What to do when you work Xmas

[MopaniTree]

I've been rostered to work nights all Christmas weekend. 12 hour shifts. Not sure whether to postpone Christmas to the 27th or what to do. Anyone else got ideas on how to celebrate when it's just another working week?Kids are past the santa stage but still get excited about Christmas!

My husband works in EMS and has had to work many holidays. I usually have a small Christmas Eve gathering at my home. We have a nice buffet and my children ( teen to young adults) open their gifts afterward.

When my husband finally has a night off, we go out to a nice restaurant together and then come home to open our presents together.

The thing is I can't even do a Christmas Eve gathering as I'll be working then as well. I like your idea of going out for a nice meal and doing the presents afterwards. That could be a plan. Thanks for your reply.

Are you 8-8?
Could you stay up a little later when you get home on Christmas morning of your DH had the kids up, bacon sandwiches and even a glass of Buck’s Fizz ready to eat as you opened presents together?
Rest of family have Christmas dinner at grandparents etc on the day then you guys do a family meal out on the 27th?

That sounds really nice as well actually,
Yeah I'm 7 till 7/730 am. Could do the Xmas breakfast idea. Thanks for the ideas, I just need to get my head round how to make it as nice as we can and sell it to the kids!

My friend works nights (10 - 7) and Christmas Day she just goes to bed from about 8/9am until 2/3pm so she sees the kids open their stockings then gets up in time for a later dinner about 6/7pm

She has done this for about 15 years and it seems to work well

Cross posted with your time. Ignore my post that wouldn't work as you need to be in at 7pm

@Fluffypastelslippers

My friend works nights (10 - 7) and Christmas Day she just goes to bed from about 8/9am until 2/3pm so she sees the kids open their stockings then gets up in time for a later dinner about 6/7pm

She has done this for about 15 years and it seems to work well

This is exactly what I do.

I worked every Christmas for about 25 years … Christmas happened on the first day I wasn’t working.. was usually a slightly simpler affair but still fun and actually less stressful than the full blown Christmas Day events. Now I don’t work Christmas I completely understand (and feel) all those family pressures and stresses… it’s not actually that much fun!

I only ever moved Xmas when the dc were little and didn't know.

What I honestly did was stay up, join in festivities and catch a couple of hours sleep in the afternoon, and go to work tired.