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

To be fair to him it's his mother who's complaining.

I think it's great that a 16 year old is working so hard and earning, he sounds like a brilliant employee! I hope he gets a share of the tips.

And the pub grateful for the hugely inflated price of a roast! I mean it’s almost like people are paying £85 for a standard pub meal as it’s Christmas and they realise that people want additional pay because of that.

Teach your son some assertiveness on managing his shifts or tell him to not take a permanent position in hospitality, because it upsets his mummy!

Personally I can't understand why anyone would go out for Christmas dinner. Roast dinners are never the same in pubs, restaurants etc. Horrible roast potatoes, often frozen yorkshire. YUK.

Sorry OP but I think you’re being really offensive calling people lazy. Merry Christmas!

why can’t you change the timing of your meal to suit him being there? That’s what my family would do.

People pay 85 quid for a Sunday dinner?

When I was student I worked in hospitality and did mad hours over Christmas. Most young people do at some stage and we realise that it's not what you want so work harder at your education so you've more options.

On saying all that I'm in Ireland and pubs are not open on Christmas day however hotels are and do Christmas meals but not standalone restaurants and pubs so if he was here he would have the day off today.

Come on, get a grip. Kids like earning their own money, hopefully he will have been coining it in over these last few days. Be proud of him for having a good work ethic.

My DH was at work yesterday, and will be working today and tomorrow, and for a couple of years DD was doing similar shifts. Its just part of those sort of jobs.

I think it can be a helpful way to spend Christmas if you're bereaved.
I know a family where one of the sisters lost her child age 3 to cancer at Christmas - this is 20 years ago now. None of the family can bear to have "normal" Christmas at anyone's home because of that, and to this day they always go out for a lowkey meal together on Christmas day. It helps them be together but not with forced jollity. They always give generous tips to the staff and I know they appreciate the people who work that day. It means a lot to them.

Yup this

Of all the things you could be grateful for - able bodied DS, enough initiative to get and hold down a job, team player staying to help his team prepare for the next day even if that means he gets home late himself, earning his own money - you choose to be selfish and find something horrible to stay

Who pissed in your Christmas breakfast?!

It isn't ridiculous. Hospitality work includes Christmas, some pubs and restaurants try to rotate years for staff. But it is part of what you accept when you go into it.

YABU. I worked in retail and hospitality for years- in the latter you totally accept that Christmas working is part of that. I hate to point this out but these lazy people you are slating are contributing towards keeping that business going and therefore able to employ staff. If your son doesn't want to work this time of year he would look for a different career.

Oh give over!

Not sure why you are getting the nasty replies. Yes, it is ridiculous.

You have hardworking kid there. Be proud of that. The hours are to be expected in hospitality. I bet he will appreciate the extra money too so it's not like he is losing out.

As a parent I would do my best to aim for a later dinner.

There will be many reasons people go out for dinner today. It's not selfish. You can't have things your way and not expect others to want to spend the day as wish.

So yes YABU.

I've worked hospitality over Christmas & it's a great laugh & I have great memories - the tips are usually pretty enjoyable too.

Stupid post. It's not just emergency services who have to work on Christmas Day. A significant portion of the hospitality industry is also open too.

Throwing your toys out of the pram springs to mind.

We are going out for Christmas Dinner today and I am absolutely not sorry about it at all. There will be five of us. We pay a lot to do it every Christmas we can and it is one of our few meals out each year, so not lazy at all, thank you very much. Pubs and hotels/restaurants can make a fair bit of money opening to the public on Christmas Day so many of them do so.

In fact, we are going to be eating at the same hotel where my own DD works (housekeeping, so cleans rooms etc.). She's at work this morning but will finish and then join us for dinner. I am proud of her and she is happy to be getting the double time pay packet. You should be proud of your DS too.

I'm looking forward to our meal.

Dont be so ridiculous!

I hope you don’t pass on this pathetic work ethic to your son.

I don’t believe this post is actually genuine.

YABVU.

Christmas dinner out is bloody lovely, especially if it's close enough to walk so that all the adults can have a drink.

The first time I did it, it was because I broke my wrist a couple of days before Christmas and couldn't cook, and my ex was so useless in the kitchen he couldn't manage anything more complex than a bacon sandwich.

We had such a great time we did that for the next 3 years. Sadly, the lovely hotel we went to has now closed, and I don't think any of the local pubs are doing Christmas lunch.

My parents were really proud of me for working Christmas Day in a busy pub kitchen. It was good fun and I made more than I would on a regular shift. A laugh too! My mum made us a late Xmas dinner in the evening, that was fun too. Would you rather your ds didn’t work?

In a field of stiff competition, this might be the silliest post today.

I wouldn’t have wanted my DC doing those sort of hours while still at school
I suppose if he needs the money 🤷‍♀️

I love your post, thank you for your years of nursing. It’s also helped me as my partner lost his dad this year and I’m still missing my sister so much, but I didn’t mention that in my post above as I thought people would think I’m weird for going out on Christmas Day after bereavements! So thank you for making me feel less guilty and that it’s quite normal.