Originally Posted by
parabellum
How would your family take to re-rostering "Christmas" to another day as soon as you were home?
Yes, that's always an option, as is having two Xmas days. Even working a Xmas day on a cheeky SH day trip gives you some time at home. Trouble is, these are all compromises which have occasionally made me wish I did a normal 9-5 job and a lot will depend on the reaction of your partner to the fact that potentially they may be acting as single parent family over Xmas every year. Especially if he/she may have a career of their own.
There is no easy answer, and the old saying 'if you can't take a joke, don't join the club' applies. That said, I have strongly advised my own children to think carefully before taking up any career that involves shift work.