<p>My parents are both out of town this week. My sister still lives at home but she’s never really home. Basically I’ve been by myself since Monday (except at school).</p>
<p>Plus, we just lost my grandfather on the 15th so I’m still grieving for him. </p>
<p>And I just want it to be Christmas. I want to be happy like I used to be, and I want my parents to come home. I can’t remember the last time I cried this much. :((</p>
<p>Hugs to you!!!</p>
<p>I am so sorry that you lost your grandfather. I suspect much of your sadness is related to his loss & now the absence of your parents. Throw the normal stresses of senior year & the upcoming holidays into the mix, and you have the perfect storm. Hang in there … </p>
<p>Your feelings of sadness for your loss will ease in time. You are still going through the grief process. Allow yourself to go through the stages of grief, which can take awhile. I assume your parents will be home soon. That will help. Of course, I am sure they are also feeling down about the loss, so there will be a dark cloud over the holidays. It will get better soon … you will all come to terms with the loss.</p>
<p>I think tears are cathartic. Let them fall. </p>
<p>In the meantime, I would suggest finding a volunteer opportunity that appeals to you. This is the perfect time of year to reach out to others. Why not offer to help a local charity collect/sort donations? Or offer to work at an after school kids club, if you live near one. Contact your United Way office or your local paper to inquire about opportunities to help out. There is much joy to be found in helping others who are in need.</p>
<p>Every maternal bone in my body aches for you right now, Grace. Make your parents’ day and hug them big time when they return. In the meantime – do something nice for yourself. An In-N-Out Burger? SuperMex on Belmont Shore? My suggestions aren’t nearly as altruistic as kelsmom’s… but they’d work for my kids so I thought I’d share. BIG hug for you in the interim.</p>
<p>You need to get some company. Really. Is there a friend you can have sleep over?</p>
<p>Because if you were my kid that’s what I would say, go find your best friend honey and watch a movie with him/her on the couch.</p>
<p>Hot bubble bath, preferably over at the friend’s house.</p>
<p>Also, how responsive is your “never-home” sister? If you told her how you felt, would she brush you off or pull closer together? She probably has no idea, and you do share the same loss of grandfather.</p>
<p>whenever I was alone at home, i rearranged my room, cleaned out my closet, got organized, go through my clothes…I usually slept on the sofa, with the TV on…get your school work and college stuff all organized and order whatever kind of pizza or chinese food that you want…and eat off of paper plates, etc so no dishes</p>
<p>it just felt snug…somehow less alone than in my room…</p>
<p>do you have any pets? give them baths!!! take your dog for a nice walk…if you dont’ have a dog, see if you can borrow one to walk</p>
<p>can you contact your parents, just to chat? glad you came on here!!!</p>
<p>Can you light a candle for your grandfather? Write a little poem or song about him?
Sometimes if you just focus the grief by a concrete expression, for just 15 minutes or so like that, you can push some of the sadness out stronger, and then rebound into just a more settled feeling for the rest of the night. But if it upsets you dramatically, causing you to cry much worse, then stop doing it. I think it should feel kind of intense but then exhausted/calmer.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your kind and encouraging words. :)</p>
<p>I ended up letting my dogs in (I have 2 labs and they’re both big teddy bears) and taking a long, hot shower, which did help. Then I laid on the couch and watched “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. ^_^</p>
<p>I feel much better today.</p>
<p>Glad to know you’re having a good day today! I just came across your post. Aren’t animals those most wonderful comforting companions? Good for you. And I’m sure the dogs were thrilled you let them in so they could be with you. Take Care.</p>
<p>well, if you have dogs, they are the BEST medicine…belly rubs, behind the ear massages, and they are like giant warm teddy bears indeed!!</p>
<p>Keep them close when you are scared and lonely, they can do wonders</p>
<p>And take them for a long walk…they are SOOOOO happy and thrilled, and you get the exercise</p>
<p>HisGraceFillsMe: Sometimes just putting words to the feelings can make a world of difference. When I read your OP I felt tears well up. I think it’s because this time last year my D was in her first semester away (3000 miles away!) and wasn’t able to come home for the winter holiday. She was basically alone on a very small LAC campus, in a very rural environment. Even the dining halls were empty, so she walked (quite a bit) to the grocery store to have stuff she could prepare in the microwave. She spent that time redoing her closet, reorganizing her desk, and thanking herself for her Netflix account!</p>
<p>I felt her loneliness then, as I felt yours now.</p>
<p>I’m glad that today is a better day, and I assure you that “Dr. 1 & Dr. 2” (your labs) are some of the best medicine out there!</p>
<p>Best to you.</p>
<p>I just got home from school and today was MUCH better. 
I think going to school is sometimes even better than having my puppies inside because I’m surrounded by such wonderful, positive people.</p>
<p>When I walked into my 0 period class this morning, I was talking on the phone with my mom. And I hung up and I was a bit teary. When one of my best friends (who has known me for 4 years now) walked in, she looked at me, sat down next to me and just put her arms around me and asked if I was okay. Same with another of my friends.</p>
<p>My classes are fun too on these days (Bible as Literature and Choir) and I sit with friends. So yeah…today was MUCH better. :)</p>
<p>You guys are so great. I have to go do some light cleaning so the house is clean when my daddy COMES HOME TONIGHT!!! I’m excited to have someone else in the big old house besides me (our house is roughly 1900 sq. feet so not huge but big enough that you’re lonely when you’re here by yourself).</p>
<p>I think another thing that was hard for me was that my house is NEVER quiet. We have two dogs and two birds and both my parents work from home, so normally I see them all the time. So it was just an adjustment thing.</p>
<p>Man, I don’t know what I’m going to do when I move out next year. At least I’ll have CC!!!</p>
<p>You’ll also have a whole campus full of potential friends, won’t you? Glad you’re feeling better!</p>
<p>^Also a good point. :)</p>
<p>Enjoy the quiet. It’s a rare quality in dorms.</p>
<p>Some people like to keep the TV or radio or music on when they’re home alone because the quiet bothers them. It might work for you if it doesn’t bother the dogs.</p>