To think that you shouldn't be pissed off to work Xmas day just because you have children?

[kitya]

When your kids are 15 and over and you are in a job where unsociable hours are enough. I'm fuming that someone complained today that she was the only one with kids that was working Xmas. As if us singles don't have families we would love to be with. I'm so annoyed, she's a friend as well.

TBH I always worked Christmas in those jobs so that I would get New Year to help the families.

My mum used to have to work Xmas day sometimes and tbh even when I was older than 15 it still ruined the day.

yanbu, i work in a hospital and i know 1 xmas i will be working.

i have 2 DC, but my husband can put toys ect together and ill get home around 12:30 so no big deal

YABU

It's not unreasonable to be hacked off at having to work Christmas. Unreasonable to expect preferential treatment certainly. Everyone deserves to enjoy the festive period if they want to.

????? So everyone without children should have to work Christmas day??!!! I'm gobsmacked.

Why the question marks? You have had one YABU, one YANBU and a couple of middling we-can-understands. Hardly a rousing YABU...

And I didn't say YABu or YANBU just pointing out that being 15 doesn't mean you don't need to spend Xmas with your mum. It's pretty shit for anyone working on Xmas day.

So Kitya, you dont have children?

When you do and you are expected to work christmas day, then come back and tell us you can get now why a parent would be less than happy to be working on christmas day.

I was replying to melyrz and crossed posted. Unless I need to read back what I have written. My ears are still ringing.

My point is, would a doctor say that they shouldnt be on call Xmas day as they have children? I think not. Would they throw a strop? What about a paramedic, prison officer, cleaner in a hospital? When you sign up for these jobs you know what you are letting yourself in for. Just because someone doesn't have children doesn't mean they wouldnt like to spend time with their elderly parents does it?

Secondary aged children, who are past the FC stage can perfectly well have a family Christmas day on the 26th.
It would be unreasonable to plan shifts so families can't have one day at approx the right date when both parents could get holiday.
My DSILs a doctor and she has much smaller DCs and she may well be working or on call.

Oops xposted

YABU.

I think a 15 year old is well able to put the oven on as are the older ones and mum can get up to the smell of dinner already on. It could even be a treat.

YABU. Nothing wrong with complaining about wanting to spend Christmas with her family. After all, you've come on here to do exactly the same thing.

And who's going to cover for her or shall we just be short staffed that day?

kids is different at xmas than your ordinary family

it just is

i said so

I wouldn't have minded working xmas day pre-children but I would now.

Not everyone feel's this way fair enough and it is wrong to insist that you should work xmas day just because you don't have children.

Although I do think more leeway should be given to those with very young children with regards to having xmas day off. Imagine trying to convince a childminder to have them.

That's where night shifts come in handy!

you are arguing on more than one level

if you sign up for a job that means you are working xmas day - then you should work xmas day even if you have children.

the love for a child is more than the love for a parent. Working xmas day for anyone is not ideal. i am sure many people have many different things to do with many different people they love.

but xmas day as a parent is something else entirely.

and this has absolutely nothing to do with how old the child is or if they are capable of cooking xmas dinner