So *Adopters* how are the holidays going?

[Tangerineandturquoise]

Do you find you need to stick to routing for your kids- or can they be a bit more relaxed about it all?
I find there is some flex but late nights and too many different places and activities don't do at all.
DS who bounced around a lot worries so much about preparing to go away- what we take what we need to do- what he can take what he can't bear to leave behind- what he needs. Just an overnight visit can have him packing up to a month in advance, he's been planning our holiday suitcases since December!

[Devora]

Hi TT, a fair bit of routine works for us. We pretty much keep to bedtimes etc as normal. dd is not good at travel, or being away from home, so we won't be doing much of that.
On the other hand, she really likes spending lots of time with family, especially 1-2-1 with me, so that will work well

[mcdog]

I keep bedtimes to normal (as much as possible) and just get them out the house every day. They and I go stir crazy otherwise.

[Kewcumber]

We broke up about 5 hours ago... will report back in a week. Lots of structured sports clubs planned which he's been to before and a very structured holiday which he's also done (very similar) before so I'm hoping holidays will work out OK this year. Really depends on what sports coaches they get and how well they cope with his occasionally explosive behaviour.

He had a bit of a hissy fit at last football session last saturday exacerbated by the football coach who had as big a hissy fit back at him When I arrived they were still bickering with each other and I said "What happened to cause this little tantrum" looking at DS and the coach replies

"well, I wanted him to play in goal and he didn' t want to play in goal so I told him... and then he said... and ..."

I had to interrupt him and say "erm I was talking to my son actually"!

Truly was like having two 7 year olds arguing and at least one of them has the excuse that he's only 9!!!

[Kewcumber]

Bedtime goes out of the window though - provided he's not at sports camp in the morning.

[slkk]

We've arranged one day a week at a nursery holiday club to keep that bit of normal type routine going. I'm recovering from surgery so my mum has been going to various end of term events. As she put it, he was 'creating his own order in the chaos around him'. Planning lots of little trips to local parks etc, a few theatre trips. Nothing too exciting so we'll see how it goes! Enjoy the time with your little ones.

[slkk]

Our main issue last summer was that the regular routine with dsc changes and they are here for long periods and then gone for long periods as opposed to our very regular termtime routine. Ds found this so difficult last year and screamed nonstop for ten days. However, he was very new then and so hopefully this year will be less stressful and the regular nursery trips will help him (he understands nursery).

[Tangerineandturquoise]

So far so good here- it's nice to get to Thursday evening and not have children climbing the walls because they need the week-end for a rest.

[Hels20]

Kew - you should write a sitcom! Your posts make me lol!!

Well - DS been off for 2 weeks. First week he learned to be naughty (I think he missed the structure of going to his pre-school) and to my horror - he has started licking things - all the germs off the tube, and even the pavement!!!! I was so cross - so made him walk to the next bus stop. He has also started kicking erm cars...and laughs when I tell him off... (Thankfully only the wheels and not much power when you are small and just 4).

This week was better - and he has shown a real interest - so bit the bullet and put him into a camp for 2 hours in the morning with a nursery friend and he is loving it. Loving it! He is pleading to go every day - good thing is - it wears him out - so he has been sleeping through the night!!

Next week - we go away for 10 days. Just me, DS and DH. Am hoping he doesn't hate it as I need a holiday (sounds selfish but I do...)

[Kewcumber]

Ha ha ha ha... Will it make you feel better if I tell you that DS used to lick lampposts! It horrifies him now but they do grow out of it!

[Daisiemoo]

Oh I really hope that grow out of the licking as my just turned 3 year licks bottom of shoes, the car, my face. Anything!!! Arrrrghhh!!

[Velvet1973]

Oh no mines just starting that at 13 months tell me I haven't got it for another 3 years pleeaaassseee!
Kew loved the 7 years old arguing! Do men ever grow up?

[slkk]

Yes ds is a licker too!

[Kewcumber]

he'll love having you both 24/7 on holiday Hels - and if he doesn;t - give him something to lick and job done.

[Kewcumber]

I love the holidays too Maryz - when I'm actually on holiday. When I'm juggling work and childcare not so much...

DS's usual tennis camp is booked - I've booked in on a new ridiculously over priced day camp. My eye is already twitching... do I warn them in advance about his... erm... volatile nature (not much point saying executive processing disorder, I may as well "He's a Martian") or do I keep my fingers crossed that the staff are OK with him?

[Hels20]

Where does this licking come from? I just don't get it. He will take about 2 or 3 days to settle in on holiday (usually / upon arriving - he just screams that he wants to go home) and then hopefully will enjoy it.

And I might just suggest he starts licking sand - that might cure him of this horrible habit....

My post meant to refer to "tennis" camp. His teacher pleaded that he come back again as she has never seen a child improve so much in such a short time! Roger Federer no 2 - here we come!!!

He is obsessed with the game so am nurturing the obsession - and thankfully, he hasn't yet started licking the tennis court.

[Hels20]

Kew - he's a very adorable and v handsome Martian though - so I expect they won't even notice any other Martian habits or behaviours...

[Devora]

We've had a couple of slightly over-excited days settling in. Today we seem to have reached holiday zen: I got woken up at 7am this morning (7am!! I haven't had such a long lie-in for zonks) and since then the girls have been writing stories or engaged in creative play ON THEIR OWN. dd1 has yet to emerge from her bedroom; dd2 has now settled down to watch Mamma Mia with a nice cup of tea. 9am and I haven't had to even make breakfast, let alone break up a fight, play shops, calm a tantrum or pick broken pieces off the floor!

I know it won't last but life is good

[MissFenella]

Later bed times this year - as they get older and seem to cope without the routine.

They are quite different (night owl/early bird) so have been encouraging their differences. There has previously been a lot of 'you are the same' in their lives.

Visiting family has been a joy - its all come together this year.

Hope everyone has an equally positive start to the break

[Cabawill]

I must admit to dreading the holidays coming round. All the other mums saying "Oh I can't wait" and me smiling and nodding thinking "how will I cope with them both at home with me 24/7"??

But, they've been amazing. I can't believe how much I've enjoyed spending time with them. We're still a relatively new family (6months) but DS has been entertaining himself with Avengers and Lego that he got for his birthday a few weeks ago and DD hasn't kicked it over once!

I had planned to keep to their normal 7:30 bedtime, but most nights we've been having so much fun playing games or watching films (despicable me about 20 times so far) it's been gone 9:00pm before they've been headed upstairs. This has meant lie ins. Glorious lie ins until 8:30am some mornings.

Please let the next 6 weeks be like this (for us all)

Oh, and my DD is 4 and licks and sniffs everything! She has to smell every item of clothing before putting it on and has licked stones, bottom of shoes, stuff picked up off the floor and even the dog! Nursery told us she sucked a glue spreader fully loaded with PVA glue too.

[slkk]

Ds likes doing exercise videos on rainy days like this. Favourite is burn to the beat on YouTube. Post surgery is a good excuse to watch him rather than join in (of course I normally do...)

[Tangerineandturquoise]

cabawill that sounds really positive- hopefully they are just feeling more comfortable now.
DS happily signed up for the reading challenge took out all six books at once and has since done nothing....
Lots of lego built