Family traumas and the loss of someone you care about are hard to deal with at any time, but how do you cope when disaster strikes at Christmas - just when everyone's expecting to see you livin' it up with an ear-to-ear grin?
Andrew, John and Teresa* talk about what it feels like for them...
| One of my friends was killed in the World Trade centre and won’t be around to share this Christmas. |
Missing my mate
Andrew, 13, Belfast
Christmas is hard for me because I don't have my best friend anymore. A couple of years ago he got his girlfriend pregnant and just couldn't handle it. In the end he committed suicide and sadly the baby died soon after it was born.
It was December when the baby died, which was like losing him all over again. I always really feel him not being here around now anyway because it reminds me of how we used to go shopping together and stay at each others houses. It is a hard thing to come to terms with, but I'm trying. Even so, Christmas is not a great time of year for me.
For a fuller account, see Sad Christmas without my pal.
Xmas without excess
John, 13, London
I came home from school last week to find my mum crying. She had been made redundant. I was gutted, all I could think about was us having a rubbish Christmas with no tree and having to cancel the holiday we'd been looking forward to.
At first I just bottled it all up, thinking crazy things like maybe it was my fault. Mum was really good though and helped me sort things out in my mind.
So this year, Christmas won't be about huge expensive gifts and stuffing our faces. But, I realise now there's more to life than money, Playstation 2s or whatever. For us it'll be a time for reflection and focusing on what's important - the people we care about.
After the attack
Tarissa, 13, New York
My holidays will not be the same this year because of the tragedy that took place on September 11.
One of my friends was killed in the World Trade centre and won't be around to share this Christmas, the next one, or any other holiday and I'll miss her very much.
I'll also be thinking about all the children who've lost parents and family members, which is always incredibly sad. Still, I suppose I should feel fortunate because I will have my family there with me.
*Some names in this article have been changed.
About the team
This article was produced by Children's Express, and was published on the BBC's So... website for teenagers.
BBC is the trade mark of the British Broadcasting Corporation and is used under licence.
