To be annoyed at 'hope you had a great 1/2 term'

They don’t mean anything by it.
But god the school holidays are hard work and no I rarely have a good one. So I empathise with the frustration of such comments!

OP people are generally are very self centered. I always get asked about nice things I did for half term and if I'm happy children are back at school (out ot my way) by people who know very well I was working full time. There is also this assumption that everyone works from home so no school runs when actually, for me shipping children to clubs which are usually further away, packing lunches and stressing about childcare is much more difficult.
Yes wishing someone a "great weekend " when you know they are working is fine, so it's wishing someone good week. However asking someone if they had fun on Sunday when you know they were doing 12h shift is inconsiderate.
I don't get angry about it but I try to be mindful about not doing it myself.

Oh god - that irritated the fuck out of me. I have never worked so hard as Imdid during the periods others were sourdough-ing/learning Chinese furlough periods

Fuck me, no one can say anything anymore can they!

Op, it’s just a conversation starter. A bit like did you have a nice weekend first thing on a Monday morning 🙄
Nobody really cares if you had a good half term or weekend.

by one person who forgot you weren’t term time!

Honestly, I think it is just that it is a change in routine. So yes, I would ask someone who worked over Christmas if they had a nice Christmas, because they still had Christmas in whatever form it took. Likewise your half term.

Good for you @jacketBandC , for being able to provide for your 2 sons - from a fellow lone parent doing and paying for it all.

The parents at DD's school are all working parents and just relieved to have no school run for a week or 2..
It gets easier -

OP - but isn't it a bit nicer not having to do the school run every day? And your kids got to other fun activities rather than school?

Is that not nice?

You do realise that none of these people actually care? It's just small talk!

Lol. Assuming this is a joke. Honestly if serious you'd give the school a laugh anyway!

again
yes… they do 😆

You might have got it (I can't be bothered to go and see what you said), but all the people accusing OP of being annoyed at other people for having a nice half term themselves/talking about their own lives absolutely did not understand it 😂Nice try though 😊

*be

As a single working parent I get it. But also - lighten up for goodness sake! It might he inconsiderate but at least they're trying to be cheerful.

i love it when a poster strides in like @Cookiesandcream1989 talking indignant nonsense

😆

yeah, we got it

Wow OP, I can't believe SO MANY people are completely misunderstanding your post, despite it being perfectly clear.

For those who need to go back to school to improve their reading comprehension, OP isn't begrudging anyone else enjoying their half term, just annoyed about people weirdly assuming that working parents automatically spend half term chilling out and spending quality time with their kids.

I think I've probably been guilty of this myself in the past, and your post has made me think.

On the other hand, some working parents do manage to take half term off, or some of it, (obviously not each one, otherwise you'd have no leave left), but it's not completely out of the question that you might have taken more than one day off, so you could just choose to view it as the pleasant enquiry that it is: "did you manage to take any time off this half term?"

And if the answer's no, well then just say: "not really, I was working every day, so it was like a normal week, just with more stress over childcare arrangements. Otherwise people will never stop making those assumptions.

I think you’re being far too over-sensitive here. I had one day off during half term but it was still much more chilled than school and the kids loved Halloween.

So, nobody is allowed to talk about their personal working circumstances in case it offends you?

I understand your frustration because I also work full-time, study full-time, juggle 3 kids, and 3 dogs, and a poorly husband. I do not resent other people for being happy. I am glad that other people get to enjoy life, I am glad that there is a chance of happiness in this world. Even while I am clinically depressed I would not for 1 second see everything as an attack, insult, or pity party.

You are being far too sensitive OP. I had all of half term off. Was it nice? Was it fuck. Kids argued, we all had colds, dog was unwell, went on walks, got covered in mud, went everywhere. But when the teachers say nice half term? I say lovely thanks.

No one actually cares. It’s idle chitchat.

I think it is unreasonable to be annoyed at a fairly innocuous question that we all ask.

However, what I DO find annoying is the look of judgement if your answer is anything other than "We had an amazing time, visited five countries, DS learned a new language and DD raised a fortune for charity".

My rather awkward "It was nice, I had to work, we didn't go away" puts an end to the conversation as if I'd told them I'd sent my DCs up chimneys to work.

Crikey OP, it's not all about you. These are generic sayings/ greetings that most people come out with just to make the day pass.
Don't be looking to take offence where there is none.