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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send DD to nursery on Christmas Eve?

201 replies

Iwantquavers · 17/12/2021 09:21

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?

OP posts:
Whichcatthatcat · 18/12/2021 09:52

Why is it unbelievable reasoning? I know I don't get to go home early if there are no children.
I've worked in nurseries for 15 years and never been able to do that.

Original poster
Iwantquavers · 18/12/2021 10:23

I think most of my friends have been able to leave their children with parents for a while. Mine aren’t around so can’t do that. So any child free time is paid childcare really, unless DH has her for a bit.

OP posts:
Thegirlwiththeeagereyes · 18/12/2021 10:34

Teacher here so I never get time alone either - in normal times some of my friends book a day off to go into the big smoke with their other halves for Christmas shopping and nice lunch while their kids are at school and I'm always so envious!

Put her in nursery and don't feel guilty - she'll have fun, you'll get your jobs done and possibly have a small amount of time to yourself (which you need - us teachers are all shattered) and then you'll have a fortnight with her. Have a fab Christmas 🎄

Tillsforthrills · 18/12/2021 10:36

@Whichcatthatcat that’s good for you but as you can see from other posts not the case for all. But hey, I’m sure they’ll love avoiding the deep cleaning.

Itsnearlyxmas · 18/12/2021 10:46

Nursery manager here, we only have 14 children in out of a possible 120 and we will def all be going home as soon as the last child is collected. Not all staff are in, just the handful that are needed and we close at 1pm but i will bet my hat on 1 parent turning up late even though they are not working.

Tillsforthrills · 18/12/2021 10:51

@Itsnearlyxmas

Sorry about that, this is what I’ve heard too. Judging by this thread, you can see many will want to get their full days worth even if they are off work.

Bettyboop3 · 18/12/2021 10:57

I know they are still being charged for that day but it is a bit sad when you are told by the parents themselves that they are dreading having to look after their own children. Before i get flamed, i am not tarring all parents with the same brush.

MrsToadflax · 18/12/2021 11:10

@Iwantquavers

I think most of my friends have been able to leave their children with parents for a while. Mine aren’t around so can’t do that. So any child free time is paid childcare really, unless DH has her for a bit.
'Leave her with DH for a bit.' You should be leaving her with DH for a lot more than 'a bit.' There is no reason why you shouldn't have time for yourself. 'DH I'm off out on Saturday, so you're in charge.' Have days out, book some pampering, go for a walk, whatever. If you're not getting any time alone, it sounds like your DH needs to do more. He can then have his free time - it's a balance.
Tillsforthrills · 18/12/2021 11:14

@Bettyboop3. It’s not unreasonable to think that some parents don’t care about how their young children would love to spend time with them but are an inconvenience, based on this thread alone.

So sad. I’ll be flamed but I don’t care, that’s the reality for some but I don’t think most parents feel this way thank god.

Tillsforthrills · 18/12/2021 11:20

It does also sound on this thread that fathers are getting off very lightly with their share of time with DC.

De88 · 18/12/2021 11:20

We're a bit the same with our youngest, we just asked nursery how many kids they expected to have and as they already had quite a few in, she's going in. She loves it there and we know she would much rather be in nursery playing and having fun, than home with us being batted out of the way and getting underfoot, round the shops etc

EbonanzaScrooge · 18/12/2021 11:21

I would put her in. She won’t be the only child, mine will be in but I’m working till 1pm on Christmas Eve. The staff will make it fun and she would enjoy that more than being stuck in a buggy round the shops.

Tillsforthrills · 18/12/2021 11:23

@De88

You mean you really think being at home under normal conditions of busy family life isn’t preferable to being sent off to childcare based on how many other kids are there that day?

I think people who assure themselves DC would rather nursery or childcare to being at home are being dishonest with themselves. If you want/need them gone then admit it but don’t say it’s their preference.

Tillsforthrills · 18/12/2021 11:25

To be clear there’s no issue with sending them in at all especially as in the case of OP.

The issue is people saying their DC would prefer it. That part is not right.

BogRollBOGOF · 18/12/2021 11:26

When I taught my children nearly always went in on their days which were paid for term time or holidays. Days like Christmas Eve, they'd get picked up earlier than usual, but I have no guilt in using the service that I've paid for, especially when that is the only time I ever had (no local family)

Tillsforthrills · 18/12/2021 11:29

Money, service, convenience…

KateF · 18/12/2021 11:31

We close at 4 on Christmas Eve and have about half our usual children booked in so I'm sure she'll have company. She'll have a fun day and you can get your shopping done in peace. Children usually start drifting off after lunch but some will be with us all day because parents are working.
PS. We don't go home early

BungleandGeorge · 18/12/2021 11:36

I’ve no doubt your child would rather be at nursery than strapped into a pushchair in a busy shopping centre. It’s a normal working day, you’ve paid for nursery, don’t let anyone guilt you into not using the service.

JudesBiggestFan · 18/12/2021 11:45

Send her to nursery. As they get bigger Christmas Eve is really magical I think and you can plan lots of lovely things...we made gingerbread houses in the past, now we go for long walks and see family. But at 1 they don't have a clue and as a teacher you'll have lots of lovely time together afterwards. Do your shopping, get organised and pick her up at 3 I'd say...still plenty of the day left then!

Itsnearlyxmas · 18/12/2021 11:59

Plenty of the day left picking up at 3pm?! My granddaughter is the same age and bath and bedtime start at 6pm!! Not a lot of time, just enough to go home and have tea Confused

Tillsforthrills · 18/12/2021 12:09

@Itsnearlyxmas

I think that’s the idea, kids off to bed soon after nursery for ‘plenty of day’ left for the parents.

StillFestive · 18/12/2021 12:55

Itsnearlyxmas my DD went to bed at 8pm when she was at nursery, never any earlier at any age (despite attempts), and still the same now she’s at school. 5 hours is more than enough time to bake some Christmas cookies, have a walk or drive to see some lights, eat our traditional party tea in front of The Snowman, put out the reindeer food, bath, story and bed (probably a later bedtime anyway as she’d be hyper and Christmas Eve PM is my favourite so we were never in a hurry to get her to bed). I don’t see what she would have been missing out on by spending part of the day at nursery, other than getting sick of being told to wait a minute while we prep the dinner and finish any jobs that need finishing. We’ve spent the whole of December doing various Christmas activities, don’t need to squeeze it all into one day.

Your DGD may be in bed by 6 but that to me is very early and certainly not the norm for everyone. Obviously works for your family so, great, but you can’t assume every child does. I work til 6pm!

Tillsforthrills I don’t think anyone on this thread thinks of their child is an inconvenience at all. The majority have said they would send them but nobody has said “god yeah, I don’t want to see my child on Christmas Eve, I eke out every second of childcare that I’ve paid for”. My DD had plenty days off with me despite me having to pay for those days. I just used to decide which days were beneficial for her to be off, ie we’d be doing something nice, on holiday, or we needed a down day. If I was off work decorating the house, icing her birthday cake, or getting sorted on Christmas Eve then absolutely I’m taking advantage of any childcare I can get whether that’s nursery that I’ve already paid for anyway, DH taking her out or grandparents having her. And I won’t feel any guilt at all. I’m pretty sure everyone of us on this thread dotes on our DC, knows them better than anyone, and does the best for them and what works for their families.

Ajl46 · 18/12/2021 13:04

I'm sending DD in on Christmas Eve! Nursery closes at 2pm that day so I'm taking her to a children's Christmas Carol concert afterwards. I wouldn't hesitate to send your DD in if nursery is open - you'll enjoy the shopping more and your DD will no doubt prefer playing with toys to shopping. If the nursery wanted to close early they would.

De88 · 18/12/2021 13:21

[quote Tillsforthrills]@De88

You mean you really think being at home under normal conditions of busy family life isn’t preferable to being sent off to childcare based on how many other kids are there that day?

I think people who assure themselves DC would rather nursery or childcare to being at home are being dishonest with themselves. If you want/need them gone then admit it but don’t say it’s their preference.[/quote]
Yep. If she was able to be at home playing contentedly, with a load of her peers, with adults sole role to watch over and keep those children and entertained, all day long, then of course being at home every day would be perfect.

Original poster
Iwantquavers · 18/12/2021 13:53

I have already said I’ll pick her up at around 12.

And we don’t have bath and bed at 6. I wish!

OP posts:
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