Family and Friends Forum

Hi

mum dreading Christmas. Our daughter is on her way home from uni as we speak. She doesn't know anything about what's going on with her brother. I'm so looking forward to having her home but it's so much easier to hide all of this when she's away! I feel bad for wanting Christmas to pass in a glad and she's back to uni! No one in our family knows just me and my other half and obviously our son. (His girlfriend knows too!) I've been trying to avoid family and friends and at Christmas I just can't get away with it! Glad your sons back into his football. How old is your son if you don't mind me asking? My son stopped playing end of last season he's 17, I kind of miss standing at the edge of the pitch in all weathers! I hope you and your family manage to have a lovely Christmas. Let's hope 2026 brings our families some good news and better times!!

Our son has a court date at the Sheriff Court (Scotland) after Christmas, he's going to plead guilty. He is so vulnerable due to having a learning disability, many adverse childhood experiences, and is awaiting an autism assessment. He is convinced that he's going to prison, even though he's been told that it's highly unlikely.

We're very grateful for the support that we've received from, the Police, Stop it Now and his solicitors.

Only immediate family know and we feel that we are keeping a big secret.

We are fearful that his case might be reported in the press, but we are determined to have a good Christmas and live "One Day at a Time"

I hope everyone has as much of a peaceful Christmas as possible, I'm not looking forward to it, it is just another day to get through. Thankful that it will all be over in a week (Christmas that is). Sending love to everyone x

Hi all - as Upsetmum says - one day at a time. We are the other side now but remember how Christmas used to bring some respite from the fear of hearing any news (we had the last 3 Christmasses in the limbo of not knowing)

DAd-in-limbo, great that your Son has restarted football. Such a big step forward for him to rejoin his team and have something normal back in his life . Heartbroken and proud at the same time hmmm ...- I totally get what you are feeling. All these polar opposite emotions going on at the same time, no wonder we are all exhausted!

I hope everyone can relax, enjoy Christmas and have some mental respite - hopefully the New Year will be a better one for us all x