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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

If you take this time of year off as annual leave, what are you doing?

79 replies

HairdryerMary · 20/12/2023 23:22

I've always worked until and including Xmas Eve. The kids go to a mixture of holiday clubs. When I hear from friends who seem to be struggling with very excited children, crap weather etc or see parents try to go do the Xmas food shop with kids in tow, I think why? Why would you put yourself through it? Surely it's nicer to have annual leave in the summer or spring. Otherwise you just have ten days off in a row?

OP posts:

LadyChilli · 20/12/2023 23:26

I totally agree about it being better to take leave in spring or summer and that's what I usually do. This year for various reasons i am off for almost 3 weeks over Christmas. My plan is to snuggle with DS, read books, eat lots, drink hot chocolate and relax. We'll maybe go swimming or to soft play, where he can blow off steam and I can read and drink tea. I fully expect to get cabin fever especially when DS is at his dad's, but hoping just to unwind.

Skimm · 20/12/2023 23:30

I dont celebrate Xmas but have taken two weeks off. I worked most of the summer this year and October half term.

I find summer drags unless I go away, so breaking it up with work and then fun activities for the kids help a lot.

For the Xmas session, this year I'm tired. I'm going to enjoy the nice rest and try to organise and get some d.i.y done. If this was summer the kids would be bored asking me what are we doing today? Everyday. Whereas they seem like they want a nice rest too.

I'm looking forward to laying in, seeing family and shopping after Christmas. I also want to bake mince pies 🥧.

fingerguns · 20/12/2023 23:32

I've been taking a break this week and not doing DIY for once. It's almost as though I've forgotten how to enjoy time off.

margotrose · 20/12/2023 23:32

I don't have kids and close my business for two weeks as it's just so quiet otherwise.

I sleep in, spend time with DH, go for meals, catch up with friends and family, take the dog out and just enjoy having a break.

SpringingJoy · 20/12/2023 23:33

It's not either/or. I get 5.5 weeks annual leave. I take a week around Xmas every year...when you add in bank holidays/weekends it often results in 10 days off. I also take a week at Easter and two weeks in Summer.

I enjoy both Christmas and Spring/Summer holidays, just in different ways. I've never struggled with bored/over-excited dc and have definitely never done a big Christmas food shop with small dc in tow!

TheClitterati · 20/12/2023 23:34

DDs & I get lazy, eat nice food, enjoy hanging out together at home few a few timeless days. I've been doing some light decluttering & tidying.

Today we went bowling. Tomorrow we will go to london for a bit of art, lunch, shopping & Xmas lights.

Usually when we take time off we are away from home. I love being here with not much to do.

idontlikealdi · 20/12/2023 23:35

Ive had to take the three days between Christmas and new year this year, would rather role them over but new contract. Not very impressed. I used to like the get out clause of I'm working!

Beesandhoney123 · 20/12/2023 23:35

Pretend I don't have to work, be a lovely mum with time for all, including me, and have a tidy house.

Nomorescreentime · 20/12/2023 23:37

I’ve got 2 weeks off; I’m going to enjoy spending time with my kids, cooking nice meals and not worrying about work! I can’t wait to switch off.

I will say that my annual leave is generous enough for me to take a 2 week summer hol, too. Along with a few days at Easter.

Dixiechickonhols · 20/12/2023 23:38

Some places close and require you to use leave.
Where I work they close bank hols and 2 more days so you only need to book 2 days annual leave to have a break of 12 days inc weekends which is popular (I’m working as we need to cover the 2 days)
My plans are nice walks and having a good sort out…tip runs and maybe some painting.
When dd was young there was never childcare at Christmas- sending her to football camp as a none football lover wasn’t my finest moment but it was only place open.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 20/12/2023 23:38

Well I'm, in Oz so its summer here. I am taking three weeks off, and I plan to spend my time doing as little as possible. I will go to the beach lots, or just chill by the pool. There will be lots of bbqs and meeting up with friends. I love Aussie Xmas, its like going on holiday only more relaxing and with easy access to your own fridge full of xmas food and booze.

purpleme12 · 20/12/2023 23:40

2 days off before Christmas. Christmas shopping and wrapping.
Got some time off after new year. We'll just have fun.

It's a balancing act whenever you take it really

MyCatIsPlotting · 20/12/2023 23:40

There’s very little childcare at this time of year where I live so with school age kids and even preschoolers, there aren’t necessarily holiday clubs. We are both taking time off (some together, the rest in turns) to cover school holidays and childcare gaps.

tulippa · 20/12/2023 23:41

I'm off from today until early January. I took the morning for myself - going for a run, meeting up with a friend then spent the afternoon doing nasty but necessary cleaning jobs. Next couple of days will be getting a couple of last minute presents, food shopping, present wrapping etc.
DS is at school til Friday, DD is working/going with friends.
Saturday onwards will be family time so board games, films, walks. DCs are teens so don't need me to entertain them as such. I love having extended leave at this time of year - I feel like I need the rest.

Ejismyf · 20/12/2023 23:43

I finish tomorrow at 12, kids don't finish school till Friday. I'll be getting organised for our faux Christmas on the 23rd (food shop bought already) and packing for us going abroad christmas eve. I'm not back till the 8th, that's using 4.5 days of annual leave off this year's hols and 3 off next years. Il still have a week in March for the easter hols, two in summer and one in October, then we get long weekends/public hols for Easter, two Mondays in May, long weekend in September. So have plenty of time off the rest of the year.

Smindento · 20/12/2023 23:48

I always used to take pretty much all my leave off in December but now I work in a different industry freelancing and it’s really busy at Xmas so I take 3 weeks off in January instead. I just much prefer Christmas/winter time off compared to summer, it gives me that boost to get through winter as I struggle and knowing I’m working towards a break always perks me up!

KnowThyself · 20/12/2023 23:58

DH has been carpet shampooing the downstairs carpets and cleaning all the skirting boards and downstairs doors whilst I did the Christmas food shop and collected a couple of Christmas gifts that had been ordered, I also met my friend for hot chocolate.

mrsfollowill · 21/12/2023 00:14

DH, me and adult DS all work in places (3 different workplaces) that shut down between Christmas and New Year so we all have to 'save' 3 days annual leave to use. I love it to be fair- lots of sleeping in, going out for meals and drinks and visiting family.
We are all working this week- DH and DS will finish mid afternoon Friday- I may or may not be working til 5pm- it's likely there will be a morning announcement we will shut at 3 but they don't like to commit until the day.
I think we will do a lot of hibernating- not many commitments to attend - it's so bloody dark in the mornings and again by mid afternoon- we are all shattered and are coming out of having this horrible 'cold/flu' thing and so ready for a break.

carfluo · 21/12/2023 00:25

I have a couple of weeks off around Xmas/NY and take some AL in the summer too. We live in London and cram in a lot of trips out - pantos, ballets, kids theatre, family raves, Santa visits, the zoo, play farm, soft play Xmas parties, role play centre parties, Legoland, carol concerts, Christmas lights. Lots of Christmas events happening and it won't fit into just the weekends.

MintJulia · 21/12/2023 00:35

So far, I've bought & decorated the tree, put up the gable lights, and pruned the creepers on the front of the house. Finished Christmas shopping and done all the wrapping.

Home made mincemeat and made mincepies.
Had carpet installed in my office so I can move off the kitchen table.
Bought a desk which is being delivered tomorrow.
I've set up ds' bank accounts, helped him register for mobile banking and showed him how to use an ATM.
Done my tax return.
Caught up with laundry, cleaning etc

DS has just finished his mocks so he was shattered and sleeping until lunchtime.
From tomorrow we can start enjoying ourselves. Visiting friends, exercising, relaxing, gardening, doing nice Christmassy stuff. 🙂

JaninaDuszejko · 21/12/2023 00:38

I'm off for two and a half weeks. We already have visitors (currently 8 people in the house, peaking at 12), we have Christmas, Hogmanay, and two birthdays to celebrate. We're going to 2 pantomines, a light trail, and visiting relatives. On the days when 'nothing' is happening I'm preparing food, washing clothes and sheets, and spending time with my visitors. I've still got some shopping and all my wrapping to do.

Orangeandgold · 21/12/2023 00:42

I find the winter break is the only break whereby I actually rest. The run up to Christmas invokes lots of food and cooking followed by days of just being at home with leftovers. I also find this is a nice time to connect with friends as most people also find that this time of year is very slow. In comparison with summer whereby we make more of an effort to be out, even if it’s just a park and everyone has made plans - particular summer where people are on holidays at different times.

KThnxBye · 21/12/2023 00:47

I’m living vicariously, I’d love some time off. I’m lucky enough to have Christmas Day and Boxing Day off this year which is great. But if I had my way I’d have two weeks, a day to prepare, wrap and bake, twelve days of Christmas and a day to put it all away and clean up! That would be utter bliss!

I might just be thinking that way because I haven’t had more than three days off in a row for over a year though!

Original poster

HairdryerMary · 21/12/2023 07:31

Wow you guys are all so productive!

OP posts:

Sunshinebuttercupsrainbows · 21/12/2023 07:45

The weather doesn’t generally affect our plans unless it’s extreme so I enjoy taking this time off. I work a four day week so during the summer I take a day of annual leave every week which is a much better balance for me!

Today we are off to a local farm for some festive activities, tomorrow we are having a party with friends and then going to the cinema. On next week’s annual leave days we will be doing an indoor sports activity one day maybe followed by swimming, visiting family on another day, and then going to Legoland with friends.

I’ve also got the following week off and have planned trampolining, a visit to BBC Earth experience, brunch with friends.

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