Sad we all have to go back to real life

It really is rubbish OP- am with you!
Our DC doesn’t attend school, we have teachers visit for 5 x hours per day & whilst it is the best method for them, for our household it’s very invasive 5 x days a week & limiting for our own stuff.
We don’t feel anywhere near ready or rested enough, this was a tough summer with heatwaves & other stuff, DC still burntout…
I really wish for a couple of weeks longer….

Oh my gosh. I've never seen this before and so true.

What a mad world we live in!

I really feel you this year OP. We had a lovely summer, kids now both at school so feels like a nice age to really enjoy family life. Hate being back into the routine, constant clock watching. Quick get in the car we're late, hurry we need to get to x, y or z. Feel like I'm already on the count down to October holidays. (we're scotland)

Work/life balance in the UK is really poor.

Somehow we have been led to accept that spending the majority of your life at work and commuting is just 'normal'.

While we have people at the top who hoard all the money is do really well from other people's labour and have charmed lives.

You would think that all technological advances would have made us freer and more able to spend life with loved ones, raising kids and just enjoying life, instead people are working longer than ever, retirement is a pipe dream and the cost of living has made many people poorer.

Anything that benefits employees and give them more time like hybrid and home working is also vilified as 'lazy'.

Just sad really.

I've had a nice summer but I really like September/back to school time.

Me too. I can get a seat on the train to work again. I work in a seaside resort and during the summer holidays it's crammed to the hilt and I spend every journey standing in the vestibule. I know. I'm a miserable old sod 😉

Currently lounging on a sun lounger in Sicily absolutely dreading going back home on Thursday. My husband is 60 in the autumn and I will be encouraging him to take early retirement so we can live abroad . Children all grown up, sell the house which is now holding us back financially and live a simpler less materialistic life. My gorgeous mum died in February and all those years seemed to have gone in a blink . Enjoy the most of life whilst your health allows.

I’m sure they hate people like you being part of the crowds too.

I've always worked in education and yes, September is New Year to me! I love the early autumn and the spring better than summer.

I was always sad at the end of the summer holidays, though, because I loved being with my children. Of course, being a teacher, I had the luxury of being with them for most of the holiday which I was extremely grateful for.

My daughter (mildly ND) had a rotten time at school so the holidays were a time we could be happy and not worry about bullying and other upsetting things, and do things together to build her self-esteem. I was more apprehensive than she was when I delivered her back to school each September.

Not a feral brat like the youth of today and the parents aren’t any better

I was made redundant at the end of July and it's been wonderful having most of the summer with DD who is 9. I know it's unlikely I'll have such a chunk of time off again and I'm so grateful even when she is driving me up the wall.

She isn't back in school until next week and I don't know how I will feel (especially as I'll have to take looking for a new job seriously at that point 😂)

Thanks, will do 😀

Totally agree. Some retired people #notallretirees are a case in point. Aimless. Bored. No focus. I don't think it's the amount of free time they have. It's that when you work, your free time becomes a lot more valuable. When it's all you have, it's just how life is. Bit like Christmas everyday (if you like Christmas). Or living in a fab place abroad where you've holidayed having the shine taken off when you live there (been there, done that. Disappointing!).

No children here but DH and I have both been off for two weeks and it’s been lovely!

Both back at work today but it’s actually quite nice to get back into routine - and as a dog walker it’s been especially nice to see all the dogs again!

It’s been a funny summer here as my kids are both older. DH and I had our first 2 week holiday without them which was lovely but not restful in any way as we were travelling every other day (but we didn’t fall out so that’s a bonus). DS went on his first holiday with his mates ave came back alive and DD went travelling for a month. DD is back to uni for her final year this week and DS is moving abroad for a gap year job so from November we are on our own which is by turns filling me with both joy and horror. I’m proud the kids are getting on with their lives but also suddenly feeling a bit old.

My “brats” aren’t back at school for another week so you probably best stay home a bit longer 🙄

You were one once yourself, you know…

I’m usually ready to get back into the routine again but I’m back at work today (from home with dc still in bed - restarting my laptop for updates as I mumsnet). I loved just hanging with my dc. We didn’t even go away this year, we did great day trips and sorted life admin, but I loved it. I generally enjoy my job but feels like we’re back on the daily trudge until Christmas now. Dc are teens so summer holidays are running out so maybe that’s changed my perspective.

I’m glad the brats are back to school so I can go out and about without crowds everywhere. I hate school holidays

Me too. Its has been lovely being more relaxed, but i am looking forward to having some structure to our days/ weeks again.

Sorry - ive had them off for TWO MONTHS - i need them to go back. 😂

SAHM here, I hate the kids going back to school.

Just wanted to say how lovely reading about a family who get on so well. I know that doesn’t solve your issue but it’s a wonderful change to all the dysfunctional set ups out there (obviously it’s distorted by the fact that people tend to post when they have a problem and so many happy people won’t start threads!).

It’s our first summer holiday and I’ve enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. We did a mix of seeing family, time off, clubs and it’s worked well. Like you OP, I’ve loved the slower and calmer pace. I’m not looking forward to the early starts at all!! I’m sure this will be very different with 2 at home, but this year has been lovely.

When the kids were little (6 and 9) the summer holidays were long and so hard. The kids got fed up with each other and bored and I’d be exhausted with work. By the end of the summer I’d be counting down the days. Now they are older it’s just lovely and I’ll miss it. Just putting that out there in case there are parents of younger children feeling a bit shit on reading all of this…

I think i would like to change jobs but don't think i could earn enough doing anything else that wasn't so pressured as my job. At least i'm finding it very stressful & feel there should be more to life.