Holidays, young kids and scheduling woes
 

I’m looking for advice from anyone who’s found a smooth way to get through the holidays with young kids on a junior schedule. This is the first time I’ve had to work Christmas in 11 years on the line. Christmas falls right in the middle of an 8 day trip for me. We’re not sure if we should pull them from school and do it early or postpone until after I get home. Of course the 3rd option of just telling them that I have to work and filling my stocking full of coal is at the bottom of my list. Are there any success stories out there?

Kids are amazingly resilient. Spouses are less so. If your sig other is on board, it won’t be an issue. If he/she is going to whine about it, your kids will probably follow suit. I have missed untold numbers of christmases in the military and airlines. When my kids question me about it I just explain that the airline doesn’t shut down for the holiday and it’s my turn to work this year. They get it. We celebrate when I am home. Honestly, it’s just part of the job.

Thanks, E6B. We might try to keep the real day a secret, much like the real Santa. Oops, I hope that wasn’t a spoiler!

Yep holidays happen in the day you can make it happen. A simple fact of the matter in this career.