Anyone else going through the summer holidays with no outside help and finding it a slog?

[ssd]

I guess the title says it all. We are in Scotland and so are into week 6 of the holidays and today I realised I've not had a minute away from my 2 for the whole summer or a single night out. Except when my dh is home and then it's dinner, bath and bed. I know I could do exercise/evening course etc. but I'm just too buggered at night and at weekend there is always something on eg. kids parties, helping my mum etc.

I feel I'm a complete rat bag but realising this I'm not surprised.

Anyone else never get a break?

[nutcracker]

Nope I don't get a break either. I have 3 aged 7, 5 and 2.8.

We are only in week 3 i think, but it's not been quite as bad as i thought. The first week was the worst really.

My mom is off work next wek so we are planning to take them swimming and to the park and stuff.

[peaceandlight]

we are in week 4 and it's worse than i thought.
I don't recognise myself,this shrieking, harassed looking, miserable faced woman that i have turned into!

[jampots]

i have 2 and even dh is crap but my kids are older 8 and 12. Im actually really enjoying it

[cod]

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[Jimjams]

week 3 - social services are paying for an extra pair of hands so I never have more than two children at any one time (well rarely). It's made a big difference. Was worth the hassle setting it up (took a year!)

[nutcracker]

I take them in to Sutton and the park on my own Cod but I can't manage all 3 swimming on my own because dd2 and ds can't swim yet so I prefer them to have an adult each.

Took Dd's to the piccies last week and am planning on taking them all the the nature centre too.

[bambi06]

wheres the nature centre? in sutton, if so let me know where and i can take mine too

[nutcracker]

No it's not in Sutton it's in Edgbaston.

Oh I mean Sutton Coldfield byu the way not Sutton in Surrey.

[MarsLady]

I'm doing it all solo.

The trick is to arrange playdates, esp with people that you know are going away soon and so you can't have their little Tarquin back to your [evil laugh emoticon]

[Nightynight]

well Im going through the summer hols with no children and that is a slog too

[feelingold]

I am a childminder so not only do I have my own 2 but also my usual mindees who are 3 unders 3's and 2 school age kids as well (not full time luckily but they are spread out over the 5 days) so thus far not had any time to myself.
I despatately need a haircut but just can not fit it in even on a saturday cos dh is a firefighter and so far hasn't had a saturday off since kids broke up.
I definitely need some me time soon.

[ssd]

feelingold I'm a childminder too and I think it makes it worse as you have your own kids all day and the mindees too. Also you don't go to work and have adult company.[sigh]

I just need some me time, thank God the schools are back next Thursday and I'll get a couple of hours in the morning!!

[Louise1980]

I havent read this thread but I AM receiving outside help and im still struggling LOADS!!!!

My boys are in a sure start playscheme 2 mornings a week for 2 hours a morning.

Its better than nothing i supose but Im still really struggling. Most of you already know how hard i find it with my 2 boys who are 3 and 4.5. Things are so bad during the holidays that my GP likes to see me every 2 weeks concerning my depression! I hate being known as the one who struggles but the kids rarely notice and i just keep on smiling!!!

And just 29 more sleeps till school starts for mine!!!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Distel]

We are in week 3 and so far we have been quite busy, but not done anything really exciting. DS1 told me today he wanted to live with a new mummy who was nicer to him made me cry, but TBH has given me the kick up the butt I needed to get on and do things. I have no help and I do look after 2 friends children sometimes as they work, and it is beginning to get difficult. We arew going to Longleat next week for a daytrip, so should reedeem myself with them a bit. I have 3 children who are 1, 3 and 5, so finding something that they all enjoy is difficult.

[HelenEmjay]

Yes! i have a 5 year old and a 2.5 year old and im also 34 weeks pregnant, my mum is ALWAYS busy and can never take them for even an hour and i have my just turned 5 year olds birthday party to organise plus my new baby to prepare for, and my 2.5 year old has taken it upon himself to toilet train! obviously i could do without the 50+ visit to the toilet with him a day, and the sitting on the bath while he tells me what he's doing in the toilet (bless him!) for half an hour each time! but it would be great if he was dry in the day for when this baby arrives! so all in all we are about half way through the summer holidays here and i just about lost the plot last week! so who knows what the remainder of the break will be like! who the hell is it a holiday for too? my son cant wait to go back and doesnt understand why he left anyway, and i cant wait for him to go back too! - not that im trying to get rid of him or anything! xx

[juuule]

Doing it by myself too. Dh at work apart from the week off when we go on hols.
My older 4 (18,15,14,12)usually don't need much direction, they tend to arrange things with friends.
So that leaves me with 10yo,8yo,7yo,5yo and 2yo.
First week is usually the worst with us settling down with each other again.
We visit the library and find out whats going on for free locally. Then we work out where we would like to go and how we are going to get there. I've found that as long as there is an activity a couple of afternoons a week, then they get on playing with each other the rest of the time. For me though I find if it's getting too much it's time to go out (even if it's raining). And sometimes you meet people to talk to .
We are in week 3 now. We,ve some craft sessions arranged for next week. Then we've a week away. After that we only have a week to get ready to return to school. It goes a bit too quickly really.

[ssd]

I know, the holidays are too long aren't they?

The kids get bored, we get fed up and the costs keep rising...

The holidays only benefit the teachers.

[what a moaner I am today!!]

[ssd]

juule. YOU'VE GOT 9 KIDS??

[moondog]

juule........wow......

(Thought I was having it tough,stuck alone in Turkey with a baby and 4 year old,while dh works and where I know noone.Note to self:don't complain!)

[swedishmum]

I try to use English Heritage membership each week to keep the cost of going out down. We try to go out every other day so should be out there now. Dh is abroad so I find evenings the worst - could quite do with someone to chat to after my 4 have gone to bed. That said, I love the holidays.

[rickman]

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[moondog]

God knows how you do it Rickman.
I'm alone a lot without dh (only 2 kids admittedly) When it all gets too much I put together a rough picnic and go somewhere green (whatever the weather so that they can run.)

Did you get the pram from that MNer in the end,btw?

[Mosschops30]

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[rickman]

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[Aimsmum]

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