My DP works for himself so his work tends to dictate his hours, usually unreasonably long! He is a builder and is generally up against it time wise. And whilst most of the building trade do work xmas even morning, we had agreed without talking about it that today would be his last day! He is working on a domestic job and its not like him doing the work xmas eve will complete the job. The orignial set of work was completed on time (three days late to be accurate but actually clients quite pleased as they didnt expect it done so quickly). Now there are lots of extras and they are hassling my DP to get the work finished (understandable but there is only so much that can be done). On the whole the clients are fine and are happy with the way things are going.
There are a few issues here. I call him up this morning for a chat and he said that one of the guys who does work for him rang him and said, did he want him to help him plaster a room that needs doing on xmas eve. I have several problems with this:-
Firstly, DP has felt that this person had not really worked as efficiently as he could have done and this has cost DP money and time. So, i think that him rining up and offering to help with the plastering Xmas eve is taking the piss as he will clearly want paying.
Secondly (and from my point of view most importantly) : This year has been tough for us (we nearly split up due to financial strain and my PND) and i just want a nice peaceful FAMILY christmas and because we had sort of put today down as the last day then in my mind, christmas was starting this weekend. We are gooing to put the tree up (we always do this late) and decorate the room. Then just chill out, heaven knows we need a rest, we have been full of cold and coughs all week and feel knackered. So i dont want to have to put things on hold.
Thirdly and actually THIS is the most important factor. If, IF it would just be a case of him working xmas eve morning i would be OK with it, thats always been the way most years. But i know this job would take him into quite a late day (probably 7 o'clock earliest finish) and i can visualise myself on the phone to him askig when he will be home and the poor sod saying just another hour, etc etc, until i finally get pissed off, start feeling sorry for myself, DD will be tetchy as i will not want to put her to bed before seeing daddy on Xmas eve. And there is a recipe for a ruined xmas if ever i saw one.
Honest opinions here (there can be no compromise regarding the time as plastering is one of those jobs that once you start, you have to finish it and its a big room apparently) AM I BEING A SELFISH BRAT AS USUAL DP is desperate to make his business work but i think family time is so important at this time of year. OK so this would mean that the clients would not be able to paint that room over the christmas break which they might have anticipated in their "clients have no clue how long things actually take and dont realise that DP breaks his back to get things done for them" kind of way - om not slating them, they are paying for the work to be done but i actually feel that the job has gone well and they should be OK with this. Also, if they are not ok then i think it is time for DPs family to take precidence, we all need a break and I need him to be mine for a week with no interruption.