I have a ds14 and I think this summer has been the toughest yet. Also have a younger child who is still very much into days out but ds is just too old for that stuff. Dragged him along on a couple of national trust days but it just feels forced. He has had a holiday with us and also with his dad’s side of the family so he’s been lucky in that respect. He also plays cricket and training games have continued over the summer which is good physically and socially. But other than this he has spent so much time at home on a screen. He’s had friends over a few times but they tend to just be on screens together.
I’ve arranged a few days childcare for youngest so we could go the cinema, shopping and that sort of stuff but tomorrow I am faced with another day with both kids not knowing what to do. He’s too old for summer camps and clubs and has the general grunting malaise of many teenagers. Dh has set him to work on some garden jobs which he’s completed on and off.
I just feel like it’s been so long and so difficult this year. The guilt is real - guilt at dragging him along to days out he doesn’t want to be on, guilt for leaving him at home while I take the youngest out. Guilt at having an age gap and juggling them both alongside work and all the usual household stuff. Gah!