How to handle husband working xmas day

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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

A letter from one of the elves explaining that different people celebrate Xmas differently, some celebrate Xmas eve, others on the day and some people not until the first week of January. As their father is working they think it would be best to deliver everything boxing day.

Let them have a stocking on the day and do everything else boxing day.

Me and dh have each worked many Christmas days since our kids were born.

Its not been a big deal, we have sold it as an extra day to celebrate

Christmas presents have been opened on Christmas morning before whoever was working went to work.

Then whichever parent was home would either host family / or go to family and basically do Christmas day without working parent and we would then celebrate as a family of 4 (and see wider family again if they wanted) the next day (or whenever we had a free day where neither was working)

I wouldn't bother trying to pretend boxing day is Christmas day, just sell it as 2 celebrations.

Very, very different, as we were living in an extreme Muslim country at the time.
We told the kids Santa snuck in 24 hours early to avoid questions at immigration, and did the whole thing a day early - which was the weekend.

Then on Xmas day I took the kids to a theme park - which was open as it was a normal working day.

I wouldn't try and move the day secretly - and if you do, I'd bring it forward, not push it back.

As I lone parent I've had many a christmas just me and the kids. Does the 10 year old really still believe?.You can have a great day with them and christmas dinner at tea time. It's a shame but it not the end of the world.

Can you visit family while he is out? I have a few friends who are nhs/energency workers. They either do day before or after. Or they wait until they are home. As hubby is working until 5 I’d be tempted to do Christmas dinner in the evening. But there’s plenty you can do to still have a nice day.

DH works every other Christmas. I remember one year, thinking we could move Christmas, but in the week before when my 2 1/2 year old came home from nursery announcing how many sleeps til Christmas, I realised it was not going to fly. That year - DH came home from nightshift at 8, we did Santa presents (DS wanted to wait til his Dad was home to go into the living room as he was a bit scared of Santa coming into house). After presents, DH went to bed and DS and I went to the zoo! (Open on Christmas Day as they still need to feed the animals). Then home, play with presents, DH up at about 4, hour or so together, DH off to work, DS off to bed, me Christmas telly and chocolates. Other years we have been away to see family, and presents with DH over zoom at some point. If we are home - food is party food from M&S on Christmas Day - turkey a day he’s off.

Dh has had a job that means sometimes he’s working on Xmas day and it’s a 12 hour shift, we just work around it, we have a full Christmas dinner just the four of us on a day before he starts his shifts then on the day the dc and I will be with extended family. Sometimes they’re up early enough so that he can see presents opened sometimes not. It’s just a day tbh, take photos and videos for him to see and the children are mostly just high on new toys etc they won’t mind. In 2020 he was at work and the three of us waited until he got back to eat Christmas dinner so that’s definitely doable with your timings, he is likely to see presents too.

I worked lots of Christmas Days over my career. We did presents first thing before I left for work - when the DC were little they were up early anyway so it didn't really make any difference. When they were very little I think DH went to his parents after that, but when they were older they stayed at home, watched tv, played with their presents etc just like any other Christmas apart from no Christmas dinner. We'd do that either on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. Or once or twice on Dec 27th if I'd been up all night on Christmas day and was too tired to cook on Boxing Day. Nobody ever complained. Of course I preferred not to work Christmas Day but I had to do my share and it wasn't the end of the world.
I'd just tell them. At that age they're perfectly capable of understanding that parents have to work sometimes. If your DH is only working til 5 why not just have Christmas dinner as your evening meal instead of lunch? Let the kids stay up late to play with their Dad afterwards if they want and have a lie in on Boxing Day. You can still have all the components of a traditional Christmas Day, just not in quite the usual order.

Most kids will be up at the crack of dawn on 🎄Day, so I’d let them have stockings before dh goes to work, and a couple of ‘tree’ presents after breakfast, save the rest for later.
Could you not have a late dinner? We never have ours until 5 or 6 anyway. Any young Gdcs will have some sort of simple lunch at their usual time. It works fine for us.

my DC had this all the time (DH is a Chef)

you get up and do stockings nice and early, he goes to work, you all stay home and play games, watch films, eat nice things, and when he gets home you do presents.

I used to give them fish fingers for lunch and they loved it.

How weird .... My dad usually worked Christmas day. We just had dinner around his shift
So in your case food in the evening , open stockings in the morning and presents when you are all together later

I worked loads of Christmas Days when my children were young (hospitality). We used to have our Christmas Day on Christmas Eve. We still often open presents on Christmas Eve - it's lovely, really magical and I actually prefer it.

I don’t think moving it will actually work, unfortunately. Your youngest is pretty young so presumably is so excited for Xmas morning she’d be up early (perhaps also your ten year old would too). If I was in your situation I’d personally get the kids up early (or earlier if already early risers), maybe a couple of hours before your husband leaves for work and then do stockings/santa presents all together so both parents can still experience that with them, and the kids have the excitement. If you do separate presents to them from parents as well you could save those for after work? Or whatever way you organise presents in your house. Or just stockings and a few tree presents? Then whilst husband at work, if you were planning on doing the full traditional Xmas dinner on Boxing Day anyway, just cook it so that it’s ready for a little while after he gets back? Then more present opening all together again. It’ll make for a long day, but the little one can still nap if needed.

During the day you could watch some movies with them, whilst playing with/putting together toys, maybe get them to join in some of the food prep/cooking, or get a couple of gingerbread house sets for them to make and decorate during the day, some little xmassy cupcakes for them to make.
We often (90%+ of the time, if I’m really honest) have Xmas dinner pretty late anyway. Actually we’ve had it on Boxing Day and also the day after a couple of times, we just chilled and did whatever we felt on the days mostly, although that was with adult child.

I think just grasp the day, accept that it’ll all have to be moved around, but honestly, it could be fun, and sooo much better than trying to pretend it’s not happening. All the ten year old will need to do is turn the tv on to see it’s actually Xmas day. Or hear from a friend…any number of things will be sure to let the cat out of the bag. I think only possible if you have very young children, I’m afraid. Would be interested in hearing what you end up planning to do tho! :)

You surely can't be serious. Are you really going to try and fool (lie to) a 10 year old that Boxing Day is actually Christmas Day? I don't see anything "magical" in that. I would've thought the ridiculous machinations involved would cause far more distress than you're trying to avoid. I'd be amazed if they still believed in Santa anyway. Loads of people work on Christmas Day. It's not nice but kids shouldn't be shielded from all kinds of reality. That's not right or healthy.

I'm working nightshifts through the festive period and when this happens I move xmas eve to the 27th, xmas day the 28th and boxing day the 29th. Granted my youngest is a teen but it works out great and it still feels like xmas as it's all about mindset and cracking on with it. I prefer doing it that way when I am working through it as dont feel like I've missed out on anything or feel rushed to do things.

My dad worked every Christmas Day (farmer so unavoidable).

We got up early and opened presents and then retreated to the living room/bedroom and played with those when he was leaving the house. We had dinner as soon as he was in the door and then chilled as a family.

Haven’t read the full thread but I think if you opened presents early and then did a relaxed breakfast and had Christmas films on/visited family for an hour or two the day will fly in by the time he’s home. Then have quality time before bed.

It never really bothered me as it was all I knew. I would also try and do some festive activities the last 7 days running up to Xmas the days he is off so you do get quality time in there too.

I wouldn’t change the date.there is always one of us working Christmas Day (both nurses) and we rotate who’s turn it is (we work in same dept). 8-5 really isn’t too bad- in one of my workplaces we did 7.30am-9.30pm and you missed the whole day. I would get the kids up early and do presents and breakfast before husband goes to work. Then have Christmas dinner at 6 when husband gets home and he can have time playing with the kids and having time as a family.

Well I'm sure the kids will know that santa doesn't have days off in his sack.....just do the present opening before he goes to work and have Christmas dinner as your evening meal. Put out a little fun buffet for them to graze on. Sounds like my perfect day tbh.

What date are they breaking up from school? Not sure why loads are saying you couldn't fool a ten year old. All the trn year old I know wouldn't have a clue Xmas will be 1 day out.

Open the presents before he leaves for work. Share the day with the children then have the dinner once he’s home. That’s what we would do x

Mine definitely would. Say they finish school on the 19th… they know it’s 6 days until Christmas. They’re not stupid.

Up nice and early (am sure you will be anyway) for stockings and hot chocolate in bed. DH goes to work. You and your children spend a lovely day pottering about in a Christmassy way- a walk, watch a film, prepare dinner together. They could also maybe prepare something for your husband as a surprise- baking or decorating or something. Do presents when he gets in and then have dinner.

I definitely wouldn't try to pretend that Boxing Day is Christmas Day- sounds very hard to do and stressful.

I don't think my children are stupid, but they never know what day of the week it is in the holidays. Mine break up on the 18th, thats 7 full days till Xmas day they wouldn't know it was 1 day out. My 19 year old will often say to me what day are we on.

Just get up early and I open the presents before he goes to work:

we both work shifts so are always working Christmas the kids don’t even notice. We always have the dinner at some stage during the day and always manage it grand.

I would do ordinary christmas eve traditions but just do stocking and main present first thing before your husband leaves. Would let them choose their favourite food for lunch and play games/christmas crafts and do a christmas eve buffet for christmas day night.

Then boxing day i’d give rest of presents they have and do the roast whilst your husband spends time with them.