AIBU to be surprised that everyone has plans?!

It’s been a few years now but reading this did make me remember that if my sons got invited to a friend’s house on a day I had made other childcare arrangements for them because I was working, then I had to say no.

As all of the above most parents I know, myself included have to plan childcare for the summer holidays months in advance. You could always put an offer out that you are around in the summer and can have one or two of her friends over for the day to play to help parents out and also company for your daughter. I often did childcare ‘swaps’ with my kids friends when my DC were younger.

Some will be working and precious time off will e family time.
some will do plans with friends/family
some prefer a last minute approach

i am off over summer too and have plan 70% of the hols already

Are parents now so busy with work that they need to make sure the time is filled with family visits, holidays camps/clubs etc for childcare reasons?

This 100%

Our summer holiday plans have been in place for weeks and we haven't started yet. I have one weekend at home the whole holidays and I only get 1 week off (my DH has a different week off with DS). I like to see friends with similar ages children and its my birthday that week so we see family/do a big day out just me and DS to celebrate (Harry Potter Studios this year). I have also arrange 1 or 2 play dates for my DS but again I message those mums weeks ago to put place holders in.

Summer holiday clubs book up fast so were also booked weeks ago.

Do the friends have siblings?
I stopped asking some of my kids friends parents to meet up because they would then feel pressure to arrange a friend for the younger sibling to play with

We don’t have a free weekday at home during the holidays - we’re either away on holiday or working and DS is in childcare or with family. If we’re not away then weekends are usually family time; as they are during school.

It’s not personal. Many employed people only get 4 weeks annual leave per year, so they make the most of it by planning days out well in advance, or protecting quiet days spent at home with the family. The rest of the time children are often in childcare, at a holiday club or with extended family.

they’ve asked you to suggest a plan for a bit later in the holiday so go ahead! Get it in the diary now

at that age yes - I was a lone parent with limited annual leave. Could take a couple of weeks off but other than that my kid was in a holiday club. It’s not like you can just leave that to chance? Now my kids a teenager she can make her own plans which is great.

Most people don't have the summer off. I've had to plan 6 weeks of summer holidays childcare so my response would be we could only do something in the final week when I have annual leave. The other 5 weeks I'm in work and kids are in holiday clubs

IME parents that have to work some or all of the school holidays tend to have to plan the entire time as a block to ensure childcare is sorted etc.
Dont take it personally, perhaps there are other families that are in a similar position to you.

Most people work so can't just wing it and hope they'll have a friend to play with for the day. They need arrangements made in advance

Are parents now so busy with work that they need to make sure the time is filled with family visits, holidays camps/clubs etc for childcare reasons?

Yes pretty much

I prefer to plan ahead and like making fun plans for the summer holidays - this means if someone messages in the morning I’m usually not free that day. I think with the rise in needing to pre book various days out, most people plan ahead.