But I have little kids!

agent · Oct 17, 2003

Originally posted by Gomer
OK, I'll play the wicked witch. What makes people with kids so special? Or, any more special than an employee with obligations to parents, friends, or to themselves? Or a non-breeding single employee who enjoys Xmas for either religious or non-religious reason(s). Parenthood is a voluntary occupation, not sainthood. And the profession you chose is 24/7 so you should expect to work holidays.

Yes, while you can expect to work some holidays, my point (if any of you arrogant childless people can understand) is exactly what others have said.

These holidays are most special/important to children. They will not understand if there mommy isnt there on xmas morning. You adults should understand this and grow up.

I have yet to hear a valid argument that would convince me. You almost insist that a requirement to be a nurse should be that you have no children.

Do children in a family not generally make the adult more responsible, patient, caring, and understanding?

Don't tell me you get that from your dog.. please!!

iliel · Oct 18, 2003

Agent...I don't have children...and you can not tell me that because you do, and we are the same age, that you are more mature, more responsible, caring, and patient than me.

NurseBenz · Oct 18, 2003

I always volunteer to work all of the holidays...it's quiet and oh yea, about $45 and hour. My kids ages 15 & 2 don't mind having xmas a day early or late as long as they have it.

bagladyrn, RN · Oct 18, 2003

Agent - I think that when you explain (even to a small child) why you have to work the holiday, you are teaching them an important lesson in caring for the less fortunate - who have to be in the hospital rather than with their own family. Good bible lesson there - don't have it at hand, but seem to remember a passage about Jesus choosing to heal someone on the Sabbath - do you think he complained about being expected to "work"?

bonjovigirl · Oct 18, 2003

Christmas isn't for the children. Christmas is a #1 religious holiday (reagrdless of what Hallmark has to say) #2 about family. ( not about little Bobby getting a new video game) Commercialism has made it about the kids, about opening up presents on Christmas morning. So I don't want to hear from anyone how its a "kids" holiday.Its a "holiday" period. just about everyone wants it off, and its only fair to rotate. I don't really care about anyone's kids. really, I don't . Why exactly should I? I have yet to hear a valid arguement for that. Mom loves you just the same if she has to work christmas, isn't that a good lesson to teach your little ones? That theres more to the world than whats under the tree?

I do have to say that "I" (not to say anyone else should) would work for a single parent who had NO ONE else to care for their kids. Not because I feel a drive to care about the world's children, but thats a bad situation to be in and ANYONE in a really bad situation needs a little help once in a while. Likewise someones who's husband or wife had just come home from active duty or something like that, I mean we are all human here. But simply having children doesn't AT ALL pull at my heartstrings. Not in the least bit.

jadednurse · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by agent
I'm sorry but you guys are being really immature.

Once you have kids you will understand. As a guy I think it wouldn't be as hard to miss a holiday, but I cant imagine a new mother with little ones missing christmas.

You two should really wait till you have kids then see what your opinions are.

And you should really wait until you are a nurse and then see what your opinions are.

cannoli · Oct 18, 2003

agent, maybe you are the one who is arrogant.

cannoli · Oct 18, 2003

bonjovigirl, great post!

jadednurse · Oct 18, 2003

Just wanted to add that sometimes it's not a choice to have children for some women...they aren't able to.

So the argument that "it's your choice not to have children" just really has no merit for some...

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by agent
Yes, while you can expect to work some holidays, my point (if any of you arrogant childless people can understand) is exactly what others have said.

These holidays are most special/important to children. They will not understand if there mommy isnt there on xmas morning. You adults should understand this and grow up.

Do children in a family not generally make the adult more responsible, patient, caring, and understanding?

As an "arrogant, childless person" I CAN understand that holidays are most special and important to children. And Christmas will be just as special and important to a child if it comes on December 23 or December 26 this year as it would be on December 25. Christmas is NOT a date on a calender -- there's a lot more to it than that. And THAT's what we should be teaching our children. But calling it "xmas" as you do, you may not understand the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas may be especially important to children, but it is also a very holy day for religious folk as well -- whether or not they have children. It may be an especially important holiday this year for the widow whose husband died fighting terrorism, or for the wife whose husband is just returning from war. Or for the son whose mother was given 6 months to live after her breast cancer recurred. Or the brother who wants to participate as his brother celebrates his first Christmas mass since being ordained. It's NOT all about parents.

As as for children making people more "responsible, patient, caring, and understanding" -- apparently not. Not if they think that having children entitles them to a free pass on holidays.

By the way -- the reason I DON'T have children is that I had cervical cancer at the age of 25. I suspect that went a long ways toward making me more responsible, patient, caring and understanding. It certainly made me more adult!

angelac1978 · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by Ruby Vee
As an "arrogant, childless person" I CAN understand that holidays are most special and important to children. And Christmas will be just as special and important to a child if it comes on December 23 or December 26 this year as it would be on December 25. Christmas is NOT a date on a calender -- there's a lot more to it than that. And THAT's what we should be teaching our children. But calling it "xmas" as you do, you may not understand the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas may be especially important to children, but it is also a very holy day for religious folk as well -- whether or not they have children. It may be an especially important holiday this year for the widow whose husband died fighting terrorism, or for the wife whose husband is just returning from war. Or for the son whose mother was given 6 months to live after her breast cancer recurred. Or the brother who wants to participate as his brother celebrates his first Christmas mass since being ordained. It's NOT all about parents.

As as for children making people more "responsible, patient, caring, and understanding" -- apparently not. Not if they think that having children entitles them to a free pass on holidays.

By the way -- the reason I DON'T have children is that I had cervical cancer at the age of 25. I suspect that went a long ways toward making me more responsible, patient, caring and understanding. It certainly made me more adult!

excellent post Ruby Vee! So since I am an arrogant childless person, myself, I should forego spending a holiday with my mom who has MS and is going down hill very quickly? I should miss seeing my brother who I only see once a year, at holidays? I should miss spending the holiday with my neices and nephews and getting to see their faces when they open their presents? Oh and by the way, little kids really don't care what day Christmas happens on, in my family, we get together on Thanksgiving and give the kiddos their gifts then. They couldn't care less about the date on the calendar, all they care about is that Auntie Angie and Uncle Josh are there to play with them. Since my family doesn't place any real religeous signifigance on Christmas, should I have to work and give up time to spend with my husband? I guess since I don't have kids, I should. Otherwise, I'm arrogant, immature, etc etc. oh and a whiner I guess. Give me a break! Holidays are for spending time with your family! If your kids are disappointed because mommy or daddy isn't there to give them their Sony Play Station, then maybe the kids need to be taught about priorities and what is really important in life.

I'm 25 and I do plan on having kids later on, when I am done with school. I won't ***** and complain though, if my 2 year old has to open her presents on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas day, it goes with the territory, you work in healthcare, you should expect to work at least some holidays. Otherwise, you're in the wrong line of work.

Angela

ps, having children does not make a parent more responsible, caring, patient, etc, my sister and her husband are prime examples of this. Funny, they have the same entitlement attitude as well...

Dixen81 · Oct 18, 2003

How would you suggest explaining to the REAL little children why they don't have presents to unwrap on Christmas morning that Santa left during the night while they were asleep? Or did he not leave any for them because they had to celebrate "Christmas morning" the day before or the day after?

I thought nurses were pretty compassionate people, but now after reading some of these responses, many of you don't sound like anyone I would want taking care of my family. But who knows, maybe you will change when you grow up.