But I have little kids!

featherzRN, MSN · Oct 18, 2003

I am an "arrogant childfree" pagan nurse, but Xmas morning is still my favorite time of the year. We do everything someone with kids would do, even Stockings and Santa.

I don't mind working each and every weekend (when I had a job that was open weekend), but Xmas was always #1 on my request list. I think I've only worked one or two Xmas's in 14 years, but I worked in a hospital where everyone wanted new years off for some reason. :)

Thankfully I now work in a business hours clinic-the other nurses are jostling for who gets the 'surrounding' days off, but I am happy to just get 'the day' and every other major holiday off (along with weekends). Plus I have off for Halloween (Samhain for me) and Winter Solstice. :)

H.

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Oct 18, 2003

The key here is negotiation. I have five kids, had several foster children for more years than I care to remember, for about ten years ALWAYS had at least 8 kids at home. (Don't ask me about my sanity!)

I always worked Thanksgiving Day - kids could go to grandma's or the ex's, then I cooked and all the extended family came that Friday or Saturday for dinner.

I would work day shift on Christmas Eve, and seconds or nights on Christmas Day if I had to. People would trade shifts, and work different ones than usual to get off to be with their families. No one would give me any crap as long as I said I would work some shift on one of those days.

New Years I could care less about. I would work it and if I had it off would volunteer to trade with those who wanted it off. Halloween, if I had to work 12 hr nights my husband or my ex would take the kids trick or treating. If I worked 12 hr days, we would go once I got home. Many times I went in my scrubs and said my costume was a nurse!!!

Compromise and negotiation is the key thing here.

Retired Nurse · Oct 18, 2003

This is from Santa Claus My schedule is flexable. I can come to your house anytime it is convinent. After all, I can't get clear around the world on Christmas night. It is very helpful if you let me know your schedule, so the presents will be there when you are there to see the kids open them.

Get a life. Single people have families too. I never expected them to work for me when my kids were small.

Dixen81 · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by cannoli
peggysue, are you even a nurse?

You certainly know how to be insulting.

I am a student. In what way did I insult you?

cannoli · Oct 18, 2003

Post #132 was insulting in general.

Paleobug · Oct 18, 2003

There is a book called "Family Values, How America Cheats the Childless" by Elinor Burket. In her book this is one of the things she discusses that childfree people are always asked to cover for the childed, for such things as holidays, sport practices, etc.

Dixen81 · Oct 18, 2003

I don't intentionaly insult people; I just call it like I see it.

cannoli · Oct 18, 2003

Well, you don't necessarily see very clearly then.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by peggysue
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.

I'd explain to the REAL little children that they don't have presents (or maybe just a token Christmas stocking) to open up on December 25 because OUR family is celebrating Christmas on December 23 (or December 26 or January 2) this year. And because we're so special, Santa Claus made a special trip to leave our presents on our special day. Christmas is about more than a date on a calender or a pile of green and red-wrapped gifts!

Dixen81 · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by cannoli
Well, you don't necessarily see very clearly then.

Geesh...I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall. I've had enough of this thread. Happy holidays, everyone. I hope schedules work out in a way that all of you are content. See ya.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by peggysue
I don't intentionaly insult people; I just call it like I see it.

You might want to work on that a bit.

cannoli · Oct 18, 2003

I have to agree with Ruby Vee.

"You might want to work on that a bit", particularly if and when, you become an RN.