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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wake DC up Christmas day before I go to work.

34 replies

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 18/12/2014 19:26

I will be working 7am ( only 15 minute commute) and will be home around 3pm.

I miss a lot of things with DC due to working in a hospital.

I don't want to miss seeing their excitement of opening the presents that DH and I have struggled to buy them.

So should I wake them up at 5:45 and do the presents before work or wait till 3pm.

When they was younger and couldn't figure out the date I used to do Christmas to my next day off work.

Or am I being completely UR and should just say to DH to do the presents with him.

I do want them to learn Christmas isn't all about the presents, but I feel so guilty.

I hate working Christmas.

OP posts:
PumpkinPie2013 · 18/12/2014 19:30

Aww, I'd wake them Smile

My mum is a nurse and we always did pressies before she went if she was working.

It's the holidays so they can always lie in the following day to make it up.

Have a lovely Christmas Smile

Sirzy · 18/12/2014 19:30

When my dad worked Christmas Day we all got up and opened a couple of presents before taking him to work then we came home played with those few and when older helped mum prepare dinner then after my dad got home we did the rest of the presents. He worked similar shift to the one you are doing

OhFestiveDay · 18/12/2014 19:31

How old are they? How are they in the mornings? If they will jump out of bed happy and excited about Christmas, then I'd say do it. If they'll be sleepy and grumpy and need coercing out of bed and into the 'spirit' then it would probably only be upsetting for you to try and jolly them into it.

Could you keep a special present back for each of them to open when you get home?

Gawjushun · 18/12/2014 19:31

You might not need to wake them up! But yeah, if they are still asleep then go for it. My mum is a nurse, and if she had an Xmas day shift we would do an early present opening, then we'd play with our toys, help our dad with Xmas dinner, and maybe have a nap. Once she was home we'd have a late lunch. It meant we could do all the Xmas stuff, just at weird times.

LePetitMarseillais · 18/12/2014 19:32

I'd wait so you can relax and enjoy them properly with them.Will be nice to have something to wait for.Couldn't they have the stockings before you go?

waithorse · 18/12/2014 19:32

How old are they ? I'd cough loudly outside the bedroom, should do the trick. Grin

Wolfcub · 18/12/2014 19:33

I would wake them and have early breakfast and presents together. They can always go back to bed for an hour afterwards or have a lie in on boxing day

TravellingToad · 18/12/2014 19:33

We used to have Santa drop off presents on Christmas eve whilst we were in the bath (about 4pm)

It was always totally unexpected and my mum just said that the world was so big, he had to start somewhere and it looks like he started with us.

AdoraBell · 18/12/2014 19:35

I agree, wake them up and open a couple of presents then do the full Christmas thing when you get home. Will they nap in the day if tired, or crash out after you've had dinner? Either way they'll cope with 1 early start.

Allingoodfaith · 18/12/2014 19:35

Are you dc still in bed at that time Wink

Wake them up of course !

Theas18 · 18/12/2014 19:36

Surely it's stockings before breakfast and big pressies when mum gets home.

Rinkydinkypink · 18/12/2014 19:36

Goodness yes! Wake them up. Do presents and leave the mess for them to tidy up. My parents worked Christmas Day (NHS) and we always did presents with them in the morning and had dinner together when they got home!them working never really affected Christmas.

Kelly1814 · 18/12/2014 19:38

Totally split the presents, do some whilst you are at work and leave most until you are home.

MonkeyPuzzler · 18/12/2014 19:39

I would wake them !
Flowers to all working in hospital's over Christmas.

ClashCityRocker · 18/12/2014 19:41

I think I would do stockings and breakfast before you go, maybe with one or two presents, and main presents when you come in. I'd worry that the combination of the early start with lots of excitement would mean that they were a bit 'burnt out' by the time you come back.

SauvignonBlanche · 18/12/2014 19:43

God yes!
Chances are there'll be awake anyway. We all got up at 04:30 when I did the Early on Christmas Day, it was great fun, DH went back to bed but I bet the DCs didn't.

DH was asleep on the sofa when I got back from work with the turkey in the oven and both DCs were covered in choclate but happy. Xmas Smile

Floggingmolly · 18/12/2014 19:46

Do you really think you'll have to wake them at 5.45???? I'm betting they wake you at 4am Grin
Assuming they don't; go for it!

DixieNormas · 18/12/2014 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cantbelievethisishappening · 18/12/2014 19:50

Mine would be whispering at 4am making a racket telling each other to be quiet!! I suspect they will be

Fluffyears · 18/12/2014 20:12

My dad used to leave at 7 sometimes on Christmas day if he was on shift. We used to get up at 6 to open everything so he could watch. He missed my brother seeing his computer as he had to go to loo. They had told my brother they were sorry and couldn't afford it, he walked into living room jaw dropped and he stopped dead and just said 'oh...oh...' Then rubbed his eyes to make sure it was real.

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 18/12/2014 20:28

Depends how old they are & how late they'd naturally sleep.

I wouldn't wake them myself. I'd leave their stockings and one present each on their beds (something crafty or a game etc) they can wait until you get home for the others.

Sorry you have to work, that's pretty crap :( what do you do? I thought you said you were a cleaner? Are you working in a hospital or something?

My thoughts go out to all of those who have to work on Christmas Day, especially those with small children or who can't get home further afield to their families.

Original poster
PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 19/12/2014 10:09

DC are 5 and 8.

Ds is normally awake at 6ish, but every Christmas seems to have a lie in. Dd is not a morning person.

OP posts:
WhimsicalTwattery · 19/12/2014 10:16

Definitely get them up, it's only one morning.
They can catch up on sleep another day.

Flowers to you for working Christmas Day and to anyone else working

EatDessertFirst · 19/12/2014 10:18

Get them up for stocking presents. Then do 'big presents' when you get home. This is what we are doing this Christmas when DP works Christmas Day. Santa is 'leaving' a big pressie in the car boot for Daddy 'to find' after his shift.

Much love to all those who keep our country running on Christmas Day.

TheFantasticMrsFox · 19/12/2014 10:42

If I had tried to wake DS up on any day we would have suffered all day Hmm
In your shoes I would leave stockings for them to open when they wake up and possibly a toy/ game/ DVD etc to share. Then they can have presents when you get home. As you say Christmas is not just all about the gifts we make DS wait till after church