Hi,
I am starting to wonder if we are not meant to ever have any family time. We are (hubby and I) both noticing rises in stress over the last year. We have a 10 year old and a 6 year old. We have no grandparent help (only 2 grandparents left and they are both in their 80's so too old anyway). No help from siblings etc.
I work for the NHS and a school holiday 'rota' was introduced a few years back. Fair enough, we are allocated which week(s) we can have. However, hubby has fixed holidays and is unable to swap. He rarely gets school holidays off (probably one week every 3-4 years).
We both work ridiculous hours and very, very antisocial hours. I have worked xmas day for the last 3 years (not by choice). Hubby works a lot of weekends and the weekend he is off I am at work! So, neither of us gets a break at weekends. I work 3 days plus extra out of hours work.
Since the school holiday rule was brought in by the Government last September (no term time holidays) we have not been able to have any time off as a complete family. Hubby has told me he has May whitweek off next year. I have not :-( I have October week and Xmas week next year. It is becoming a ridiculous situation. Both of us are noticing stress levels rising. We can see no time together for the next few years.
We can't change jobs as we are both trained in specialist areas. We cannot get either employer to budge and allow us all the same week off. The schools won't budge (obviously) even though we have proof of our predicament. I feel like we are fighting against a brick wall.
What are supposed to do? Our children will grow into adults and never have any childhood memories of holidays. We feel in an impossible situation due to our jobs and lack of family/employer support. Is there anything we can do?
My direct line manager brought this school hol rota in deliberately after I started (I did mention it at interview that I couldn't be told which holidays to take). Grrrr. I know that school hols should be shared out but I am being told WHEN to be off. I never had this in my previous NHS job of 11 years. I am convinced HR and the manager know nothing of it.