But the pressure to have the Christmas day which is sold to us in the movies and the ads is too much pressure.”