https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:47:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1120220 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 19:33:57 +0000 bpcmarj 1120220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We try to make sure we do something on another day, or at least that's what I plan to do going forward. DH missed P's first halloween last year and he was sad and pissed. But, like you said, she will not remember him not being there last year. But, he does at least get Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1120186 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 19:11:41 +0000 swedishfish 1120186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DH works for a news station so there are times he has to work holidays. If he wants off he either switches a day or has to take vacation time. But he's only allowed to use vacation time on a holiday if there are enough people to cover. We usually just celebrate another day with his family and I spend the holiday with mine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1120179 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 19:07:58 +0000 googly-eyes 1120179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: dh is also a police officer and during Los first (autocorrect had Iraq? huh?) year missed her first Xmas (and eve), New Year's Eve, and took vaca through Easter (yay!) he somehow got thanksgiving and Halloween off. But Halloween was when LO was 6 weeks (fuuussssy!) and thanksgiving wasn't much better although we were glad to be together. We just move things to lore convenient days and do the big get together a a much as we can. It sucks but I'm always grateful he isn't deployed or something worse than at work. Not sure how this will affect things long term yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1120087 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 18:08:22 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1120087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with at least getting her dressed up and taking pictures together a day or two ahead of time. That way he can get excited to be the first to see her dressed up and he's only missing the actual trick or treating part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1120036 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 17:03:04 +0000 NavyRN2012 1120036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What everyone else said. I worked shift work my first three years of being a nurse, and when we moved away from family, we just celebrated on my off day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1120026 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 16:45:50 +0000 boots 1120026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My FIL is a CO at a prison, and often missed holidays with DH, and misses holidays with us now as a family. </p> <p>We've always just celebrated when we can! Either earlier or later in the day, or a day before/after.</p> <p>Obviously things like Halloween have to happen ON the day...but you could always dress LO up in her costume when he is home so he can still see all the cuteness :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1119961 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 15:10:20 +0000 kjpugs 1119961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is a chef at "the happiest place on earth" aka, open 365. If it's a day he's scheduled during the week, it doesn't matter if it's a holiday or not- he works. LO is due in a few weeks but so far we've discussed just trying to make a big deal of it before work (so Halloween we could dress her up and do photos and make it special before he goes in, etc) For holidays like Halloween, Christmas, etc, also we want to MAKE SURE he gets to do stuff with her beforehand- like going to the Disney/Universal stuff, pictures with Santa, decorating the tree, etc. Spreading out the holidays with other traditions you can do when DH is off is a great way to make the holidays still magical! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1119944 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:51:34 +0000 Revel 1119944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It doesn't affect us with LO, but my mom worked in medicine growing up so often worked some major holidays. We just worked around her schedule and it was fine for me as a kid. </p> <p>I second the suggestion to start other traditions. Christmas Eve dinner, a trip to the pumpkin patch, something fun on the day after Thanksgiving all sound like ideas that might work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1119936 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:43:29 +0000 Emsmems 1119936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you meet up with him at some point during his shift so he can see her and get a picture of everyone together? My DH is a firefighter and I'm a nurse, so we work holidays too, but I try to go to the fire station at some point on holidays he works and at least see DH. Our LO isn't due until January though, so I don't know what we will do when the kid's here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1119891 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:45:39 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1119891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I miss most holidays for work. It's just part of my job... But I'm generally not at work for the whole 24 hours, so we just shift our celebration to early or late...and yeah, every other year I usually miss fourth of July, halloween or new years. It's just part of my job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1119888 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:43:35 +0000 MamaBehr 1119888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's super hard..... DH doesn't miss out on holidays (he's an accountant and the numbers can wait hahaha), but we aren't near any family. This will be our first Christmas without being able to travel (I'm due Jan 5th with our third baby) and I know it will be hard. With birthdays we have just used FaceTime while doing cake cutting etc. </p> <p>For Halloween this year, maybe you could do a pumpkin patch with your LO wearing her costume. That way DH is still involved in Halloween-y things, but just not on the day. And, for other holidays, start new traditions! Like open some presents the day before Christmas. </p> <p>That's super hard though :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1119885 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:41:45 +0000 Lindsay05 1119885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband works week on week off so he usually misses half the holidays every year. It is really annoying. Lots of times we try and celebrate on a day he is off. Its not the same, i know. Maybe try to organize a friend of family get together dvery now and then so you both dont feel like your missing out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1119883 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:40:47 +0000 sorrycharlie 1119883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry :( I have no personal experience, but could you facetime/skype with him during his break? or bring her to visit in her costume during a break time? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/missing-holidays#post-1119873 Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:31:26 +0000 Sapphiresun 1119873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, my husband is a police officer, which means pretty much anytime there's an occasion where most people are out having fun, he has to work. When it was just the two of us, it was annoying, but I just celebrated Halloween/Thanksgiving/Canada Day/May Long/Christmas/New Year's Eve etc. without him. </p> <p>However, yesterday I bought our LO's first Halloween costume and DH is seriously sad about missing it (she'll be 3 months at Halloween and is going to be a parrot since I have a pirate costume on hand and will take her out trick or treating with her cousins just for a couple houses - mostly for the photo op).</p> <p>I tried to reason with him, that she's not going to remember he's not there, and it really will likely be just putting on the costume for 15 minutes and taking a picture.</p> <p>So, my question is for those of you who consistently have to be away from your families for holidays or have partners who do, do you have any suggestions about how you handle holidays with the kids, or how to make him feel better about missing all these things? </p>