Mum is bored in the school hols let alone the kids!

[Thecrown3]

So my ds 11, is too old for some of the local kids activities but not old enough to do other things.
We ve put the trampoline up but some of his friends are on holiday.
Swimming today and local zoo on Friday but I’m bored.
I have a partner ( not ds dad) but he’s on lates all week so on own .
I was LP for 5 long years but had older ds at home then too but he’s gone off to uni now :-( I used to be able to fill time,I have to an extent , moved room around , washed carpets , all the little jobs I don’t get done full time working.
It’s my break too I guess but I kinda got to a point parenting where I’ve exhausted most things and it can get lonely just one child and me! I also have to use a/l to cover school hols as his twat dad never does ( that’s a post in itself) but ds would happily sit all day gaming if I let him.theres nobody for me to do anything with and still a bit early in year for theme parks/seaside/NT trips out yet
I don’t have many mum friends as been f/t working and the friends I have have older teens !! So ..... mummmmmm I’m bored

You are in that awkward that bit where they don't actually 'need you' but cant really be left alone either. We are there with one of mine and its really boring as I end up just doing household chores. I think its harder because it comes off the back of years of being constantly vigilant and being busy so its bit of an adjustment.

Can you read a book or watch a film you want to watch?

Mines 10 but weve done National Trust and walks/country parks this week as I prefer to get out the house. If weve had a ramble in the day I dont mind them watching a bit of tv while I potter.

We've also invited friends over and I let them all do baking.

And a couple of movies together.

And Ive read and watched some of my own stuff to. I do like getting out though - usually fairly cheaply!

Ir can’t remember the last time I was bored as I just love not being at work. I would be quite happy to have some pyjama days in a half term where he can do gaming and you can read/sleep/have a friend round/long bath/watch a film etc

That, interspersed with swimming, zoo, a walk, go to the shops and get some food (chores!), maybe a friend over and trip to the park sound more than adequate for him.

If you need ‘more’ think about starting a hobby? What are you interested in?

Holidayshopping I’ve done all that, had his friend round on Monday afternoon, been dentist, been food shopping, taken 3 dogs out.
It’s not the physical bored it’s the mentally bored! I’m not a pj all day films person.
I read but can’t read all day long without moving.
When weather warms up we head to NT/English heritage places/seaside.
I don’t have time for a hobby, I work full time 5 days a week, ds has swim lessons/guitar lessons- it’s just like grasspigeons said, from 19 years of entertaining kids with play doh to Lego to making/doing/being extra on go- mentally I’m worn out of ideas and ds and his brother have always gone theme parks on the go things, even as an LP I saved all year to entertain in the hols ! But nobody can afford to go on holiday every half term /sch hol and tbh if it were just ds and I it would get lonely after 3 days !

It doesnt need to be warm for NT . We've been out to a local country park and the car park was full. A good walk and some den building/climbing trees/ whatever it is they like. Its been good weather for it here this half term though. I'm not so good if its raining, just dont rule out some of the things youve listed for weather! Lots of NT places have things on in half term.

I don’t have time for a hobby

Unless you work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, yes-you really do.

You have one child who is no longer an infant. Unless they have significant SEN, there must be some short periods of downtime for you at the weekends in which to do something if you are mentally bored. Learn a language, start a craft, etc etc

I don’t rule out for weather - I work outdoors- so not even rain worries me, it’s more the company , ds and I have done lots before but it is lonely if it’s just you and a ds going to places all time with no other adults or kids.ive done it loads , I guess the novelty has worn off.

I can tell you I work a very mentally taxing front line job- so quite often mentally exhausted and physically at end of day.
I’ve started going to gym.
I’m not a home craft etc person.

This post was meant to be tongue in cheek btw, I didn’t know if anyone in same boat!

Online poker club?

What is a NT place? I always read that on here.
It is hard when they are in that tween stage, especially if you want to keep them off video games a bit.
Luckily mine has been getting out and about a bit but I'm bored too (although I am technically supposed to be working! )

Could you take up drinking? Teach ds to make some cocktails.

DD 11 really can be left alone. I do exactly what I do in term time, but get up later! 😂

I get fed up with the expectation we have to entertain them. So much easier in the 80s when children just got on with it and made their own entertainment!
Can you take him to the cinema tomorrow?
If you're working in a mentally and physically exhausting job then there must be things you want to catch up on, if you're usually too knackered after work?

NT - National Trust.

What is the old adage? Only boring people are bored??

I work in a mentally exhausting front line role, so am quite happy to just stop and ‘be’ during holidays. If I was bored-as you are- I would enjoy finding some other interests.

You’re complaining about being mentally exhausted but then you’re saying you’re mentally bored. If you are bored-find some things to do! If you are mentally exhausted, just chill.

Or is your question more-‘I don’t like being alone. I want some friends, how can I make some?’

So noone else is posting cos they are a bit bored then?

I'm not going to get mum of the year award for suggesting this but your kid will be happy enough playing fortnite most of the time at that age and you can crack on with doing things for yourself... get a hairdresser to go around yours and get your hair done, do your nails and enjoy good food & wine. I'm bored as well as I have a 7 week old, I'm a single parent and have no friends so trust me, I know how you feel. I enjoy a few glasses of wine in the evening and some telly/Netflix when my daughter is asleep but four walls can make a person mad... you might laugh at this but I envy you. I can't wait until mine is old enough to be able to do stuff. I go out to get her out but she sleeps the whole time and I just tire myself out as I'm only surviving on an hour of sleep.

I'd suggest you could also take him to trampoline parks, days out to cities (I don't know where you live but a day out in London was fun when I was a kid so I think your boy would enjoy himself).
If you have the money, a trip to the cinema and bowling. Kids can be in amusement parks for hours and then there's arcade machines which can keep a kid entertained, these things can keep you busy as well. Could also take him to the library to pick a couple of books to rent out and you could do the same?
A picnic day out and a bike ride is another idea!
I've never had an 11 year old so you can ignore all of my ideas but I'm just thinking what I found fun as a kid and wouldn't mind Doug now either.

Hope you find things to do to pass the time :)

Can you not just walk on the beach/ in the woods and just chat?

I have an only DS and love nothing better than a long walk with him. He usually boots his ball along and we talk, or just amble along without needing to.

Yeah thanks @palmtrees
I’ve done it all- it’s ok I don’t need any suggestions but thank you.
I was actually trying to get the mindset of being mum of tweens /teens and the crossover of having free time but not completely the free time you want.
@chloem- I know... I have been that LP , itching to be at this stage , now I’m here I’m kinda lost !!

Thanks Margot that makes sense! All NT stately homes etc near me are £££ to visit so we don't do that really.
Chloe Thats tough being a lp with no pals. Being a lp of a baby is tough at the best of times. Pls don't take this the wrong way (especially in light of my joke about cocktails) but if you didn't drink a few glasses of wines you would be less tired. I know I was on my arse with a 7 week old and wine would not have helped.

IfNot - we really enjoy rambling around the NT places near us and it works out £10 a month for a family pass for us. We get a lot of use out of it, especially in holidays so its worth it. If you pay on the door its extortionate isnt it!!

We dont do it every year but make the most of it when we do. We are quite lucky we have a lot od other country parks we can visit to ramble around in too though so doesnt have to be NT.

I have got to stage where DD shuts herself in room but can't be left alone for long periods of time. DS is 12 and ASD so he still needs me a lot. This half term though she's been talking to me a lot and that's been nice. Not a fan of this time of year. We are getting a rabbit tomorrow so lots of excitement for kids and working a bit and planting things in garden, nothing dreadfully exciting. Can understand your boredom, Easter should be better though, more open and better weather. Netflix can be good if all else fails.

I agree £10 per month for NT membership can be great value depending which properties you live near.

When DS was small we lived in a tiny house but it was 5 minutes from Cliveden which had two great playgrounds and lots of different walks. I basically used it as the back garden/ local park.