As friends settle down, one writer reflects on the joys and challenges of being single during the Twixtmas season
London: Ah, Twixtmas! That quirky time between Christmas and New Year when everyone seems a bit off-kilter. Some folks dive into a chocolate binge on the couch, while I’m having a mini existential crisis with Charli XCX blasting in the background.
This time of year feels like a weird limbo, right? We’re stuck between the old year fading away and the new one creeping in. The term “Twixtmas” itself is a mashup of old English and Latin, which just adds to the mystery. It’s like time hits pause, but everything is about to shift.
This year, I feel like I’m standing in a strange doorway. My friends are buying homes and having babies—one even has a due date right in the middle of Twixtmas! Meanwhile, I’m crashing at their place and gearing up for a techno rave on New Year’s Day. It’s the best way to kick off the year, plus I like being in bed by 10 PM. Seriously, who wants to brave London on New Year’s Eve?
The real kicker is watching my friends transform into parents. Charli XCX totally gets it in her song “I Think About It All The Time.” It’s wild to see how everything changes, yet nothing really does. They know things I don’t, and I’m left wondering how to fit everything into this ticking clock.
Not having kids means I can enjoy the freedom Charli sings about. I can wear whatever I want and dance the night away in some old factory. But seeing all those cute baby pics in Santa hats does tug at my heartstrings a bit.
Shopping for gifts is a whole other adventure for someone like me who’s not ready for kids. Seriously, don’t go to Niddle Noddle in Crouch End unless you want to spend an hour debating whether to buy a tiny mouse dollhouse just because it’s adorable.
It feels like my friends have crossed into a different realm that I haven’t yet entered. But honestly, there’s no clear line between parenting and partying. We’re all just figuring it out together. Who knows where we’ll be next Twixtmas? For now, I’m just soaking it all in.
India Block is a lifestyle and culture writer