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Original poster

How to handle husband working xmas day

154 replies

Stuckinside · 20/10/2025 21:10

So as the title suggests my husband has to work xmas day - despite his boss refusing to do any of the festive period (another story). I have a 5 and 10 year old and am trying to figure out how to do xmas day on boxing day without them realising, more specifically our older child. They love to track santa on Xmas eve which is going to make it difficult, so I'm open to any suggestions. I was going to add another chocolate into their advent calenders and do another day for the elf.... But I don't know how to ensure the day is seamless.....and don't want my older child to have the magic spoilt. Those who also work xmas day with children, how do you manage it? Thank you

OP posts:
Summmeeerrrrisherenearly030933939 · 20/10/2025 21:11

Hello, what shift is your Hubbie working?

Original poster
Stuckinside · 20/10/2025 21:13

8-5

OP posts:
Moonlightfrog · 20/10/2025 21:14

I don’t think you can get away with moving it, a 10 year old will definitely work it out and possibly the 5 year old too. Can you not still open presents before dh goes to work? My dad would often get called out to work Christmas Day but we were always up really early to open presents and then he would disappear whilst my mum did all the prep and entertained grandparents. We still enjoyed Christmas.

DingDongJingle · 20/10/2025 21:15

No chance you’d manage that with a 10 year old, surely they know what the date is? I have a 10 year old and wouldn’t get this past her in a million years.

ForLoveNotMoney · 20/10/2025 21:15

You absolutely can’t change the date and fool a 10 year old! Do they even still believe?
Just tell the kids that dad is at work so Christmas will be different this year.
I am working Christmas Eve night but I’ll work it around family so we still have a fab time.

DayOfSummer · 20/10/2025 21:15

That’s such a shame, I don’t have experience of this but could you still have Santa visit on actual Christmas Eve but then have a family Christmas with any other presents on Boxing Day? I think it would be very difficult to pretend it’s not Christmas Day.

FriedFalafels · 20/10/2025 21:15

I don’t think I could push it back with a 10yo, they’re too savvy and already on the cusp.

If I were in your situation, I’d have a special Christmas Eve meal then get up and do presents early before he heads to work

BotterMon · 20/10/2025 21:17

You can't. Stockings early am and then dinner when he gets home. So many have to work over the festive period and cope by being truthful.

Summmeeerrrrisherenearly030933939 · 20/10/2025 21:17

Okay that’s doable, what is his commute to work like?
Personally I’d stick with the same day, and not moving it. It’s impossible with a child aged 10 to not be aware of what the date is!
I have children a similar age and for my 10 year old I think it’s the last year of believing we have.
They get up slightly earlier than normal , DH is there for present opening, they play with presents whilst he is out …. Have a snacky lunch, nice meal when he comes in. Then Boxing Day is the day for Christmas dinner food etc

cheddercherry · 20/10/2025 21:19

Yeah another vote for don’t try to move it, not least because even the TV/ adverts etc will announce the day/ date.

Tulipvase · 20/10/2025 21:19

I’d just move Christmas dinner until 5, or whenever he is back.

We don’t eat till 4 anyway.

IAmKerplunk · 20/10/2025 21:20

Don’t try and deceive then re the date. My mum often worked Christmas Day so we had our Christmas Day on Boxing Day. Whilst mum was at work we still had a special breakfast, we’re allowed to open a few presents - I’m pretty sure my mum even told me that Santa did a second visit on Christmas night for all those homes where people were working on Christmas Day so Christmas night we still did the mince pie and sherry thing.

cornflourblue · 20/10/2025 21:22

Stockings and a nice breakfast before he goes to work (DC will likely be up at crack of dawn?).

Have Christmas dinner ready for when he gets home, and the rest of the presents.

Or go continental and have your Christmas dinner on Christmas eve?

Will you see family on Christmas day? It can be a long day, maybe go for a walk or save a favourite film for the afternoon, start some new traditions?

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 20/10/2025 21:22

Unless your 10 year old has some cognitive issues, you can't lie about Christmas Day and they already know Father Christmas isn't real.

RawBloomers · 20/10/2025 21:24

Unless your 10 year old is very out of the norm, I don’t think you have a good chance of getting away with this. So before you decide to go through with it, think about how it might impact him to realize what you’re trying to do. I would also reassure you that it’s not really necessary. Just tell him his dad is working so you’ve asked Santa to leave the stockings, or whatever your custom is, with you and you’re going to do X,Y & Z this year so the whole family can enjoy it.

But if you’re going to - You will probably need to keep him away from others for a good few days before hand. Plan on not going out anywhere but the countryside from the 19th ish. Also keep him away from screens other than video content you choose. Get grandparents etc. onside. They can call up and say things like “getting excited for Christmas Eve. tomorrow?” On the 24th. I think the Santa tracker may just have to be broken this year, I don’t on know of one you could “cheat” on.

have activities planned for the 25th. It’s going to be awfully quiet outside, which might give the game away. Movies, last minute decoration making or bakIng, etc. but make sure you have absolutely everything in.

IAmKerplunk · 20/10/2025 21:25

Is it going to be a regular thing in the future? Your dh working Christmas? If so then it’s a good time to start new traditions and spread Christmas over a few days. Your dc will be fine though I can imagine it feels tough for you at the moment. Don’t overthink it.

PinkJ · 20/10/2025 21:25

First world problems! Do it another day, eat later in the day!

Dartmoorcheffy · 20/10/2025 21:25

Early start to do presents, maybe even some on Xmas eve. Chilled day for you and the kids playing with presents then Xmas dinner when he gets home. Its not that bad really.

JudgeBread · 20/10/2025 21:25

My mam used to tell us that Santa was so busy that German Santa was covering for him so we'd get our presents on Christmas Eve like in Germany (but we weren't to tell any of our friends in case they get jealous).

She added the extra touch of writing the tags in German.

Mumof1andacat · 20/10/2025 21:26

Nice dinner on Xmas eve, stockings early before dh goes to work, let them open the other presents if they want in the day, a simple lunch and a buffet tea when he gets home.

hyggetyggedotorg · 20/10/2025 21:26

I’ve worked in healthcare for ever & have, as such, been missing for parts of Christmas Day a few times.

Open presents early - even on Christmas Eve night if your DC aren’t early risers. Then you have a chilled day playing with toys, eating & watching TV with a lovely dinner when DH gets home in the evening.

DH’s Christmas won’t be great but yours can be. If he had Boxing Day off I’m sure he’ll enjoy the rest then.

IAmKerplunk · 20/10/2025 21:26

RawBloomers · 20/10/2025 21:24

Unless your 10 year old is very out of the norm, I don’t think you have a good chance of getting away with this. So before you decide to go through with it, think about how it might impact him to realize what you’re trying to do. I would also reassure you that it’s not really necessary. Just tell him his dad is working so you’ve asked Santa to leave the stockings, or whatever your custom is, with you and you’re going to do X,Y & Z this year so the whole family can enjoy it.

But if you’re going to - You will probably need to keep him away from others for a good few days before hand. Plan on not going out anywhere but the countryside from the 19th ish. Also keep him away from screens other than video content you choose. Get grandparents etc. onside. They can call up and say things like “getting excited for Christmas Eve. tomorrow?” On the 24th. I think the Santa tracker may just have to be broken this year, I don’t on know of one you could “cheat” on.

have activities planned for the 25th. It’s going to be awfully quiet outside, which might give the game away. Movies, last minute decoration making or bakIng, etc. but make sure you have absolutely everything in.

Edited

Sorry - disagree with this. Absolutely don’t lie to your dc.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 20/10/2025 21:26

Of course you don’t lie to your child
famiky celebration and Xmas presents on Xmas eve they won’t mind doing things a day early, stockings from Santa do early morning if they are early risers or wait until dad is home to peek at them

or tell them you be callled Santa and asked him to come on Xmas Eve instead

curious79 · 20/10/2025 21:27

Have a nice breakfast together, relaxed morning with some games / walk, Christmas movie with kids, then turkey once husband back at 5:30?!

Namechangedforspooky · 20/10/2025 21:27

I work regular Christmas days and have always just got up early for presents. The kids will be up at the crack of dawn most likely anyway.
i don’t think you’ll get away with fooling a 10 yo into changing the day. My eldest didn’t believe by that point either.
i would just make the run up on Christmas Eve special