Living with ME CFS and fibromyalgia has completely changed the way I think about family days out.

There was a time when I believed outings had to be busy, exciting, and packed with activities to feel meaningful. Full day adventures. Endless walking. Busy attractions. Trying to fit as much as possible into one day because that was what family life was supposed to look like.

Now I know differently.

This will be my sixth year celebrating Christmas while living with chronic illness. Although the first couple of years were not too bad, I have deteriorated over time, and now the season looks a lot different and feels much harder. It is not just challenging for me, but also for my husband and children as they adjust alongside me. The lights, music, and gatherings that once felt magical can now be overwhelming, physically demanding, and emotionally draining.