December 12, 2016
What do people who have learning disabilities think about Christmas? Well, just like the rest of us, it depends on who you ask!
We asked a group of My Life My Choice members about their experiences of Christmas and found that everyone had very different things to say.
Do you like Christmas?
Charlene said: “Yes because I get loads of Christmas presents!”
Dawn said: “I do. Although it comes round too quick and that’s stressful.”
Kevin said: “It’s only for kids really. But the people at Church don’t want me to be on my own, so they signed me up for the lunch.”
Paul said: “Christmas is just like another day to me. Most of my family are away. My wife and I don’t get invited to anything.”
Andy said: “Yes it’s alright. You get merry and drunk and have a good time. But the thing I don’t like about it is when you don’t have family with you, and you get lonely.”
What’s the best thing about Christmas?
Kevin said: “Opening the presents!”
Paul said: “Helping my brother set up his Christmas lights, which he does every year to raise money for charity.”
Charlene said: “Presents!”
Dawn said: “Spending time with family and friends.”
Andy said: “Going out with your mates. And having too many Christmas dinners!”
What are you doing for Christmas this year?
Kevin said: “I’m going to Peachcroft Christian Centre for Christmas lunch. For New Year’s I’m going on a coach trip to Llandudno.”
Paul said: “Gala Bingo are doing an offer where it’s just £1 for a book. So we might be doing that. I’m looking forward to the Gala Bingo Christmas party on 16th December.”
Charlene said: “Hopefully I’m going to go and see my family.”
Dawn said: “My boyfriend is coming over to mine and we’re both cooking.”
Andy said: “I’ve got my mates coming round. We were supposed to go to the pub, but it’s all booked up. So now we are going to my mate’s house for dinner, but we are not cooking. His support worker will be cooking for us.”
What did you do at Christmas when you were a child?
Kevin said: “I would spend Christmas with my mum, dad and brother.”
Paul said: “I used to like Christmas. My nan worked for a family on Boars Hill. She used to take us up there and we would go sledging down the hill. I also liked opening our Christmas stockings. I liked the old days of Christmas.”
Andy: “I was in a children’s home. We had Christmas lunch and presents. When you’re a kid you get more presents than when you are an adult.”
Charlene said: “I spent Christmas at home with my family. I liked opening my stocking.”
Dawn said: “Christmas was exciting because we used to have stockings on the bed and lots of presents. It was just good fun.”
