Son working Christmas 🫠

I don't mean to diminish what you feel but just want to add perspective. I would be so so happy if this were my worry about my son and Christmas. As it stands he has significant mental health issues and I don't even know if he will come out of his room at Christmas. A part time job is something I can only hope one day he might be able to do.

What hours is he working?

could you do Xmas dinner Xmas eve?

Nice breakfast and then presents and buffet dinner when he gets home?

It’s nice that he’s chosen to have NYE off as wants to go to the family party.

Just do xnas day on Xmas eve or Boxing Day instead….

My son worked Christmas day last year, he's a support worker and he volunteered because he said lots of his colleagues have young children and he doesn't. I was really proud of him! We had the big Christmas dinner on Boxing Day instead.

If one of our DC (similar ages) was working Christmas, I would also say nothing but words of encouragement to them (and can also see why working in a pub Xmas Day will be a much nicer vibe with hopefully lots of tips)…but I would actually be TOTALLY GUTTED 😂

So YA def NBU. Christmas is the BIG SHOW!! And I love spending it with my family.

So big sympathies for you OP. But well done for saying nothing to him xx

I alternate between Christmas and New year each year, my managers decided that this was the fairest way to do it. I work in the care sector. when it is my year to work Christmas we move Christmas to the 27th December. my kids are now adults and only 1 has left home. This works for us as it means that my kids can spend the Christmas day I work their partner.

I have worked in hospitality and had to work Christmas Day finishing at 5pm .

so we just had a later dinner and the children and dh spent the afternoon playing with their new toys.

dd and ds have both worked in hospitality from noon - 9pm meaning we celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. Dh and I had Christmas dinner one year just us two watching Mary Poppins!

Spouse and daughter of front line service workers here - people working Christmas Day is normal for me! It's great that you're coming here to share how you feel rather than making a big song and dance of it to him, I totally appreciate that you weren't really expecting it so soon.

I'd ask him which bits of the day he wants to do once he's home and which bits he doesn't really mind missing (his answers might surprise you!). For example, we've never shifted Christmas dinner late as it's too much food and hassle later in the day so we save them a plate if they're at work but they might insist we not watch Strictly until they're home. For what it's worth, it's always felt Christmassy for me as everyone is usually in a good mood and so on! I hope it goes well for you all and that you don't feel too wobbly about it.

Not the same but I have a teen stepchild who splits the day between his mum and his dad's homes. We tend to do a big breakfast and then have dinner in the evening so whether he's with us for breakfast or dinner time it's still a substantial festival meal. We do Xmas crackers with a fry up etc 😂

We always had Christmas dinner later anyway throughout my childhood. I also worked in a restaurant before I went to uni. I’d always pick Christmas as it was great fun and I loved going out with friends on NYE. We used to have a lovely Christmas, get up early to open stockings, I’d go to work and everyone would be in high spirits and I’d make loads of tips! Then back to my family and we’d have dinner, open presents, play games, etc.

Christmases change each year with children, it’s something to embrace! Now I host my parents!

I understand that this feels so sad, like an end of an era.

Are you going to do dinner and presents once he comes home after his shift? This might help you stretch out the best bits of Christmas Day? You can then all have a lovely relaxed Boxing Day where hopefully DS isn’t working.