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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:
bozza · 10/12/2007 14:43

cold penguin - how about working the tills at Asda, driving an ambulance, working in a cafe, delivering the post, working in a care home, on call doctor, that kind of thing?

RubySlippedonastraymincepie · 10/12/2007 14:46

'full-time working, baby-dumping mum' is not judgemental" - i think you will find it is one of the nastiest and most judgemental statements i have read for a while

LOTS of people HAVE to work on Christmas Eve, Xmas Day etc - i work for a charity and we provide 24/7 care for young people

That doesn't stop because it is a bank holiday

and as Bozza says plenty of other jobs require it

Pitchounette · 10/12/2007 14:49

Message withdrawn

bozza · 10/12/2007 14:49

Actually some of those are wrong because a postie obviously is off for the bank hols and Asda is closed on Christmas Day. But I bet they still have security staff etc. But there are lots more jobs that can't just be switched off:

Midwife
Kennel Maid
Chamber Maid
Nurse
Hospital cook
Hospital Porter
etc

Pitchounette · 10/12/2007 14:50

Message withdrawn

Nemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 10/12/2007 14:52

In my dh job he cannot have holidays over christmas..he has christmas day off..thats it..luckily I am home to be with the dc but yes when I do go back to work they may well be spending christmas eve in nursery although I would try not ot be in work it depends on what I do. I have worked in care where I have been in on christmas day again not ideal but needs must.I think that the nursery staff do have a right to close but then parents shouldnt be slated for looking for someone to mind their children..that may be their only option.

lucyellensmum · 10/12/2007 14:53

Am i the only one here who would like to put cold penguin and xenia in a room, lock the door and walk away for a few hours - just for fun

Seriously though, its awful having to work over xmas, i have had to work xmas eve morning and new years eve (was there at midnight!) but that was what my job entailed at the time. My DD was school age though.

Personally i wouldnt want my child to be at nursery xmas eve, BUT i reckon it would probably be really fun and christmassy and would be ideal to sort those last minute arrangements (for me, that is ALL my xmas shopping ).

CP - im sorry but your remark was hurtful and inappropriate, i imagine that parents who have to work xmas day just have an alternative xmas day, not quite the same i know but im sure their children just think"bonus, TWO christmasses".

ColdPenguin · 10/12/2007 14:53

Bozza - not one of those jobs would require 1 single member of staff to have to work all 3 days out of christmas eve, christmas day and boxing day.

How silly.

Pitchounette · 10/12/2007 14:54

Message withdrawn

Belgianchox · 10/12/2007 14:55

Of course some people have to work on Xmas eve, or day or Boxing day. Chances are I will be one of those people this year. I don't think that makes me a thoughtless 'baby dumping' mum though....It's just a fact of life. Where i am lots of people do seasonal work and have to work over the festive period, they just celebrate Christmas at a more convenient time for them as a family. A bit more consideration for alternative lifestyles wouldn't go a miss sometimes.

Original poster
spokette · 10/12/2007 14:56

My DM was a night nurse and always worked over the Christmas period.

OP posts:
Nemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 10/12/2007 14:56

meant to add dh is not in some fantastic proffesion or even a caring one..he works for comet..so while you are shopping or ordering that technician for over the holidays they are leaving their families behind to go to work because they have to.

ColdPenguin · 10/12/2007 14:58

Who is Xenia?

Should I get in touch before we go to that room?

Pitchounette · 10/12/2007 15:00

Message withdrawn

nappyaddict · 10/12/2007 15:00

i work in a restaurant. unfortunately that means i can be made to work any day of the year.

lucyellensmum · 10/12/2007 15:01

CP - she is the antithesis of you dear look up her threads - have fun.

Oh dear, im stirring aren't i?

LEM puts herself on the naughty step

lucyellensmum · 10/12/2007 15:01

CP - she is the antithesis of you dear look up her threads - have fun.

Oh dear, im stirring aren't i?

LEM puts herself on the naughty step

Pitchounette · 10/12/2007 15:02

Message withdrawn

Original poster
spokette · 10/12/2007 15:17

If I had my way restaurants, shops etc would not be allowed to open on Christmas Day or Boxing day. I personally don't regard them as an essential service, unlike a hospital.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 10/12/2007 15:21

Lots of jobs require you to work on Xmas day etc, as others have said.

Dh is in the RAF and has been on active service, out of the country, on Xmas day. Fortunatly I teach, so I have much the same holidays as my kids (not a perfect match, but not bad). I co-opt friends and family into helping out when I have a clash, and I return the favour when I can.

krang · 10/12/2007 15:24

My FIL works shifts at a butter factory and yes, they have to have personnel there over Christmas - security, cleaners, production staff, you name it - if you want your butter in the supermarket on December 27, those factories have to be staffed.

Could I just take this opportunity to thank all the essential personnel who provide me and my family with medical care, food, heating, clean water, electricity, etc, over the Christmas period?

And also to have a quiet snigger at ColdPenguin for living such a sheltered life? You need to get down from your ivory tower, dearie. Real life doesn't stop for some spurious festival.

peacelily · 10/12/2007 15:43

I work in a CAMHS team, I'm a nurse by profession. I requested AL from 19th Dec to 2nd of Jan. I wasn't sure I'd get it tho, luckily because my colleagues are knid and thoughtful they've arranged things so I am off for that time and also not on-call. They haven't said anything but I know it's because I'm the only member of the team with a young child (dd 15months)and they think it's nice for us to have that time together.

I'm very lucky to work in such a team. my colleagues will be on duty and on-call to respond to emergencies.

Young people don't just stop feeling depressed and suicidal because it's xmas, in fact they usually feel worse .

next year I'll be on the rota as it will be my turn and to express my gratitude for what they've done for me ths year. So yes, I'll expect the nursery that I pay the equivalent of a city centre flat mortgage for to be open on xmas eve and to be flexible.

peacelily · 10/12/2007 15:47

And when I was a ward sister on a Yps secure unit I often worked xmas eve, EVERY xmas and sometimes boxing day too. When I wasn't in I was often on-call.

So it's not sillyness CP, it's RL

Blandmum · 10/12/2007 15:48

Peacelily, all power to you....you have a vital and often undervalued job!

Mate of mine was on call (child psychatry) over New Years eve and he got called out. He said that the Christmas holidays was his busiest time of the year, sadly

Blandmum · 10/12/2007 15:49

and for that matter a great big thank you to all the nurses, docs and ancilliary staff who look after my mother who has been in an EMI hospital for the last 5 years.

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