Am I overthinking how crap my kids summer is

Your kids are probably enjoying their chilled summer,playing with their friends out the front and gaming. Don't feel bad.

There's no need to fill all their time with outings.

You can't change it so you just have to find ways to adapt and make it enjoyable. Change your mindset on this.

I am a 70's child and my summer holidays were spent just like your kids are now and they were the BEST of times, playing with neighbourhood friends.

Could you ask if any of their friends could have them for a play date? Or any other relatives take them out? Could offer to pay for the zoo etc. That's probably what I would do.

It's good they are playing out at least and it's not your fault - bad timing.

Regarding the hill into town can't you do a practice when your husband is there? Or get kids to help push (might find that quite funny), I get it feels a lot.

It’s modern day living that makes us think we must do something with the kids in the summer holidays all the time. I’m 59 and it wasn’t heard of in my childhood, we didn’t even have a car until my dad was 40. I lived 90 miles from the nearest beach, and believe me the place was grim, it’s a marmite resort and I hated it, still do.

We’d find our own entertainment, my dad would have two weeks off in August and we’d go somewhere for one of those weeks, by coach in the early days with nana in tow as the ready made baby sitter.

You’re children sound as though they’re enjoying themselves chilling and playing with friends. You’ve got a holiday to look forward to, don’t beat yourself up, there’s nothing you can do due to your injury. You can do all the stuff you’ve always done next year, so long as you don’t break anything, enjoy the holidays, it’s sunny and your children are having fun 🤗

Mine could go out but don't want to. Son only wants to game and daughter is happy crafting and watching TV.
Try not to feel guilty, surely their dad can take them out more at the weekend.

Sounds like a great summer for them. Playing with other kids, chilling at home.

The best summers in my memory were long and lazy. Kids need space.

Get well soon.

Don’t over-think it. Consider giving them a bit of structure e.g. do some reading or crafts with them each day or else the brainrot will take over.

You’re amazingly lucky your kids have the option to play out ! Doesn’t happen round here, mine would love that.

Don’t feel guilty, it’s the kind of summer many of us grew up with (and have fond memories of) and they will hopefully appreciate getting away more than if they’d had wall to wall days out.

It’s you I feel sorry for!

Don’t over think it. They’ll look back at this dinner as the summer they played out all the time.

Can you doing stuff indoor - den building with sheets, clothes airer etc. Have a film night - make tickets, make popcorn etc . Have a midnight snack party under torchlight etc.

The playing out bit sounds great! Just make sure your 7 year old is doing more of that than the gaming and you’re doing fine!

It's one summer, and that's just life sometimes. I broke my arm right at the start of the summer holidays when I was about 10. There were loads of things I couldn't do that summer but I still don't remember it being awful.

As pp have said playing out is fab and the kids are probably appreciating the downtime. Movie night is something you could all do together. Or board games, or even video gaming with them rather than them doing it on their own.

I'd imagine that is totally normal for lots of families. Get your DH to take them out (and join them where you can) when he is not at work.

That sucks and I feel you. I have a teen who just post GCSE's, and I had a big emergency surgery partway through her long summer. We can't do anything, because I'm self employed and had to have so much time off work and because I'm not allowed to lift anything over 3.5kg (which is damn all and I have a physical job)

Are you able to get up and down the stairs on your bum now? Or hire scooters at the place you are going? Could you hire an automatic car for a short time (even if not the whole holidays) or one with hand controls? I have seen a kneeling scooter (although I don't know if it was something someone rigged up or an official aid. I used to be a physio and thought it was a blinding idea). I know they are all a right pain in the arse, but I bet if I had to go up and down stairs on my bum, it would be worth doing for my kid for the entertainment value - she'd think it was HILARIOUS. Even now! It's bonkers what kids remember.

Sometimes kids love the weirdest things. We once went on the sleeper train and my daughter thought it was amazing. We didn't DO anything, but she thought it was such an adventure. I don't know how you usually holiday, but even a weekend in a static caravan where there is stuff for the kids onsite might make it easier for you, if you're hubby can drive you somewhere and set you up? There will be other kids and a change of scene

I do not want to be all toxic positivity over you. It is ABSOLUTELY allowed to acknowledge it is shit, and if all you want is a bit of empathy and to vent, then that's valid. But I wouldn't want to not make suggestions if they might help either.

There are a thing. B and Q sell them. Who knew? :o)

Given the choice I expect you'd rather not be laid up with a leg in a boot....especially in this weather, but nothing you can do about that except follow advice and make sure you elevate that leg.

Your DC will be fine, they're entertaining themselves and learning that boredom isn't necessarily a bad thing, while resting, playing, not rushing from here to there.

Hanging out with their friends and doing their own thing isn’t the end of the world they have a holiday to look forward to in a few weeks so it's not as though they've nothing to look forward to and time will rattle by.

You may also feel a bit better by then, but TBH I'd just drag the need for the wheel chair and a chauffeur out for the duration of the holiday.

I got an ankle scooter (rented) when I was non-weight bearing. Gamechanger for getting out and about. But you shouldn't feel guilty - hardly your fault!

Honestly theirs sounds like an idyllic summer to me ☺️ playing with the neighbourhood kids is how I spent all my summers and I really miss those simple days .

sorry about your ankle OP

Sounds like my childhood summers in the late 80’s, early 90’s. Nothing wrong with that at all! I’m nostalgic for “playing out”. It’s nice to hear some kids still get to do it.

Sounds like my childhood summers in the 2000s

Can you do a few other things inside?
Baking something like cookies, get all the Lego out and help them build something crazy, set up art station at table one day, etc.. so they aren’t just on games or outside front.

Can you get a taxi to somewhere that had disabled mobility scooters hire? I know lots of museum and zoos or similar have option to pre book one and hire for about £10 a day.

Social media is full of shit. So much pressure. Bollocks to keeping up with the Joneses and the consumer culture.

They're playing. They’re safe. They’re relaxing.

Look after yourself.

It sounds like a perfect summer: true 'down time' for them. When I was that age, I loved reading books all day, watching crap TV and playing with neighbours.

The only thing I'd do differently is decrease screen time with these activities (plus any others you fancy):

Ask DH or someone to take them to the library and designate some reading time each day. Studies show it makes a huge difference to read on paper - even kindle is not as good b/c something about screens makes brains work differently. Also, to concentrate fully, screens/devices should be in a different room - just having them nearby disrupts concentration. (google it if you think I'm being a Luddite)

Also, they should be helping you around the house - this is a great way to start habits that will last: emptying/loading dishwasher or washing up; laundry (with your advice/supervision); unloading/stowing any grocery deliveries, any other tidying you require. If they cannot cook basic meals, now is the time to teach them that too whilst you supervise from a kitchen chair.

You can blame your foot now but in a few weeks, they'll be fully trained, helpful for the camping holiday, and you can reap the benefit for ever more!! Plus it's great learning for them.

Hi op you can’t really help the situation you are in it might be crap but you need to look after yourself also is it not best it’s now rather than if they were in school. I understand you getting low and feel guilty being stuck in is horrible but the kids are doing both and might even like the flexibility of being in and outside. Hope you feel better soon.