Working Christmas Day.

[rupertpenryswife]

I need some perspective and some ideas, just found out I am working Xmas day I have 2 DC 8&9 and am totally gutted, I offered to work all day New Year's Eve and day but got given Xmas 😥. I'm the only parent working Xmas so feel a bit sorry for myself. Anyway I'm off on Boxing Day but back to work 27th any ideas for how I do Xmas day, I'm working 7-2 so need to try to see parents, siblings in laws and somehow open the kids presents, not even thought about food.

I'm know someone has to work I just hoped to get new year until the kids are a little older, can anyone give me some suggestions as to how we celebrate, do I make the kids wait until I get home so be about 3 pm, kids don't understand why I need to work (I'm a nurse).

7-2 is a great shift to work, I've done it with kids of a similar age, they're certainly old enough to understand why you have to work.

I got up at 04:30 then woke the kids at 05:00, they're always up early on Christmas Day anyway. I got to see them open their socks and presents from FC and family presents under the tree waited until I got home.

I recommend being very organised and doing an intinary for DH as to what needs to go into the oven when and have Christmas dinner when you get in and grown up presents.

Just be matter of fact with the children and let them know that it's much worse for the poor patients.

"your DH to sort the dinner out for your return"
You are the first person to suggest this :o long list of how the op can cope with preparing food when she returns!!

Wake them early and get them to unwrap presents before you leave. They definitely won't mind lol.

There'll be very little traffic too, so you can probably leave for work a bit later than normal.

Your DH can arrange dinner so it's ready for your return. The children can lay the table.

Adult relatives can see you on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day unless someone is going to be alone, in which case ask them to come over.

I have a young child and I will be working 7-19.30 Christmas Day. Yeah it's a bit rubbish but I had last Christmas off so it's only fair.
I don't think like some have said it's shit of your colleagues. Even if they don't have small children they still have families/traditions that they would like to see and do.
I find it's never as bad working as it feels like in the run up to it.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the Christmas period.

I feel for you OP, it's not fair that you and your DCs are missing out!
Are you working Christmas Eve? If not, could you celebrate a day early?
Thank you OP, for doing an amazing job and caring for others.

I would keep christmas day just for you and see relatives christmas eve and boxing day instead.

Thanks again everyone for being so kind, I half expected to hear I should know that's part of the job, I do agree I am not entitled to Xmas off as I have DC, and don't think I said that, we all have our reasons to want Christmas off.

I have picked a few of the lovely ideas from here, I am actually quite looking forward to it, it will be a different Xmas so gives me an excuse to ring the changes also, gives me the chance to take it easy on Xmas day as I have the perfect excuse, I think the thought is worse than the actual working.

Will report back again but pleas keep the ideas coming.

steamboat that is an awful shift pattern it sure shuts me up, in comparison mine is perfect.

Both my parents did shift work so every christmas one or other or both were working.
I think DH opens stocking with children , goes for a walk and prepares lunch for as you walk in, then you open presents after lunch, then let the other rellies run the next day and you just turn up an enjoy it.

Thank you for doing the job you do.
Thank you working the hours most people never have to do and things people never have to see or experience
You have every right to feel you would like to be able to spend Christmas with your young children without getting a lecture.

I grew up with my mum working pretty much every Christmas Day. It really isn’t a big deal unless you make it one.

We had a late lunch ( when she finished), stockings opened in the morning, big presents opened later.

By the way, when she managed Christmas Day Rotas, she used to do short shifts of 4 hours and based it on everyone signing up to do a bit rather than the 8 hours - might be worth suggesting for next year. If people didn’t sign up, they were assigned but meant most people got a shift time that suited them best.

I have just posted on a different thread that as a child we had to wait to open our presents so that my Grampy who was a farmer could watch us and join in. I never minded and it was just the shape of Christmas. It made the excitement last longer really. Stocking were when we woke up. One FC present before we went to church. Other FC presents after church. All other presents after lunch which would easily have been after 3pm.
I'm sure that you can find a pattern that works and your DC are definitely old enough to understand that they have to wait for you. Think how pleased they'll be to see you on that day.

Just be grateful you aren't IN hospital for Christmas. Last year I went in on 23rd home on 27th. Major thankyou to all the staff who looked after me.

I left DH and my mum in charge of making sure Christmas and Santa happened for DS.

DH used a video camera so i didn't miss it completely. I'd meant not to put everything under the tree but he missed that and put everything under the tree but didn't let him open all his gifts.

In your case I think I'd ask if they'd wait until your home to open gifts. Or at least keep some for later in the day.

Sorry late to the party but wanted to add, my mum was a nice and worked Christmas often. I remember being really proud of her, like she was on this big adventure while everyone else was at home. I bet your dc will be proud of you!(and hopefully you’ll get out of any housework too!)

I would go with waking them up at half 5 for a bonkers hour in the morning, let them open stockings, have brekkie and open one big pressie. They get to paly with all tht while you are out at work - veg can be done day before by you or DH and on the day just need meat in to be ready for 3 ish, and putting on of veg and roasties etc. I might also go for say a turkey crown which cooks more quickly etc so if having sole care of kids then not also trying to juggle major meal prep and cooking.

I'm a midwife and also working Christmas Day, we don't do long days on Christmas Day as normal so I'm doing an early 730-230. To cover the unit we tend to work every other Christmas Day or night. I've 3dc from 7-15. We tend to do stockings super early, I'll then leave at half six to get to work and when I return at half three we do a few presents, then late lunch which dh and dc will have prepared together and then all the proper presents. Dc are very good about waiting for presents as they'd rather we were all together to open them, we then have a lovely relaxing evening. I would of course absolutely love not to have to work, but as you say it's part of the job, and it's about making it a lovely day regardless.

I actually think 7-2 is the perfect shift if you've a family. Get it over with and come home and enjoy Christmas dinner and wine while opening pressies.

I did nights for years and have worked most christmases since my dses were born. They have adapted and don't mind too much. Last year was crap, I got the shortest of short straws, late shift Christmas Day and Boxing Day. My husband had to cook their dinner and it was all a bit sad. Early shift is so much better.

It's tough if you aren't used to it but children adapt fairly easily ime. Older family members who expect everything to remain the same despite working throughout are more annoying

Last year was crap, I got the shortest of short straws, late shift Christmas Day and Boxing Day. My husband had to cook their dinner and it was all a bit sad. Early shift is so much better.

So agree with this. Leaving everyone just as the day is getting going is killer. For my family too it's too early for Christmas dinner at home and too late for one at work so I always ended up with a microwaved dinner (so depressing).