To hate the fact that the last day of term this Christmas is the 21st December?

[badtasteflump]

I think it's shit.

I take the whole of the Christmas holidays off work to be with the DC. We usually get a few days (or a week some years) before Christmas when they're all excited and we can go out Christmas shopping and have some days at home baking and making decorations and stuff.

This year there's the weekend and then it's straight into Christmas Eve. Then two weeks more of holidays after the excitement and best bit is over. That's crap

I agree

YABU. I neeeeeed those precious days of them out from under my feet busy at school so I can whizz round and get the panicked last bits of shopping, wrapping and general prep done.

I completely agree. There will be no time at all to actually enjoy the build up to Christmas this year. It's rubbish.

I think it's great, they finish practically as I do Although they get two weeks off and I get one. You can always do baking after Christmas and the decorations will fill up wet weekends in Dec. Enjoy, more time for them to play with their presents.

I agree with KenLeeeee.

I'm glad. I'd rather them occupied in school that week and then we are going to lock the door on the world and enjoy our time between Christmas and New Year together. Last year there was a week betwen school break up and Christmas and we all nearly killed each other.

What do you suggest ?

We change the calendar to fit in with your family life ?

Next year won't be much better for you either. Them's the breaks. Enjoy your Xmas break.

Yes that's exactly what I suggest. How do I go about it though, smart-arse?

It's always about the 21st December isn't it?

Anyway, an't you enjoy the build up to Christmas on a weekend or am I missing something?

That's one good thing about having kids at private school, they finish earlier.

Me too! My kids don't go back in until 8th Jan, which is very much heading into January gloom territory!

I don't want too much of a build up as that way npo one is disappointed by how non exciting the actual event is

Yes, DSs break up on the 14th. They will be experiencing the build up to Christmas by:

1. Skiing (DS1) and
2. playing uninterrupted on the XBox (DS2)

I agree - 21st Dec seems very late. I'm sure some years they break up around the 18th or 19th.

Go about what ? Enjoying your xmas break ? How about you give thanks at this time of year that you are able to enjoy your lovely family at home, irrespective of what day the Big Day falls on. ?

That sounds very Po-faced doesn't it ? But it's true. Enjoy what you have.

How to go about about changing the calendar ? Drop a line to Mr Cameron, I'm sure he'll consider it in the light of your xmas shopping needs

I quite like this tbh. I always forget about needing pre-Christmas childcare. So not needing any is something of a plus

I agree AF.

Our school breaks up on the 20th and doesn't open until 8th January.

Ours finish 19th, the Wednesday.

I much prefer them breaking up later. We do the fun stuff anyway and I don't have to deal with over-excitement for 24 hrs a day!! Besides which, after Christmas it's great they have 2 weeks off as they spend it playing with their new games/toys and that way no-one gets strangled

I'm really pleased because it means my birthday in early Jan isn't the first day back and so we are going away between New Year and term starting for about 1/3 price it normally would be at this time of year :)

In Belgium, last day can be anywhere between 18th and 24th December, this year it is 21st. So imagine what it's like here. 24th December evening is more important to Belgians than 25th is to Brits, as their traditional dinner is Christmas Eve. 21st December is a bonus.

I'd be glad of the chance to get more things done.

It is late this year, my ds' birthday is on the 19th and he's never been in school for it. Mind you the school are taking them to a panto on that day so thats a treat for ds.

Actually I prefer a late end of term. It's always quite late here in Ireland, I think everywhere is finishing on 21st because it's a Friday but other years it has been later. When we were in London DS had ridiculously long holidays and it was such a pain trying to get normal daily things done with the Christmas panic and lots of kids milling around.

I think it's more exciting for the DC too as they haven't had time to get bored with Christmas before the big day.