Probably - but people too lazy to cook their own christmas dinner are spoiling mine

[SheinIsShite]

My youngest DS is 16 and works in a pub kitchen. Dish washing, food prep, plating starters/dessert. He is contracted to do 8 hours a week which is usually OK. Obviously this time of year is busy and because he is not at school he has more shifts.

School finished on Friday, he worked Friday evening. And Saturday, and Sunday. Did an extra shift on Monday afternoon as they were short. Yesterday was rostered 11-6 but got home at 22.50 as they were so busy and needed to prep for the 700 covers they have booked today between 12 and 4.30pm. He starts again at 10am this morning, and although they have said he'll be done by 6.30 I don't believe that so he will more than likely miss our family meal.

So all of you paying £85 a head for Christmas lunch in a very standard chain pub, thanks for that.

Totally appreciate that some people have to work and we are all grateful to the police, fire, midwives etc. But going out for your Chrtistmas lunch is not essential.

Good for your son, getting out there and earning some money rather than sat on his arse scrolling, or worse, hanging around with a gang of feral yobs.
Hes young and fit, hes got a good work ethic, he will go far
Stop bloody whinging and be proud of your son

Yeah you probably need to grow up OP.

Ridiculous post.

Look it happens. Most of us have worked a Christmas Day once or twice when teenagers… your son wants the job and accepted the shift. I used to love working Xmas Eve and Xmas at his age because I’d take home hundreds in tips!

Nobody needs to have a roast at home on December 25.

Come on, you must realise you're being ridiculous.

Hospitality needs to make a profit, which means offering something customers want. My home isn’t large enough for a family get together and so it makes sense to go somewhere that is.

Nobody needs a Christmas dinner at all.

We have taken my parents out for Christmas Dinner in the past - they live in a hoarded house so cooking Christmas dinner in it isn't practical, and they can no longer travel far enough for me to host them.

I take the view that you pay significantly more than what you'd pay as standard and my hope is that this is reflected in what the staff get paid for working such a premium shift; and I tip generously.

Shops are closed. Many pubs and restaurants aren't. The OP has known for months her son would be working.

I'm sorry your DC will miss his Christmas meal with you. But surely you realise that you are being totally U to "blame" people for being too lazy to cook their Christmas meal. If everyone cooked their meals, your DC wouldn't have a job. And your 16 year old doesn't need a job, they want one.

Stop moaning and accept the result of the decisions you and your child have made. Enjoy your Christmas and I'm sure your DC will enjoy the Christmas wages and tips.

Mine certainly is, had a ball at work yesterday and has more shifts including NYE coming up.

I’m sorry but you are being absolutely ridiculous. I worked loads of christmas including Xmas day when I was a teenager because I worked as a carer. Did it spoil Xmas for my family that I worked ? No it didn’t because they are adults who just get on with it and understood what having a job means. I know that’s different than working in a pub but a job is a job. No one is forcing him to work there .

Nobody NEEDS to have Christmas dinner at exactly 1pm on Christmas Day either. It can be done on other days/times at home so your argument is kind of ridiculously pointless isn't it?

Yeah that's just rude and unnecessary.

Merry Christmas to you too.

Eh? DS is the one accepting the shifts.

If it was so obvious if you thought for a moment that your children would struggle finding jobs and all the other issues your children have had over the years (which you have probably ignored) because you live miles from anywhere

Why didn’t you move or why did you move to somewhere so remote in the first place

It really can’t come as a shock to you

YANBU Op, people are just lazy 🤷‍♀️ He is your 16 year old child and I see why you're upset.

Really OP .Catch a hold of yourself.Hes 16 and a good boy by the sounds of it.Would you really be happy if the pub was shut, and he didnt have a PT job?Lets hope he doesnt become a Doctor or Policeman in the future! Just take a chill pill and celebrate with a nice Roast Beef on his next day off.My own DS is at home today with his new wife .Coming tomorrow and Sunday ( DD BD meal out)

Well you chose to live rurally which has limited his job options - that's a choice too. I worked in a pub at 16 and had to work Christmas Day. It was one year, I got double pay and although it was stressful, we all mucked in and it was one of those shared life experiences that builds resilience.

I'm going out for a pub lunch today for the first time ever on Christmas Day and I'll bloody enjoy it, you miserable sod.

100%. An impressive level of self indulgence and absorption by the OP. Not the people who choose to go out for lunch

There is a lot of pressure applied. And you know - he's 16, in his first job and desperate to please.

What a silly post. People are supporting their local businesses who are offering a service. Your son could work somewhere else or say no. Assume he’s getting double time? I used to be a waitress and worked over Xmas and new year and it always good fun and good pay.

I worked in hospitality for four years, and we had to work Christmas Day, no exceptions.
Each year there was a gent who would take himself off for a break over Christmas, by himself, and would stay at the hotel I worked at. I’m not sure what his family situation was but this was definitely his preference. He had a Christmas dinner, was waited on, and got to have social interaction without the pressure.
Sounds cheesy but it was a privilege to look after him on a day where we can lose sight of the bigger picture of what Christmas is about: community, love, and caring for one another.

All this to say that yes it’s disappointing that your son likely will miss Christmas dinner, but you should be really proud that at 16 he’s able to understand what it means to work and make a commitment.

I'm generally quite happy with my own company but I've been happy to accept the invitation to eat out with friends today. I'm not "just lazy".

Screw the economy and let’s see more pubs and restaurants close. Is that what hat you want.

You are blaming people for going out for Christmas dinner who provide work for your son?? Have you hit the bottle early today?