Working Christmas

[ChocHotolate]

I’m a nurse so not a stranger to working while others enjoy. However in previous years I have always volunteered to work new year’s night shift in exchange for Christmas off.
This year I will be working Christmas Day (8-8) and DH working from home Christmas Eve (9-5).
Kids are 13 & 5
Any ideas how to structure the keys days and present opening etc?

How early do you have to leave for work on Christmas day to get there for 8?

My initial thoughts are that you could do a French-style fancy dinner on Christmas Eve evening with some tree presents then, stockings in the morning before you leave, then maybe another couple of tree presents when you get home, but it depends on how long your commute is

I’m nightshift as a nurse Christmas Eve. Christmas Day and boxing night it really sucks and I guess it’s what i signed up to . We worked out our rotas and turned out I’m working part of Christmas for the next 5 years! My ds will defo be a non believer by then . No one will swap as they’ve understandably done their fair share of Christmas shifts

What do you normally do for Christmas? Are you off Christmas Eve? Personally we would have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve and then buffet food and leftovers on the day. Present wise DC would open them before I went so they could play with them throughout the day (up super early in excitement anyway!). I would come home, shower, jammies on and open mine in front of the telly with some snacks and cuddles- bliss.

I would say although it sounds obvious just remember you can do whatever you like on whichever day; the only thing we made sure to keep 'traditional' was the childrens presents to keep the magic alive.

It’s a super easy drive to work, no traffic so probably don’t have to leave until just after 7.30
I like the idea of starting the festivities on Christmas Eve evening before the youngest goes to bed