When I was at refuge I was watching an advert for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. It was an appeal to help the homeless. I had this realisation that we had no home either. We had a warm safe place to stay from the kindness of a charity and staff but it was a bit of a realisation. It can feel shaky, that insecurity of not knowing where or how you'll find a home. There are weekly drop ins with a housing officer and all you can do is wait for something that's available. Thats what the whole building is doing - either waiting for housing or recovering from the last episode from their perpetrator. The flats are naturally small - it's a charity but there was something so safe and nice about us all being in the same room. The house I had left was large. Somtimes the children felt practically quite far away and everyone being so near felt nice and comforting. At times, naturally it was hard, bickering etc. We couldn't invite family or friends around as normal. In fact when support workers used to knock on it was like having guests round round again and we hoped they'd stay for a drink.
So, what happens at Christmas time, one of the hardest times of the year when normal traditions are harder to put in place? Do we find a Christmas tree in every flat in the cupboard? Yes! Of course we do, as the staff at refuge thinks of all these things we didn't know we'd miss.
So, with the tree up, paper chains made as they are so pretty, and of course cheap, what else can we fill our December with to make it as jolly as we can.
The staff have worked so hard during the Christmas holidays. There are so many activities for all. All the children were invited on the 23rd to come into the lounge where they could pack a little Christmas Eve box for their Mums and choose a present. The Mums also were invited to pack a Christmas eve box for their children. You know all the toy appeals this time of year? We were the recipients, and it was so touching to see the gifts that were given. It gives you that feeling of happiness to see your children smile and feel the warmth and generosity of others. Christmas Eve was a hot chocolate and story time in the lounge before bedtime, a Christmas party had happened a couple of days before that. They had made sure that there was somthing to daily to help emotionally get us all through, when it could be a real difficult 'grass is greener time'.
We also were given some presents on Christmas day, and invited to a huge Christmas day lunch. Naturally we can't have a Mr Father Christmas, so Mrs Christmas came in jolly and bright.
It was amazing the lengths the staff went to bring as much joy as they could at the hardest time in our lives. The whole of refuge is dolled up too, tinsel is everywhere and the damm elf is taken care of too.
If I say somthing nausiating, will you try to remeber its the spirit of Christmas. Although the house I came from was truely lovely, with tiles in the bathroom POA, with a befast sink and lovely taupe kitchen cupboards, it didn't make it a home, or magical Christmasses. The Christmas at refuge was very different but it was in an odd way relaxing, it was without getting snapped, bullied and constantly watching. It was filled with so much kindness it felt like a really magical time of year for us.
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