Christmas can be a joyous time, but if cracks begin to appear in your relationship it can ultimately become a pressure cooker environment.
At best, this means petty family squabbles over who prepares the sprouts or tidies up the discarded wrapping paper – and at worst it can spell disaster for rocky romances.
Here, three women share their holiday heartbreak stories – and how being dumped at Christmas actually turned out to be the best gift in the long run.
‘I WAS LEFT ALONE WITH NO CHRISTMAS DINNER’
Artist and mum-of-three Saj Fareed, 49, was dumped on Christmas Eve.
I was a single parent when I started to date Mike*. He was a lovely guy, very grounded, stable and we got along – he had even met my daughter.
After about three months we decided to spend Christmas together and his parents were going to join. I was very excited, he was going to cook and we talked about what we were going to have for Christmas dinner.
On Christmas Eve, we agreed that I would come over to his house and meet his parents as I had not met them yet.
I bought lots of delicious mini pastries from a local French patisserie to bring along with me and went over with my daughter and met his parents. They were lovely and welcoming. I was full of excitement and I called Mike later that evening to check the last-minute details for Christmas.
He was in the pub watching football and seemed a bit off with me, which I thought was odd. He admitted that he needed space and I genuinely didn’t see this coming.
Denne historien er fra December 19, 2022-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 19, 2022-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The benefits of waking up early
I can almost feel my daughters rolling their eyes at the thought of me writing about the joys of waking up early.
'Rylan makes me MILLIONS!
The presenter talks about his love life, professional success and his alter ego
GATSBY
He needed a home, but was Maria barking to even consider taking him in?
My mindset MAKEOVER
After losing 4st, the future is bright for Hazel James
Eat more WEIGH LESS
Feel fuller while losing weight with our exclusive plan from Slimming World
Autumn tricks YOU NEED TO KNOW
Stop cold, dark nights disturbing your sleep with these expert cheats
'HARRY WILL NOT BE BACK'
Reports of Prince Harry wanting to return to the UK and royal duties are, I’m told, ‘completely wrong’.
'I'M HONOURED to still be part of Strictly'
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke on the hit show and why he'll never retire
Would you keep CANCER A SECRET?
Model Elle Macpherson revealed she kept her battle with the disease hidden - we find out why many others choose to do the same
'Ruth has handled the split WITH DIGNITY'
Coleen Nolan on grief, supporting Ruth Langsford through divorce and moving in with boyfriend Michael Jones