Headspace in the holidays

[user87382294757]

I am alone with the DC all the time this holidays and feel I need some space at times. Mine are older so easier in a way but one has broken their arm so that limits us as to what we can do. Usually i might take them swimming and that is a bit of me time as can swim a bit myself. I also have mental health issues and get very stressed with little time out.

I wondered if anyone else felt the same and felt guilty etc about it, and what can be done to help with it. It is very hot here, but need to get out of the house or will go stir crazy, so thinking of taking a picnic into the nearby park and just chilling today. No town / shops / activities / stress, in fact doing less sometimes seems easier.

Is there anywhere they can paddle in a river?

Are they able to entertain themselves at home, can you get lost in a good book, give yourself a day off chores, sit in the shade on a rug?

My kids used to love picnics especially if there were others to play with. Do you have friends with dc similar ages you could meet up with? Take a ball/frisbee etc.
Do you have transport? Our local forest does things like nature trails/treasure hunts in the holidays which is a lot less stressful than heading into town, maybe there’s something similar near you?

Yes can have a bath or maybe do some yoga online. Maybe the heat is getting to me a bit along with the cast issue. I feel guilty when they spend too much time online. Good ideas, thanks.

We live in a city but are going away into the country next week which will be a change, it is more not having time alone I find a bit hard. Although they are easy children really.

We can't get the cast wet so paddling in rivers etc not good for now, will be off soon though thankfully! Not easy cast and heat

Have you got family or friends they can spend time with? I used to spend a week every holiday with my DGPs and loved it.

I don’t know if you’re allowed to wear it in the pool but amazon sells cast covers. It’s like a thick plastic cover with a rubber seal on the end. Test it out in the bath but should be ok if they kept in the smaller end of the pool or if you went to a splash park.
Depending on age there’s the library, picnics, beach, woods, go and paint some pottery, invite their friends over, cinema. Look on local town Facebook pages they normally advertise local events for the holidays.
For “me” time arrange for them to go on play dates, is there any family that can take them for a few hours?

Can you get a waterproof cover for the cast so they can paddle/swim etc? My friend broke her arm before she went away and had one which she could atleast get into the water to cool off

Try and be intentional about a bit of me time at the very beginning or end of the day? Make it something you look forward to, do something that recharges you and protect that half hour or whatever.

Yes we have a cast cover which he uses in the bath BUT it does seem to sometimes let a bit of water in so am wary of it- it will be off next week, though!

I don;t really need any advice on activities for them really, they are older anyway and quite like just reading / pottering about / cooking etc, eldest could go out do some of his volunteering etc probably. More just wondered of others were in the same boat and how they cope mentally with holidays etc. Thanks though! .

it sounds selfish but I get really tense and anxious with no time out.

I am NC with my own family (abusive mother) also they live miles away, DH's parents elderly - so yes that would help, to be honest. (to go stay etc) although we do have other family coming to visit which I am very stressed about (did a previous post about needing to clean excessively for visitors) but trying to chill about that (advice was not to clean excessively!) It will pass..it is that feeling we should all be enjoying the summer etc (get it at Christmas too).

I think I feel the same in that I have to make all the decisions all day long and am the only one in charge until dh comes home after 6. I find that stressful. My dc are 7&8 and mostly entertain themselves with books, the TV, their toys or in the garden but I do have that feeling of not being able to get lost in my own thoughts or of being trapped in a way because I have to consider their needs in every choice I make.

Yes, not just being spontaneous and being able to do your own thing...I miss my routine of exercise classes (although might drag them along once the cast is off as they are old enough to go swim at the same time as e.g. aqua aerobics. A mix of stuff for them and stuff for me, kind of works. And the heat is trapping us a bit. I feel the pressure of doing these activities and things when they can actually be happiest just doing their own thing, as well.