Probably - but people too lazy to cook their own christmas dinner are spoiling mine

Our DS worked in a pub restaurant over Christmas one year, we just had our Christmas dinner when he got home. The tips were great and he was on double time so it was worth it for a student. He also helped to keep a local independent business going, even though he was only a small cog!
If I'd started wailing that people shouldn't be allowed to eat out because it meant my baby boy couldn't be with his mummy, I think he'd have laughed at me. I even lent him my car to get there!

OP - you’ve done a great job raising a child with such a strong work ethic.

i hope you have a good celebration together when he finally gets home.

YANBU……..

YAB absolutely fucking bonkers!

Get a grip ffs

Would much rather we hadn’t lost my dad a couple of months ago and we wouldn’t have to face being at home without him but we are (for the first time ever) going out for Christmas lunch today. Merry Christmas to you too.

We are going out this year as a party of 10. I'm autistic with Autistic children, l find Christmas at home or in someone's else's home very stressful, the mess, cleaning, noise, everyone on top.of each other, my mum and MIL are older now and don't want to host. I can't cook a Christmas dinner. Therefore we have all decided to go out this year, last year my DH was on call, and got called out 2 times NHS.

So far today I've been up from 4am and eating at 3pm. Its a long day for us as it is without all the extra work.

I don't blame you one bit.

But you know what?- even if you had no reason other than you simply wanted to go out for a meal, there is absolutely nothing lazy or selfish in doing that.

As PP have said, I bet the OP has been out for a meal on Mother's Day or Father's Day or valentines day or on New Year's Eve in the past and hasn't given the staff working at those times a single thought. You could even argue that going out for a meal at the weekends is "lazy" because weekends should be for "family time".

Hypocrisy at its finest.

my ds is a chef so working all over Christmas we are having our Christmas meal when he finishes at 5pm It’s part of the job i certainly don’t blame the customers and it’s not going to ruin our Christmas.

i worked christmas day in a restaurant when i was younger. it was lovely. the atmosphere was so nice and it really made a nice change...christmas isn't just about sitting at home eating home cooked food, everyone's christmas' look different. there are people who want to eat out for all sorts of reasons-

someone told me the other day they're eating out this year as they lost a relative and it would be difficult at home to be facing the empty seat where they usually sit. some people have chronic health conditions.some people get lonely and want to be out and around other people. some people like community. some people can't cook well and want to treat themselves after working hard all year.

i would be so proud of my child if they were working christmas day, it's good to have a good work ethic, and he'll be with his workmates, please don't spoil it for him by being all miserable about it, help him see the positive.

Nobody needs to go out for christmas lunch to a pub.

Would you close hotels too?

We're going to our local community pub for lunch. It's staffed by members of the community, it was saved from complete dereliction by local residents buying shares to bring it back to life. It's a really joyful event and another way to put money into a rural community asset which would have completely disappeared otherwise. People actively look forward to it, even those who are working on the day. Plus the tips are generous and the ambience is lovely - no one is there who doesn't want to be there, including those in the kitchen, serving and on the bar.

But sure - it's lazy to try and keep the lifeblood of a community going. To invest in a place that is a warm hub, a prescription collection point, a cheap location for local groups to meet, such as the community choir, dementia group, etc.

Your post is completely contrary to the spirit of Christmas frankly. I could tell you about how I volunteered for a decade for St Mungos on Christmas Day when I lived in London, but sure, I am lazy, you won't want to hear it. I've decided to feel sad for you as opposed to angry, because you really don't live in the real world.

Be for real 😅 no one forced your son to work long hours, besides he is most likely enjoying the experience of earning his own money as I did myself when I was his age.

Yes I wouldn’t go out to eat on Christmas either but that’s not the point.

Oh op, you are not covering yourself in glory here. Well done to your son for having a job and earning his own money. Eat your Christmas dinner at a different time, or on a different day, it’s not difficult. That’s what my DSis does as her DD is similar to your son. Be proud of him rather than moaning about it.

DS might be glad to be out the way of you and your attitude.

What a ridiculous post!

Surely it’s your fault that your son needs a job & he has to work?

I was that 16 year old, 30 years ago. Took every shift offered over Christmas as it was double time. Made what seemed a fortune at the time, and built a nest egg which was essential when I went off to Uni. Seriously, be glad you have a kid with a great work ethic.

These are the occasions when I have been out for Christmas lunch.

1. The Christmas when my mum was terminally ill and we knew it was going to be her last and it was good not to have the work and stress of prepping and cooking a meal at home. We went out so we could all
2. After a year of hell myself and a friend went out for Christmas lunch as a treat to ourselves. we had both been though a lot, work stress, family upheaval, a traumatic crime commitied against one of us so we felt we could do with a treat and full day off from cooking. As singe mums who cooked probably at least 350 dinners a year it was good to be waited on.

I'm having visions of an ever increasing furious OP marching into the establishment and hoiking said Teen out by the scruff of his neck to take him home for Christmas dinner

You’re also blaming the customers but if it wasn’t open then they wouldn’t go there - so you should blame the owners if anything (you shouldn’t actually blame anyone).

YAB massively unreasonable to accuse people whom you know nothing about of being lazy!

YABU this time of year is what keeps most pubs in business, without it your DS would not even have a job.

I would be thankful that my DS was able to find a job.

Unless you are religious, Xmas doesn’t have to be celebrated on the 25th.

Many times we’ve done the whole Xmas day on a different day and then after work on Xmas day just done something like order takeaway and watch Xmas movies and eat chocolate.

I knew someone who would choose to work Xmas day because of the atmosphere and tips (he was a dad so it made him a crap parent and partner but apart from that I can see why he’d do it).

Instead of moaning on here I urge you to head to said pub and scream at these lazy fuckers in person. Get them telt! How dare they!

Your Christmas isn't ruined, it's just different to usual. Kids grow up. My youngest is working a lot over Christmas so we've not done some of the usual stuff but he's happy to be earning some money. Don't be so dramatic.

Says the woman who started a thread calling people lazy because they choose to eat in a restaurant on Christmas Day 😂

It’s usually a great atmosphere too, so most young adults will probably enjoy it and possibly prefer it to being at home!

Is christmas lunch at home essential?