Ideas to explain why Father Christmas can't visit until the afternoon?

KitKat1985 · 2020-10-28T12:49:30+00:00

Although waiting confirmation, it looks pretty likely I will be working Christmas eve and Christmas day morning this year (nurse). [sad] My kids will be 6 and 4. I really don't want to miss them opening their presents but I won't be home until about 2.30 / 3ish. I don't want them to wake up Christmas day morning and think Father Christmas has missed them out though. Any good excuses? Or alternatively we leave the presents under the tree as normal Christmas day morning and poor DH has to try and distract the kids from the Christmas presents all morning!

MNHQ

TheHauntingOfHebeMumsnet · 28/10/2020 12:54

Personally I would make sure he delivers but then say they can only open stockings until you get home. If you think that's just going to be too stressful for everyone maybe an afternoon delivery due to social distancing slowing Santa up this year?

Hermanfromguesswho · 28/10/2020 12:55

I think you should let them open the presents in the morning. Their upset at having to wait I think is a bigger deal than you missing it, sorry but you’re the adult. Can DH video them opening them?
Save back a special gift each for you to give them when you get home?

ShinyGreenElephant · 28/10/2020 12:56

Agree with @Hermanfromguesswho, its crap for you but theyre the kids so they should come first

Original poster

KitKat1985 · 28/10/2020 13:01

They're good kids. They might be okay with just doing stockings and waiting for me to get home to do the rest. I could just say to DH to try and get them to wait but if they get really upset to just go for it and video it for me.

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scrappydappydoo · 28/10/2020 13:01

Depends on how you normally do Santa and presents. We’ve always done small stocking from Santa with little games, books and things and then big presents (the ones I would want to see their faces as they open them) are after lunch in the afternoon. Could you plan for them to have some small stuff to open in the morning (maybe one an hour to keep excitement and momentum) but explain you want to open the big stuff together.

Frazzled2207 · 28/10/2020 13:04

I think I would let them open. However a good friend was never allowed to open presents until after the queen’s speech when growing up! She coped ok but it was the same every year.

Spam88 · 28/10/2020 13:10

Could Father Christmas write them a letter a few days before explaining he'll pop back later in the day with the rest of the presents.

Could they, in addition to stockings, have one or two presents in the morning so they've got something to play with until you get home though?

nicknamehelp · 28/10/2020 13:16

If unwrap stockings perhaps make sure something in them to keep them occupied.

Original poster

KitKat1985 · 28/10/2020 13:23

Some good ideas here. I was originally hoping DH could take the kids to his parents whilst I was at work so PILs could give them their presents / entertain them, which would take the focus off the presents under the tree, but they've said they are now going to BIL / SILs house, and DH and the kids therefore can't go as well as it'll break the rule of 6. Bloody covid.

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LivingDeadGirlUK · 28/10/2020 13:26

My mum was a nurse, we used to open our presents super early before she left for work. If she was on a night shift then we would wait for her to get in just after 6am to open them.

JuliaJohnston · 28/10/2020 13:26

God, let them open their presents. Get your dh to film them and you can catch up later.
If you were coming home at around 10am you might have a point, but 3pm?? Don't ruin their day.

Voiceofreason92 · 28/10/2020 13:27

Are you working Boxing day? I think i would move Christmas day to the 26th.
Could they just have a quiet day on the 24th/ 25th and not see anyone... and then let them think 26th is the real christmas day
The kids break ip a whole week before christmas so It would be easy to hide the date from them

HelenaJustina · 28/10/2020 13:29

Stockings and then presents when you get back. They are old enough to understand that you want to be part of the day, that it should be special for you too. I would make sure there was some time killing/craft type things in the stockings.

Think of some other things to keep them busy, go to Church (if you are that way inclined) decorate some gingerbread, go for a walk/scoot, help prep the vegetables, see some family. 2.30/3pm really isn’t that long to wait.

Original poster

KitKat1985 · 28/10/2020 13:34

We could do Christmas on the 26th I guess. Neither of them have much concept of the date.

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SparklingDinosaurs · 28/10/2020 13:35

I had a shift worker parent. I can’t remember when I was very young but I do recall waiting until he came home to do the main santa gifts. Can’t say it scared me or anything.

I would deliver the gifts (because santa sleeps on Xmas day ) then allow the stockings to be opened and earmark 1/2 gifts each to open. Potentially wrap in different paper and ensure they are something quite time consuming to play with. Then have a craft activity or baking activity for your DH to do with them.

Be flexible though so if DH feels they are being upset and can’t be distracted just let him judge whether to open everything or not.

Alternative would be to deliver half presents and allow morning as normal (no mention of more to come!) then when you arrive home “look Santa’s left this sack in the garden it must have fallen off his sleigh” and then you can enjoy that excitement and present opening together.

Missannelliot · 28/10/2020 13:36

What are posters talking about ‘ruining their day’!!!! My mum was a nurse so regularly worked Christmas Day. We always waited until she was home to open presents when she was on an early shift (and cramped all of Christmas Day into the morning if she was on a late). It was never a problem for us to wait. Dad used to make a special breakfast of pancakes or something like that. We would open our little stocking presents, play games, go for walks, it was great. Looking back it explains why I now feel so strongly that Christmas is about spending time with the people you love and not getting things (which will mean I’m very disappointed this year-bloody covid indeed!!)

Just make sure there is some things in their stocking to keep them entertained and they will be fine!!

Trinpy · 28/10/2020 13:37

It you're home boxing day then I would just move xmas day to then.

My dh is working xmas day and boxing day this year and next year so we will be having xmas day a day early 2 years running. The kids don't need to know. It's very easy to manipulate their advent calendars at this age too .

Beautyoftheirdreams · 28/10/2020 13:37

Both my parents were nurses, one was always working Xmas morning. We used to open stockings in bed super early before they left then we would have breakfast, crack open the selection boxes, go for a walk with the other parent, come home and play some games, have a floor picnic and watch an Xmas film then have Xmas dinner when the working parent gets home and open presents after dinner. Done it as long as I can remember and I've always loved it, makes the day more exciting.

Perhaps you could do a lucky dip style box of goodies to distract during the morning? Things from The Range and Home Bargains etc wrapped up (sticker books, Xmas crafts, books etc) some cheap things to distract. DH could get the box out each time they seemed impatient and they could choose from it. Fun and distracting

CovidClara · 28/10/2020 13:37

Christmas Eve morning (aka the real Christmas day at Grandparents- granny is doing you a special early Christmas)
Christmas Eve pm (when you get home form work on Christmas day) getting ready for Santa
Christmas Day (boxing day)

TicTacTwo · 28/10/2020 13:38

I would leave a stocking that they can open and a letter from Father Christmas telling them to wait for you to come home before the other presents are opened.

Cupoftchaiagain · 28/10/2020 13:38

Absolutely change the date!

LouiseBelchersBunnyEars · 28/10/2020 13:39

@KitKat1985

We could do Christmas on the 26th I guess. Neither of them have much concept of the date.

I’d do that then tbh., if you won’t have visitors. Relatives might phone and ruin it though

TeapotCollection · 28/10/2020 13:40

Another vote for 26th

rslsys · 28/10/2020 13:40

Our kids got stockings on their beds to wake up to. Main presents under tree in the conservatory and not accessible until lunch eaten and everything tided up. Never had such willing little helpers!

SparklingDinosaurs · 28/10/2020 13:42

@Missannelliot

What are posters talking about ‘ruining their day’!!!! My mum was a nurse so regularly worked Christmas Day. We always waited until she was home to open presents when she was on an early shift (and cramped all of Christmas Day into the morning if she was on a late). It was never a problem for us to wait. Dad used to make a special breakfast of pancakes or something like that. We would open our little stocking presents, play games, go for walks, it was great. Looking back it explains why I now feel so strongly that Christmas is about spending time with the people you love and not getting things (which will mean I’m very disappointed this year-bloody covid indeed!!)

Just make sure there is some things in their stocking to keep them entertained and they will be fine!!

Agree. This was very much my childhood Christmas too. I genuinely can’t really remember feeling any issue with waiting - it was just a given that we opened gifts when while family was home together. I do Have a memory of one year being excited as we were allowed to open a gift and it was an apron so santa must have wanted us to help Mummy with the dinner (clever santa

)