if your partner works Christmas

[5madthings]

So Mr madthing does shift work and will be working this Xmas. Actually He is working on the 23rd, 24th, 24th. 25th And 26th Dec. On Xmas eve he is working the afternoon/eve from lunchtime. On Xmas day he will go out before we are awake and be home 4-5pm. Boxing day he will go out lunchtime till about 11pm.

My parent's are spending Xmas with my sister and my mil won't ever come for Xmas as she has to go to church and is paranoid about travel at that time of year incase it snows she is less than two hours away.

Anyway I will be on my own with the 5madthings. I have done it many times before so am used to it but tbh this year feel quite crap and sad about it. The kids will prob save some presents to open once he is home and we can have dinner when he gets in but he will have already had a Christmas dinner at work.

So if your partners work what do you do to make it fun/special?

Or if you just want to moan about it as well, feel free!

[financialwizard]

We went out for Christmas dinner last year because my husband was away for the entire Christmas with extremely limited communication (forces) and my son went to his Dad's. So me and littlest FW watched films after lunch and ate nibbles and played age appropriate games.

Tbh I felt rubbish because I felt very alone but made the best of it for my trouble monster.

[5madthings]

I don't know if I can justify the cost of eating out but lunch out might be nice and would break up the day a bit and be a nice treat.

I normally get up with kids and help unwrapping and taking all the fiddly packaging apart etc. Generally it's supervising chaos as they open stuff and I try and make sure no important bits get lost in the wrapping, particularly with Lego!

The kids will be fine as they are used to it, obviously they would prefer him at home but they will be excited still.

It's just all the day's around Xmas as well, friends tend to be away or busy with their own families and I get a bit fed up with just the kids for company, lovely as they are! Plus if the weather is crap and we are stuck inside...

[financialwizard]

Know exactly what you mean. I think I was rocking in the corner by the time Mr FW got home.

[Wait4nothing]

I'm not in this situation but could you host a small get together a few days before Xmas? Then invite a few adults over to break up the time - even if it's over lunch (most schools are off the mon-we've before Xmas this year) or teatime treat. Wishing you a lovely Christmas time xx

[nic013]

My husband and I both work shifts over the xmas period and sometimes on xmas day. We sometimes do the big meal on either Xmas eve or boxing day. Our little son is happy as long as he gets to open his presents on the day.

[SilveryMoon]

My dp works xmas too. This year he's on nights so at least will be here for present time. Then it'll be finding something to do whilst he goes back to bed

[5madthings]

I shall ask friends what they are doing in the day's before Xmas, I think most will be going away or have family visiting though.

I will have a look at his Rota and see if there is another day we can gave a special dinner or something, to complicate matters further two of the madthings have birthdays in Dec, one on the 23rd.. So we like to try and celebrate them without too much of Xmas taking over iyswim!

Am going to have a look at pantomime or cinema etc as well for the day's leading up to Xmas. And actually on one of the day's I could do a Christmas movie at home day. Popcorn and treats and duvets on the sofa and endless Christmas films.

[5madthings]

silvery will you have to keep kids quiet whilst your dp sleeps? That would be a pita with all the excitement of Xmas.

[SilveryMoon]

I should think he will be wrecked enought to sleep with noise tbh. We live in a flat so there's no getting away from it all. I might see if me and then kids can pop over to my parents, but my poor mum has cooked dinner for us for the past 5/6 years and wanted to give her a year off

[onadifferentplanet]

Do you have any lone parent friends who might be glad of some company too? Either with their children or maybe on their own as the ex has the children?

[5madthings]

Yes to some lone parents friends, not really any I am close enough to to invite for Xmas day though. I am going to ask friends what their plans a're for the dways before Xmas and get some activities sorted etc.

I am sure Xmas day will be fine I am just feeling blue about it.

[Takver]

I'd talk to friends - we always love to have people come round to visit on the days around Christmas (and indeed to drop in on Christmas day) whether just for a drink or to hang out and play silly games with us, partially cos it's nice to see people when we're off work, and partially because it dilutes the relatives

[Showy]

DH is only off boxing day. We have Christmas again on whichever day he's off. It's nicer in a way. We have leftovers and none of the madness and extreme excitement. Much calmer. On Christmas day I'm going to my parents'. Come along. It's only in Fakenham. I can guarantee my grandma being tipsy and racist and my brother swearing about ex-sil. Tres festive.

[5madthings]

Well a lovely friend who is also a mnetter has seen this thread and txt to say she is free on Xmas eve, so that's one day sorted! :)

showy that sounds fun! But I will be stuck without transport which also complicated things. Another time though :)

[Showy]

Excellent news.

Will get my grandma to postpone her He's a Good Doctor Even If He IS a Blackistani speech for when you have transport...