Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that some parents at DTS 's nursery are being unreasonable?

183 replies

spokette · 10/12/2007 11:40

Some parents at the nursery that my DTS attend are complaining about the nursery being closed on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. They were informed about this in November.

This morning whilst I was signing the boys in, a mother with her 10 month old daughter complained that the nursery should provide the service for those who wanted it. One of the nursery staff quite rightly pointed out that they too have their own families and needed the time to prepare/shop etc.

I was gobsmacked. The nursery will be closed for the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The staff work really hard and deserve a break.

I understand that some parents have to work but they have known about this for a while and it is up to them to make alternative arrangements. What are they going to do once their children start school? Insist that the schools stay open until Christmas Day?

AIBU or am I missing something?

OP posts:
TheIceQueen · 10/12/2007 12:57

"they have an annual leave entitlement"

yes that's true - but in my case when I was working NO-ONE was allowed to AL during December.....so that meant that we could be asked (and were) to work over Christmas/New Year - and there are plenty of other jobs which have this requirement too......

TinyTimLivesinVictorianSqualor · 10/12/2007 12:57

DP was very nearly working xmas eve, instead he has xmas eve, xmas day and boxing day off. That's it. The only reason he has xmas eve off is because he had some holiday left and when he asked if he could take it over the xmas-new year break he was told the only day he could take off was xmas eve.
Luckily I am a SAHM so it isn't a problem but if we both worked then I could have easily had to work those days too.

OrmIrian · 10/12/2007 12:58

Well of course they do nametaken! As they do overnight and every weekend. Or should nurseries also stay open to suit those workers too?

allIWannaBeForChristmas · 10/12/2007 12:59

yanbu. nursery is a business, and thus the owners of said business have the right to run it however they want.

If the parents can't spare half a day out of their lives to look after their own children then it begs the question - why have children in the first place?

and wtf is a 10 week old baby doing in nursery?

nametaken · 10/12/2007 13:00

I know that nursery and hospital not the same thing but some of the parents who use the nursery will be hospital staff.

And while I'm on the subject, let's have a level playing field for everyone shall we. Either xmas eve is a day off entitlement for EVERYONE or it's not - which is it to be?

Hulababy · 10/12/2007 13:02

One reason the nursery may close on Christmas Eve or other Christmas could be take up rates. The first year Dd was at nursery it was open, from then on it wasn't. The reason was that so few children attended over the Christmas period it wasn't worth while for the nursery to remain open.

They announced the closure days well in advance though.

TheIceQueen · 10/12/2007 13:03

it's not just hospital staff, care workers, other emergency service employees too have to work over that time of year.....and as I mention above - my workplace (Care Home) refused AL to anyone during December so that no-one unfairly missed out (rest of the year only 2 people from each "position" allowed on AL at the same time too - to make sure there were adequate staffing provisions)...

allIWannaBeForChristmas · 10/12/2007 13:04

it depends on the business surely. anyone who runs a business can run it however they choose, if that means that one in 10 businesses choose to close on Christmas eve then that's their perogative. no-one has the right to demand that a business is open on a set day/at a set time - if the business hours don't suit then people are free to go elsewhere.

emergency services are entirely different as they are necessary, but once children go to school the school won't be open to accommodate the working parent so they'll have to do something then. so why not start now.

nametaken · 10/12/2007 13:06

Yes at the end of the day the nursery is a private busines and can suit itself and as long as the parents are given plenty of notice then they can close xmas eve if they want.

All I'm saying is that it's not a right to have xmas eve off, it's a privilage and a nice one at that so those of you who do get given a half or whole day off on xmas eve please think of us emergency personal who are banned from taking leave in December!!!!!

merry xmas (and xmas eve) to all

OrmIrian · 10/12/2007 13:07

In fact life generally gets harder as a WP once the DCs are at school. No flexibility whatsoever and a 'reminder' in the school newsletter if too many parents turn up late too often. Wonder how those parents who are complaining will cope then...

TinyTimLivesinVictorianSqualor · 10/12/2007 13:08

Xmas eve is not a bank holiday, therefore it is not a day people are entitled to have off.

However, a business is entitled to close whicever days they want, for example, I used to work at a bakery and we did a roaring trade on Good Friday, so we were open that day, even though it is a bank holiday. When we took the job we signed a contract to say we would work that day and have a day off in leiu on the tuesday instead. Should the nursery my Ds went to havehad to stay open that day because I was required to work?

happystory · 10/12/2007 13:09

Hulababy is right. The nursery my friend runs stayed open one year on Boxing Day and there was one little boy there on his own

they found it wasn't worth them opening.

BahHumbugRubyRiojaNoXmasName · 10/12/2007 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

morningpaper · 10/12/2007 13:11

"it makes me feel really sad to think of littlies being in nursery on christmas eve"

Some of you have strange ideas about nurseries.

It's not KENNELS ffs.

My children always LOVED going to nursery. It was like the best ever extended play-date where six adults would give them attention all day while they danced, painted and were told stories.

I'm sure Christmas Eve in a nursery with loads of songs, partying and presents would be slightly more interesting for many children than being dragged around shops by stressed parents.

morningpaper · 10/12/2007 13:12

Actially it IS a pain when nurseries close on Christmas Eve, because you will have PAID for the day, and because you have to take a day's holiday on what is normally virtually a half-day anyway....

Desiderata · 10/12/2007 13:15

Good grief! Who on earth would book their child into nursery on Boxing Day?

In answer to the OP, YANBU. I feel for some kids, I really do.

themulledsnowmanneredjanitor · 10/12/2007 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
spokette · 10/12/2007 13:16

Bahhumbig, I actually made a comment to someone that it would not surprise if some of these parents expected the nursery to open on Christmas Day.

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 10/12/2007 13:16

I don't do shopping on christmas eve. Never have done. We go for a walk to collect some holly, we might do some baking...never shopping

vitomum · 10/12/2007 13:17

YABU! the nursery is a business which, if it's a good business, should listen to its customers. Of course those customers (who are probably paying a significant percentage of their wage to said business) are entitiled to say what suits them. Christmas eve is a normal working day. I for one always work christmas eve cos i prefer to take a/l in between xmas and new year. As a paying customer of my nursery i would not like them to remove that choice from me.

bozza · 10/12/2007 13:18

I actually agree with morningpaper. I think children would enjoy a festive, party atmosphere at nursery. And I am sure that you pay for a full day even though it closes at lunchtime. But I don't work Mondays anyway.

Original poster
spokette · 10/12/2007 13:18

DH and I will be spending Christmas Eve with our DTS at home with a trip to the park - definitely not visiting shops.

OP posts:
islandofsodor · 10/12/2007 13:18

My sil and her dh both work in retail and so have never been allowed to take Xmas Eve off (and their dd's birthday is Xmas Eve). Luckily she has my dh (who is a teacher) to help her now dneice is at school but I owuld expect a daycare nursery to be open on normal working days.

My ds's nursery is closed for 2 weeks at Christmas but it is a nursery attached to a prep school for age 3 plus only.

The nursery in the OP can do as it wishes of course and has given plenty of notice but if I was in the situationoo fhaving to work Xmas Eve I would be looking elsewhere.

Not all parents are neglectful if they work Xmas Eve, some just can't get the time off even if they booked it 12 months in advance.

bozza · 10/12/2007 13:19

And I have taken my two children (now 6 and 3, so obviously younger at the time) shopping on Christmas Eve and to a cafe for lunch and it has been fairly quite. This is shopping centre type stuff not supermarket.

ColdPenguin · 10/12/2007 13:20

Good God.

Being a full-time working, baby-dumping mum is one thing, but if you can't even manage to spend CHRISTMAS EVE with your children - what was the point, I ask you?!?!?!?!?

To the OP - YANBU.

Swipe left for the next trending thread