To think sod you, you ungrateful little gits

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

DSs (10 and 7) broke up from school today, as did I. Tonight has been a whingefest. To cap it all, when we said we are going to see Santa tomorrow (nice morning out at local museum, do it every year and there is loads to do as well as Santa) they moaned because it is too early in the morning at 10 o'clock.

Told them right, sod it, they don't have to go - but pointed out that I will also ruin their Sunday because we are off to a Christmas market. I dare say the trip to town on Tuesday and the meal out on Thursday will be similarly troublesome.

So, AIBU or are they ungrateful little bastards?

[GloriousSlug]

Watching with interest as I also have two ungrateful little bastards (12 and 8).

I'm sure you'll get people piling in telling you you're BU, your kids are tired from being all school since September, need down time etc. but I don't think you're BU at all, sod them!

[Liara]

I think it sounds like you are all tired and could do with a bit of a rest before charging into doing anything much.

Let them have a day or two of just hanging out if you possibly can before piling on the activities. Mine are the same age and are very, very low on energy at this time of the year. Everything is an uphill struggle.

[Floralnomad]

YANBU , but a trip to see FC , a Christmas market and a trip to town , presumably shopping , wouldn't be most 10y olds idea of fun .

[NiceFalafels]

Maybe they needed a rest day first?

[Tarla]

This is why we always designate the first weekend of the school holidays as a PJs/duvet/movie weekend.

I know it's annoying and I'd also be thinking "ungrateful little shits" if it was my kids doing it but are you really going to have a nice time if they're whinging and dragging their feet the whole time you're out? You could always look for a compromise, do the activities but promise a lazy takeaway dinner or a PJ day on Monday or something like that.

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

Maybe they do need a rest day - they will be vegetating all afternoon tomorrow though and the same on Sunday. Have arranged for them to stay at home with my mum while DH and I have an appointment at the bank on Monday. We asked them if they still wanted to do Santa when we booked it and they were all for it.

Anything that is not staring at a screen is beyond the pale as far as they are concerned.

[Serialweightwatcher]

Let them whinge and don't take on - they'll love it when they get there and you enjoy what you need to be doing, it's your holiday too - don't let them spoil it for you

[Nataleejah]

Maybe they think they're too grown up to see Santa. I remember at similar age i refused to see puppet show with grandma and little cousin because "i'm not a toddler"

[ItWentInMyEye]

Kids can be arseholes, especially this time of year. I find that mine are all tired and ready for a break. That said, if they were continually horrible despite fair warning, the Santa trip would be cancelled and rearranged for another day when they could behave. There's only so far they can push before they have to realise its them who will lose out from their behaviour.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

I think it is end of term miseries... got them here too.

[bloodymincepiez]

Ten and seven does seem quite old to go and see Santa, or am I out of touch? I thought it was mainly for under 5s?

[SummerSazz]

DH text me at work today to say dc (10 & 8) had managed 43 minutes, after breaking up from school at 2pm, without arguing

[SquinkiesRule]

I'd have cancelled FC too, maybe see how they are at 9am and play it by ear.
We are having a morning to decorate the tree. Ds 1 is here and Ds2 will probably sleep through it (He just went out with his mates) Dd is here, but I bet I end up doing most of it with Ds1 who has an obsession with the ornaments being placed properly.

[Lilaclily]

I'm refusing to go out tomorrow, it's the second last Saturday before Xmas, everywhere will be hell, hot and heaving,

[pipsqueak25]

might be letting you down gently they don't want the santa bit but are going to make you happy ? - let them chill for a bit,

[Tarla]

Miseries here too. School have done so much with them this week alone, all lovely things but no doubt tiring for them. School concert, special assembly, Christmas lunch, Christmas parties for each class, visit from Santa to each classroom, craft morning and a fun day with a visit from a storytelling troupe.

[Topseyt]

Does the Santa trip have to be tomorrow? Could they not have at least a day of downtime first and you could go another day during the week since you are not going to be working?

If it were me I probably wouldn't be going out until at least Monday or Tuesday if not essential.

[QueenLaBeefah]

I think they've probably out grown the santa thing.

[Wolpertinger]

10 yr old is too old for Santa and likely 7 yr old is too.

[DailyFail1]

Poorly behaved kids get their Christmas festivities cancelled in my house. But my preferred cure for grumpiness is to drag them out anyway. In fact the more grumpy a kid is, the longer the outdoor activities take.

[MinesAGin]

Tbh if they are spending a lot of time on their screens and that's all they want to do, then you're going to have massive problems when they're teens. You need to get them off them as soon as you can.

[BlossomHillOne]

Same here - three boys - 11, 9 and 7. I've told DH to take tomorrow off because I am not looking after them.

Three bloody weeks of this hell...

[DiegeticMuch]

The ten year old is definitely too old for Santa.

[jeaux90]

Glad I've seen this thread.
My dd 7 was a right shite this evening. I kind of knew she was knackered but it was like someone had given her a double espresso and dipped her in the spiteful puddle. I was bloody ecstatic when she fell asleep at 8.30.

I put it all down to tiredness and too much excitement this week at school. Crossing my fingers things will be a bit more chilled tomorrow!

[NiceFalafels]

There's your problem. You've created screen addicts. Go cold turkey Sunday after they have recovered! No screens for three days, then after that just an hour and a half each afternoon but only if they have done their chores and not nagged you for telly. Expect it to be a really tough week but at least you will have your family back.