Disappointed Dh finishing at lunch on xmas eve

[justnotthesameasnormal]

We’ve all been ill recently so have barely done any Christmas things as a family. We felt better this weekend, but he still said he felt tired and was mainly in bed all weekend. I did lots of Christmassy things with Dd which was nice, but seemed strange missing so many things.
I assumed he finished tomorrow so had planned that we’d all go to a lovely Christmas market with kids rides and mulled wine etc on xmas eve.
He said he’s finishing at lunchtime now so there won’t be time
It’s not just that, but i’ve done literally every single thing for Christmas, which I get as I work less and finish earlier, but it still feels disappointing

Aibu or is this a normal situation and if so what would you do if it was just you and your dc?

Can’t you just go when he finishes?

I think most jobs that work to the BH schedule finish at lunchtime Christmas Eve?

Go once he finishes. Do check it'll still be open on 24th as many aren't.

It finishes after lunch and I’m guessing he’ll go for a few drinks with his colleagues, so no point

Why did you assume he wasnt working on Christmas Eve, it is more usual for couples to discuss this stuff well in advance. Perfectly normal to work on the 24th.

Christmas Eve is a working day - appreciate it’s annoying but hopefully you’ve then got a 4-day weekend..?

Did he tell you he was off that day? It's just a normal working day at my workplace

but i’ve done literally every single thing for Christmas, which I get as I work less and finish earlier, but it still feels disappointing
did he have holiday to take or did you expect him not to work to do the Christmassy stuff?
how much less do you work?

You should have asked if he hadn't told you, neither of you are mind readers.
Can you go with someone else, one of your family members?

We work throughout the festive period so I’d be bloody chuffed at my DH finishing at lunch, you’ve still all afternoon.

Id be sad if he chose the pub over an afternoon at the Xmas markets as a family tho. Especially if he’d already been on a works doo. Shitty behaviour.

He normally works until the day before and I remember him mentioning before that it was the same day, but it’s changed as his boss said xmas eve lunchtime

You needed to communicate and not assume. It’s a working day for so many and not everyone needs to do everything Christmassy.

He doesn’t need to, but it would be nice for Dd! All I saw was families this weekend

It's not his fault that your plans were interrupted by everyone being ill. If you really want to - although Xmas markets are usually shite and especially shite in Xmas eve - can you go with a friend with kids ? But don't fret Xmas eve will be exciting enough for kids and hopefully you will have family time after Xmas Day with no pressure.

I would have discussed this ages ago. But no any family Christmas things we did at weekends, my DH didn’t get Christmas Eve off (and my son will be working til 5.30 that day).
Is he taking time off between Xmas and New Year? Why not plan a few outings for then?

No point "guessing" he's going to have drinks with colleagues. You need to speak to him.

I understand you're disappointed. I have been married to an emergency services worker for 26 years and he's had one Christmas off with the DC. What we have to do is communicate and plan for the time we do have. It really is the only way.

More time than my husband and I get together with our son over Christmas! He'll be working until around lunch christmas eve too, then working around 6 hours christmas day, then I work around 6 hours boxing day.

Is the Christmas market finishing on Christmas Eve? In my town, the market will run to the New Year, kids rides etc. It seems more relaxing to do a lot of the Christmas/family stuff in the time between Christmas day and New Year's, everything and everyone seems more chilled compared to the chaos before Christmas day.

My husband always works christmas eve (normally home about 3/4pm) he took the kids first ones off but otherwise business as usual. We have a chilled day - we make biscuits for santa (same traditions as always even though kids are older) watch some tv & i have a final tidy, go visit my gran then home & we get a dominos then bath / new pjs for santa. Now they older watch a christmas movie then bed.

personally i’ve never wanted to go out on christmas eve but have did many “family” things on my own with the kids both at Christmas and the summer holidays. Most people i know are working christmas eve

We all have until the 5th off, it’s just that excitement of xmas eve

So he’s not meant to be working and has cancelled leave to work?

Have you ever worked OP? Do you know that lots of people work Christmas Eve as a normal working day,

You know Christmas markets are squashed, busy, everything's a bit shit and you're charged like a bull for it?
Wafting round drinking mulled wine and smiling at your rosy cheeked children only happens in crap channel 5 films.

Myself and dh work until 5 Xmas eve and kids are with grandparents. That's just life.

I wish I could finish at lunchtime on Christmas eve.

Instead finishing at 4.30pm ish