Because a couple of your friends made the ask, as opposed to one, it’s a good idea to talk about it one-on-one outside of the Christmas season. You can acknowledge that you had mixed emotions about turning down the requests and also give them some insight into the way you’re thinking about your Christmas dinner.

Christmas is a very difficult time for me, and I typically don’t celebrate as I don’t have any close family, and it only brings back painful memories.

In today's Asking Eric column, R. Eric Thomas responds to someone who isn't sure if they handled a situation appropriately when they denied a friend who wanted to bring extra guests to a holiday party.

"This past one, a couple of my friends asked if they could bring a friend or two … or three the day of the dinner."