Working Christmas Day.

[rupertpenryswife]

I need some perspective and some ideas, just found out I am working Xmas day I have 2 DC 8&9 and am totally gutted, I offered to work all day New Year's Eve and day but got given Xmas 😥. I'm the only parent working Xmas so feel a bit sorry for myself. Anyway I'm off on Boxing Day but back to work 27th any ideas for how I do Xmas day, I'm working 7-2 so need to try to see parents, siblings in laws and somehow open the kids presents, not even thought about food.

I'm know someone has to work I just hoped to get new year until the kids are a little older, can anyone give me some suggestions as to how we celebrate, do I make the kids wait until I get home so be about 3 pm, kids don't understand why I need to work (I'm a nurse).

[Redglitter]

Couldn't you just leave in laws etc til Boxing Day for a start?

[rupertpenryswife]

I will probably need to yes, I know I'm moaning about a first world problem but the kids are only young for a while, and I always feel pressure to see everyone, we normally have a lazy day Boxing Day as I will be back to work for 7am on the 27th.

[sunshineintheclouds]

Bless you

Can you do Christmas boxing day?? Or is that a big no no in your house

[rupertpenryswife]

I think I might do a Christmas Boxing Day, the food is no worries but, do I make the DC wait to open presents?? Help me see some positive in this, I know I'm going to struggle to leave my DC at 6:30 on Xmas morning. I know it's part of being a nurse I work nights bank hols etc it's how it is, I'm on a 13 hour shift tomorrow I'm so fed up with missing out on my DC!!

[Stompythedinosaur]

Unfortunately it's part of some jobs. Parents don't have mote right to have christmas off than non-parents! I say that as a parent who's working christmas day.

Do you have a partner or family who can have your kids in the morning? You can dinner after you're back, maybe save one or two presents for you to see opened? When I work we make sure we do something lovely on xmas eve as a family.

[onemorecakeplease]

My dh has worked this shift before

We just did a later dinner - marks is a friend here, get trays of prepared veg that your dh can cook and roast your turkey the day before. Frozen roast potatoes, prepared mash - the works.

Can kids open stockings and gifts from other people in the morning and parents and Santa gifts when you get in?

Have a nice breakfast ready and set out for them like croissants, juice, cereal multipack etc and leave a little gift each from you on their plates.

Let them watch xmas movies and play with new stuff til you get in and then do gifts, xmas dinner at 6pm and have a lovely chilled evening.

Alternatively dh could take them visiting xmas morning and see in laws so it keeps their mind off missing you and one less thing to do later ;)

See the rest of the family Boxing Day.

[Redglitter]

Why not do presents when you come home and then maybe have finger food then do Xmas dinner & presents with the in laws on Boxing Day.

My brother & I both work shifts and Christmas just gets adapted round what were off.

[Stompythedinosaur]

I don't think you should make your dc wait to open presents, if that isn't your normal xmas routine, that would ruin their morning.

[onemorecakeplease]

Oh good idea, no big meal to prepare just lots of nice picky food!

Then a meal Boxing Day. I like that!

[sunshineintheclouds]

You could always ask them how they would like to do it.

I would personally just have boxing day as my family Christmas. But my dd is only 7 so it would be a bit easier. Have done this in the past when dh has worked Christmas. Works well.

[Piratesandpants]

Just prioritise using the time you do have on Xmas day to see your children. Everyone else just needs to fit in.

[rupertpenryswife]

Thank you everyone, I know I don't have mote right to Xmas off, it's just it's normally worked that way and I always work something over Christmas, and have worked plenty of Xmas pre DC so all the parents could have Xmas off. Maybe it's time I looked for a more sociable job outside the NHS.

Some great ideas thank you all love the m&s ready meal ideas I may do that sounds, like a nice treat. Will have to think more about the presents I really would like to see them open the presents as its me that does all the buying! Will read through and make some notes.

[Florene]

At their ages, won't they be up and opening presents at about 5am??

Or was that just me....

[KoolKoala07]

My mum worked Xmas when we were kids (still does). We used to start Xmas as soon as she got home. Pressies, lunch etc. Was just part of our Xmas. Now I have to juggle seeing mum, sis and mil as all have to work over Xmas at some point.

[QueenJane]

We take it in turns to work the big holidays, kids or not. Last year I worked 24th, 25th and 26th long days, and got all of new year off. It wasn't bad, had some good laughs at work and tried to be merry for the sake of the poor sods who are inpatients at Christmas. Now that would be worse...

[Annwithnoe]

why not wake the kids at silly o'clock to open presents and have a North Pole breakfast? mine have shown no compunction about waking me over the years
Then while they are settled down playing with toys you can slip off to work and be back in time for dinner.
Personally I'd either give the visiting a miss for one year or invite everyone round to yours for the evening

[rupertpenryswife]

I totally agree, I love my job and believe me when I go in Xmas day the patients will get the best from me, I am in better position than those stuck in hospital, I just needed to vent it's all done now, over, accepted, I will have a different Xmas this year and will be using a lot of the suggestions from this thread.
Thank you all.

[SymbollocksInteractionism]

I don't know what your shifts are but is there a late shift you could do?
Maybe someone would be happy to swap you so they could get the rest of the day and night off and you would get the morning off to see the kids open presents.
I did this last year with a colleague who has adult children and it worked well for both of us. We also had our Christmas dinner on Christmas eve as my husband works shifts too and he was also working Christmas.

[Violet1988]

That's shit for you. I'm a nurse too an we haven't got our Christmas off duty yet. Where I worked before everyone all rallied round an made sure that those with young kids didn't do Christmas day but it's not like that where I am now.

[NotEnoughCushions]

At 8&9, could they open their stockings in the morning but wait until you come home to open other presents?

I would suggest that DH keeps them occupied and takes them to the in-laws on Christmas morning with the aim of being back at the same time that you get home. If that's not an option suggest a long walk or bike ride.

Then from 3pm it's comfy clothes, presents, fizz, movies on the tv and an M&S Christmas dinner with candles at around 5pm.

[wobblywonderwoman]

I think I would get them up early - it would hurt me a lot to miss a moment.

Get them up early. The in laws can pop over if they want. If they want to see you they need to call over.

I would cook my Turkey the day before - if you slice it and refrigerate in gravy it will be fine. Buy garlic potatoes and roast potatoes on tin foil trays. Aldi are as good as m&s for this type of thing.

2pm is totally fine and you are doing a great job- Christmas should be about more than material things and you cab the best of both worlds. You still have a huge chunk of the day with the DC.

Tesco sell a Wiltshire ham Pre cooked.

[CupofBeans]

I would let kids open the presents off ‘Father Christmas’ in the morning or as usual and get someone to film it for you.
Then when you get home bring in the presents from you. Just keep those ones hidden until you’re back.
I’m sure the ones in the morning will be enough to keep the magic and you can also enjoy the unwrapping and surprised faces once home.

[CupofBeans]

About the food, we have thought about doing the Christmas dinner on Xmas eve this year and having a party buffet on Christmas Day. It will help with pressure of trying to get the food ready on time while visiting or having visitors and will be more relaxed playing with the kids.

[rupertpenryswife]

Just off to work now wanted to say thank you for the great suggestions, notenough I love your idea comfy clothes, candles and fizz, think i might just go for buffet/picky bits then no stress on DH, he can entertain kids, I'm quite excited now.

[LetThereBe]

just wanted to say thank you for the job you do.

What will you be working on Christmas Eve? Could you bring things forward a day? The kids can play with their toys the whole time you're at work on Christmas Day then.

Depending on how you get on with your in-laws, DH could host them for a few hours while you're working too