People working Christmas

[MadeOfPaper]

My husband and I are both nurses and we're both working 13hr shifts on the 24th and 25th. This will be the first year we're both working and our children are old enough to realise as we've always alternated in the past. For those of you who will be working over Christmas how do you explain it to your children/when do you celebrate? Thanks so much!

my sister was in this situation a few years back, and she celebrated on the 26th. who is looking after the kids on the 25th? perhaps you could ask them to help them make Christmas cookies to leave for santa, so that it seems like Christmas eve to them? (she wrapped all the presents on the 23rd, and filled the stockings, so all she had to do was put them out on the 26th) x

I work for the NHS as well so often have to work at Christmas. We just move Christmas Day! I really liked it when we last moved it to the 26th - everyone else's Christmas was all but over but ours had yet to start! My children (8 + 5 now) celebrate Christmas on whatever day we tell them! They know that some people have to work so they just accept it.

I'm a nurse and not working this year, but I understand the situation.

I would try to see if they could go to a relative to have Xmas with them on the 25th and then have a second Xmas with you the first day you are all off together. I'd split everything, so 2 stockings, 2 (smaller) piles of presents. Depending on age I'd explain that Santa knows if someone is away from home and will come back for when they celebrate.

Having to work a long day in christmas day is not really reasonable, though. Having spent years doing nursing rotas I don't think this is a normal ask unless someone volunteers. Maybe speak to your manager about changing the way christmas shifts are broken up for next year? Every ward I've ever worked on would expect two shifts to do half the day each, so everyone gets some time to celebrate.

I'm waiting to hear if I'm working or not, I've asked for the day off and offered to do boxing day and new years eve and day but it's not guaranteed obviously so will have to wait and see. It'll be my last year where the kids believe (the youngest is 8 and asking questions after talking to friends at school) so I've really got my fingers crossed!

I liked my parents working Christmas. It stressed how important their jobs were. They always did a brilliant Christmas even with lots of naps on the sofa etc.