Sad we all have to go back to real life

Im gutted the kids are back tomorrow. I've loved this summer so much. Having them home, where we can do what we want, when we want has been a blessing. We've done a few trips away too. Its just been perfection. I dont want to send my kids off to school tomorrow at all.

I am with you completely. Both of ours are back to university soon. It has been so nice having the whole family together for the summer

I retired from teaching in May this year. This is my first not starting new year in school since 1991.
Im marking it by still being in bed drinking coffee and eating biscuits. My other half has gone to work so its me and the cat and green parakeets in the garden.
I get migraines triggered by the seasons changing (I know its weird) so I often really struggled at this time of year.

I do wonder if this is a couple thing though @Whodesignedlifelikethis - single parent here with two children and i quite like the routine of work and school. Siblings all feel the same as you with their partners as life is so lovely with their partners together with them as opposed to be working.

X1 GCSE year
X1 A level year here

it’s going to be a nightmare!

I will be able to sit A’level chemistry come May so let’s look at it as a time to learn

If anyone wants to take shares out in revision guides now is the time

I get it. We're just about to get on flight home after very relaxing 10 day holiday, then almost straight into DS GCSE year, which is going to be stressful as hell and involve us having to do a lot of work to make sure DS does what he needs to.

Also oldest DC is off to uni and we're creating halls costs, so we'll be down a lot of money until or unless I change jobs, so I'll be new job hunting starting this week as well.

We’ve had a similar summer OP. I’ve been telling myself it’s been so nice as it’s been a step out of the norm, but yesterday I was wondering what it’s all about. We could do this more. It has made me wonder if I’m missing the point a bit.

Opposite in our house, the kids are so much happier when they are on a routine. And TBH so are we. When things are unstructured, we go a bit mad

I think mine are ready to go back to school. We’ve had some lovely times over the summer but the working parent juggle has been insane this summer as I’ve been so busy at work it’s felt quite pressured at times. There has been a lot more annual leave than usual in our team!

Yes I totally relate. The relaxed bumbling mornings have been absolutely lovely. Dreading (perhaps too strong of a word) school run and routine return.

I feel this.

I was on holiday last week so it’s back to work for me today, and back to school for my 5 year old. I think I'm dreading work more than the school run, but I hate both.

I have awful school anxiety and I don’t even go to school.

joys of being a SEN parent

I hear you. My 4yo is about to start school 9mo just starting nursery, and I’m back to work from Mat leave in a couple weeks.

You are not being unreasonable at all.

I know it’s awful to say it but I was the happiest, healthiest and most mentally stable during the summer of the covid lockdown. It made me realise that life has been set up in such an appalling way.

I completely agree. I hate my DS8, primary school. Sadly there is no where else for him to go, but he has been so badly bullied by the teachers, it’s awful.
DS12 is doing much better, but I’m always tired and frazzled by the end of the day, and he isn’t able to regulate himself as easily when he’s at school all day.
I like their clubs and so on, but I really wish the summer holidays started earlier and ended later.
Im already looking forward to 2 weeks in October with no work and the kids having half term, with Halloween at the end.
I hate the school run, it really annoys me; and I hate the early start and need for breakfast stupidly early before school.
ARGH!

Im wfh on my own today for the first time since mid July today, schools back, and I am absolutely loving the peace and quiet!

God me too. Mine has had the best summer of his life post GCSEs. But him partying on Mondays and any night he wishes really needs to stop.

Plus I have a 17 year old DS so between them they eat me out of house and home on a daily basis. I may as well move in to the supermarket…

Everybody needs a routine and I need some peace and quiet.

I agree op even though that's not my experience of the school holidays. It's a shame so much of life is set up that we are apart or ships that pass In the night to eachother.

I've got children that have additional needs. Two of them thrive off the school routine and seeing friends so find school holidays difficult. One desperately needs the downtime of the school holidays but also finds the holidays and change of routine really hard. We live in this world where going to school is hard and one can struggle with ebsa. But the school holidays are just as hard 🫠 family time needs to be carefully managed and someone's always unhappy/needs not met. Because of the ebsa I need to be fully flexible and about so my dh has to spend more time at work to earn more because i cant. So we are all just stressed and seeing eachother less. I've often wish we could all live in a center parcs type village and support eachother/other families too.

Those whose children are grown up and anyone without children will feel a very different feeling from the OP, not that it makes hers any better.

Both mine are autistic, not looking forward to tomorrow. Ds15 last year as well so he's in a very long summer next year.

I’ve never had as much time off in my 35 year career so far, except for having 2 babies and they were tough babies and I couldn’t wait to get back to work! Sounds idyllic :)

I’m 50/50. I enjoyed not having to have world war 3 every morning with DS who hates school. I’m frazzled by the 8 weeks they had off too.
DD was back this morning, big smile, excited to see friends, how can two children from the same family be so different. DS has locked himself in his room, so the fight begins. 💪😳

We’ve been away for over three weeks now and also don’t want to go back home! It’s been so relaxing.