To think it's just me that doesn't want the 6 weeks to end !

I do think my DS needs to go back to school before he forgets everything he ever learned though 😂

And to see his friends - between one thing and another he hasn’t spent much time at home so only saw school friends on three days of the holidays!

If you are NOT one of those parents that sits there, complaining about their children, saying how annoying they are, saying that you can't wait for the holidays to end, and that you can't stand half terms when your children are off, this does NOT apply to you

You don't know what everyone is dealing with in their life though, so if you can't be kind then be quiet. Because all you're doing is digging yourself into a bigger whole demonstrating your naivety to real world life for many parents.

Then you’re talking about an incredibly niche set of parents then. Regardless, anyone is allowed to have feelings about something they find difficult. And finding school holidays a challenge for whatever reason doesn’t mean that some me shouldn’t have had children.

Children will also go through different phases where they are less content be off school and out of routine. We don’t struggle being working parents – we have a nanny housekeeper and enough money for activities. We have been abroad, to Legoland, day trips to London, farms, parks, national trusts, play dates – you name it. We have filled their time and given them adequate chill out downtime. But they have generally been out of sorts and not content with being off school which they vocalise to us, which makes them disregulate easier, crabby and squabble with each other.

Is someone not allowed to find that challenging? Does that window of the year mean I shouldn’t have had kids?

I can see both (or several?) sides of this.

If you’ve got the time off with them throughout, live somewhere nice where you can have easy days out/ let children play outdoors, or the money to entertain easily (or children who like doing at home things) it can be wonderful.

If you’re trying to work at home whilst children rattle about the house - either due to no holiday clubs in the area or no money to pay for it - it can be hell on earth. Almost as bad as Covid lockdowns (although at least no requirement to home school at the same time).

My situation is that my exh has half the holidays, and I take as much a/l as I can in my half. I often book holiday clubs for the remaining few days to a week, but my parents actually asked to have the 10 yo during that time, and my older one was on an exchange.

So the time I had off with them was absolutely lovely, and the rest I didn’t have them. I realise I’m extremely “lucky” (or perhaps have very specific circumstances, as it’s not exactly lucky to always not see your kids for a big chunk of the holidays, I miss them), and not everyone could do the same.

Another way of saying - yes I really like the holidays but only if I’m off work!

So the only parents you’re referring to are the ones who are SAHPs with tons of spare cash to do fun things in the holidays? Bit niche.

I love DD. I love spending time with her. But yes I bloody love it when we have the routine of school. She’s happier, I’m happier, and the time I get to spend with her is better quality because I’m not juggling work at the same time. It’s great. The holidays are fun but 9 weeks of them are a struggle.

Well knock me down with the worlds smallest feather. Woman who doesn’t work and has 1 NT, well behaved child enjoys the summer holidays more than those of us juggling multiple kids and full time work, where even a 3 day trip to Cornwall had leave refused (yep, that’s us!).

Any more pearls of wisdom for us inept, loveless mothers?

Its the third week back for us, and yeah, still missing the holidays, especially as our oldest is nine so it won’t be too long until he doesn’t want to spend most of the holidays with us.

Why would you have that many?

Right...so your OP is a diatribe against other parents, but none of the other parents on this thread, because you say so.

It's not easy taking on board other points of view is it?

Ok have just seen your update that you weren’t referring to working parents - I sympathise a bit as it sounds like you’re having a bit of a tough time, but it’s v naive to think you could post something like your op the week the schools go back and not start a massive bun fight. A lot of us are hanging by a thread at this point.

I suspect the ones who aren't so keen to have their children back at school are the ones with plenty of money. We are skint!

Juggling work and kids being off is not easy!

If you are NOT one of those parents that sits there, complaining about their children, saying how annoying they are, saying that you can't wait for the holidays to end, and that you can't stand half terms when your children are off, this does NOT apply to you

I am not talking about working parents
I am not talking about SEN parents
I am not talking about low income families who can't afford things for the holidays

Im an old mum, so maybe I have never been exposed to this on social media. But, taking your list at face value, ie your post is aimed at well off, SAHPs of NT kids… I’ve literally never come across anything like what you describe.

Consider yourself very fortunate you enjoyed the holidays OP, and have not had to juggle childcare, other commitments and a burned out, emotional child.

I took the first week of the holidays off to have some nice chill out time with my DD (just finished reception). She was extremely teary and difficult, so overtired from school finishing and the weather was awful. The next 3 weeks were a v stressful mix of juggling work with grandparent care, holiday clubs and swapping childcare days with friends, to the point DD was crying every morning because she was so unsettled and didn’t want to leave me. We had a holiday for 10 days which was lovely, but she is definitely missing the structure of school, missing her friends etc.

Ive only encountered two types of experience of the summer hols - working parents stressed out trying to balance childcare and work, and non-working parents (or parents who only work term time) completely burnt out from managing their kids 24/7 without a large budget for treats and days out.

So you don’t work, so you don’t have experience of juggling FT work and school holidays. Why would you assume the working juggle equates to people not wanting to spend time with their children?

This summer has felt like a good summer for me and the boys. We’ve had two lovely holidays, and they’ve played with each other and we all relaxed as a family. The weather held out for us. I have enjoyed seeing them, talking nonsense with them, giving them lazy morning cuddles. But then I am fed up with working full-time, and I will miss them when they’re not here.

Yes looking after them is hard but so
much more fulfilling than being at work. It means so much more.

I’ve enjoyed the summer. I’ve been lucky enough to be on mat leave for most of it, But I’m glad it’s over for another year. I can only assume @seasonalnamepending doesn’t have a child who needs to be exhausted, both mentally and physically, to both sleep at night and not be a destructive whirlwind looking at you DS1. Summers were much easier with one DC who was happy to potter and colour and help me out around the house!

Why have children if you don't want to spend time with them?

Why make a post if you’re this dense?

No one wants to do any one thing 100% of the time – adults and kids included. Does it occur to you that many children are incredibly happy when in school routine and less happy out of it? Does it occur to you that children miss their friends, enjoy their lessons, feel excited about moving up a school year, want to use their new stationery and wear their new shoes? Does it occur to you that parents run out of annual leave? Run low on money for activities and/or childcare? That working parents can’t do both their jobs brilliantly for extended periods of time?

What an ignorant thing to say.

Yes it's just you, the rest of us hate our kids.

Nope OP I am so sad. My 6 year old goes back tomorrow. And my littlest starts school on Monday I am just grieving is the only way I can describe it!! Took them to a local cafe and library today and was watching them eat and compare books and I just suddenly had tears pouring out - mortifying! Then a lady on a table next to me asked for directions somewhere, when she saw my face she and her elderly mum were so, so kind. She actually said “It shows how much you love them that you feel this way.” Which didn’t actually help to stem the floods of tears but was so sweet of her. She also promised I’d get used to it and my DD would be fine! They sat and talked with us whilst we had lunch and until I stopped crying. So lovely. The kindness of strangers 🥹