To send DD to nursery on Christmas Eve?

[Iwantquavers]

DD was a year old end of November and she goes to nursery FT. I’m a teacher and because of us being away on holiday for half term and for the first week of January, we haven’t actually had any time where she’s been in nursery and I’m off work - in other words, I’ve either been at work or had DD with me since starting in September.

This year we finish on the 23rd December. We get paid on the 25th, this year that’s a Saturday and Christmas Day anyway, so will be paid on the 24th. I really need to do some last minute shopping and it would be much faster and less stressful to do it without DD. I’m also genuinely wondering if she might prefer to be in nursery than in her pushchair going round the shops.

But I’m worried she’ll be the only baby there and the staff might prefer to be with their own families. Any thoughts?

We still have to pay . . . Mine is going in until 2pm. I'm off and doing nothing much but I want to keep our routine as ordinary as possible before the disruption of the holidays.

Honest opinion - no. Why? Because I think you should value your time more with her now than buying presents. My youngest was 1 in November - she's my last (I have 9) and honestly having had the others (oldest is 20) I know just how precious this time is. Don't miss out on it to buy a few presents for people who probably won't appreciate them as much as you will time with your child when you had the chance.

Christmas Eve is a working day. I assume the nursery will be full of kids whose parents are working and so no issue with sending your daughter as planned.

I’m always interested people consider everyone to be off over Christmas and New Year, loads of people in a wide variety of jobs work straight across the whole period (retail, healthcare, transport hospitality) it’s a minority of people who work a 9-5 office job with all bank holidays off.

The only days that either DH or I are not working over the period are the 31st and 1st and that’s only because DD1 died on New Years Day so we prefer not to work if possible. I will be using childcare because how else would I work? Plenty of people at your nursery will be the same.

I have done this before. Felt a bit guilty but it meant I could get everything done

My DD is the same age as yours. I’m sending her in for a half day so I can get stuff done and enjoy her in the afternoon. I’ll be working up to the 23rd.

If they are open send her in, she won't know any different and will enjoy everyone being excited and doing Christmas stuff. They will likely close early so you have the afternoon together anyway.

Days off all by yourself are precious and much needed for your own MH/wellbeing, it'll do you the world of good! You can choose where to go and when, sit down in peace to have a coffee, go somewhere for lunch that you wouldn't be able to normally, have a podcast or music in while you shop etc. Do not feel guilty. You are doing what's best for both of you!

I don’t think I do consider everyone will be off, but I do imagine a lot of people will have either finished for Christmas or they will have booked the time off. Friday tends to be the quietest day in the baby room anyway. I think DD may be the only full timer.

Anyway thanks for thoughts and no one should hesitate to say actually no I wouldn’t do that - I posted for this reason.

My two are supposed to be in nursery for three days next week (also a teacher here so not working). I'll be keeping them at home. Not because I would feel guilty- more because I would worry far too much about them catching covid just before Christmas- just in no way worth it for me.

Wish I had the time to sort presents,cooking, cleaning though!

Even if I’d paid for a nursery place, my priority would be spending as much time as possible with my DC. Not trying to get my money’s worth.

We sent our son for a couple of hours in the morning last year. I was heavily pregnant and wanted some time to do prep. Vegatables, stuffing, lay the table, mince pies etc......Once we were done, we went and got him. Think he was in 9am to 11am ish.

Hi OP,

For most people, Xmas eve is still a working day so it's likely lots of children will still be there.

My DD went last year and all the usual children were there, they had a little xmas party. She will be going this year too. Also worth mentioning if you DD is going to be the only one there they likely won't even open

It’s not about getting my moneys worth. I don’t mind replies but I do think they should be fair replies. I haven’t mentioned money in my OP. My only concern is convenience - it’s easier to get stuff done without DD - and enjoyment - not sure she’d want to be dragged around a busy shopping centre.

I wouldn't want to be taking a pushchair round the shops on Christmas Eve! She'll be happy in nursery, able to do things she enjoys & as pp have said you will get the things that need doing some in half the time & you might even get 5 minutes to just sit with a drink. This is the problem with Mum guilt, whatever you do it bites you in the arse!

DD went in on Christmas Eve all 3 years she was in nursery. The first year I was working and she went in the morning while DH did present deliveries, food prep etc. The other 2 years we were both off. We had a lovely leisurely breakfast in a cafe, prepped the Christmas lunch together, had all presents delivered and the house work done by the time we picked her up mid afternoon. She’d had a whale of a time as they’d had a party and then had a lovely afternoon/evening with our undivided attention, making cookies and out looking at Christmas lights. No guilt in the slightest. If we’d kept her at home she’d have been bored while we tried to get everything done while entertaining her. It all would have taken longer and we’d have been harassed. Quality of time is better than quantity in my book, and the nursery was then closed for for nearly two weeks so we weren’t going to lose sleep over her being in that day.

I factor in 3 or 4 days annual leave every year to have a random day to myself at home pottering though, and feel no guilt there either. We all need down time, and again it means I can get on top of anything that needs done without it eating into time we can spend together.

I'm off on Christmas Eve but still sending my child in to nursery. It's a lot of fun for them - they usually have a little party and a fun lunch and close early. He definitely has more fun at nursery with his little friends. I'll be using the time to do some last minute food shops and wrapping stuff I've not wrapped yet.

My mum was a nurse and quite often worked Christmas Day, as such we had Christmas Day on another day she wasn’t working. Didn’t work it out until I was about 8. Christmas Day is one day. Christmas Eve is a working day, send her in for the morning.

However I sit in the practical rather than the magic of season camp

@lliitttlepiinkhouse

If they are open and willing to take your money, send her. Feel no guilt.

This.

There are still lots of parents working up until 6pm on Christmas eve. Like DH.

To be honest I wouldn't. Also a teacher. Don't send them in when I'm off i see it as a perk of the job to have that extra time with them.
I am not a mummy Martyr in any way but it's Christmas Eve , many people have to work but I don't .

@Iwantquavers

Sorry that wasn’t aimed at you but rather some of the responses you got. My answer is just my opinion, I usually prep everything in good time to spend Xmas Eve and the other days with DC as they’re precious to me. I understand that can’t be the case for everyone.

Check the nursery's opening times on Christmas Eve. Ours used to close a few hours early to allow the staff to get home early.

I would send her in for half a day or a few hours - do your shopping then pick her up early. You'll get the shopping done faster without her and can then enjoy the rest of the day with her.

Send her in definitely. Get all your bits done then you can relax during the Xmas break with her knowing you have everything organised & can give her your time. Have a lovely Xmas & enjoy your time to yourself

@Tillsforthrills

Even if I’d paid for a nursery place, my priority would be spending as much time as possible with my DC. Not trying to get my money’s worth.

This is a sanctimonious post if ever I read one. OP is a teacher and rarely gets any time to herself. She needs to get jobs done and I think it's reasonable for her to choose to have a day doing things for herself and getting jobs done. I expect that her DC will be off from nursery the rest of the time so there will be plenty of time spent with DC. Do you think DC would like to be pushed around shops on Xmas eve when she could be doing Christmas activities at nursery?

I loved Christmas Eve with the little ones.
What end of 1 is she? If nearly 2, I’d want her at home. That’s obviously a very personal choice, though.

Could you shop online/your husband go/go in the evening on 23rd when she’s in bed?

Just send her. I quite frequently use paid childcare to get stuff done. Kids benefit from parents who are less stressed. I haven’t done it for a while and I’m definitely a worse parent for it. Even if you sent her and had a nap and binged Netflix that would still be ok. Kids don’t come above everything and she’s about to have Christmas with you. It’s not like you’re sending her to nursery in your one day off in six months.

Also nursery is supposed to be fun, as long as she enjoys it then what’s the problem?
Enjoy shopping without a whiny toddler and maybe a nice lunch and she’ll have a good time and then you’ll hopefully have a pleasant afternoon together. Nursery staff won’t care, they’re working either way and likely lots of kids will be there, most people can’t book it off.

[quote Tillsforthrills]@Iwantquavers

Sorry that wasn’t aimed at you but rather some of the responses you got. My answer is just my opinion, I usually prep everything in good time to spend Xmas Eve and the other days with DC as they’re precious to me. I understand that can’t be the case for everyone.[/quote]
Well, I guess we should all feel awful about ourselves for wanting time to ourselves as this must mean that our DC aren't precious to us.