Anyone else relieved that the Summer Hols are drawing to an end?

[Nightjar1]

3 dcs in the mix including a toddler who is into everything and an extremely energetic 7 year old plus a teen. Trying to get them out anywhere in the heat etc, single handed (dh works full-time) feels difficult (packing all the essentials to take with us especially with toddler, thinking about food etc. unless it is a visit to the park) the constant drip drip drip of eating/drinking and making a mess throughout the day. The constant battle and pressure to get them away from screens via some other form of entertainment (including the teen) and find some more stimulating activity. Fortunately, they don't tend to argue an awful lot though, I've spoken to some people who say that they have children who bicker a lot when together.

Some people with older children fair a bit better I think and those tend to be the people who relish the Summer hols which is positive because it is something to look forward to. My 7 year old has some challenging behaviour and playdates have not been readily forthcoming whilst my friends have older children and are doing more adventurous thing, I have found the holidays really isolating at times.

Don't get me wrong turning out in all weathers on the school run can be tough but I actually think being a sahm, it gives a structure to the day and forces me out of the house. With a toddler I have not benefited from any lie-ins either except when dh has been off. Our family holiday is long gone (feels like a distant memory now), yes, all in all ready for the new term to begin. Anyone else?

Oh god yes! This has been a challenging summer for me. Dd2 has been having the most epic meltdowns multiple times a day. I'm hoping it's just the terrible 2's but we seen to have been stuck here for a while. It's been just pretty much me and the 3 DC this summer as DP hasn't been able to take more than a few days off because we're having our main holiday in October.

Even though I can find the mornings stressful during term time, at least I get a bit of a break at work!

There are always pros and cons to everything aren't there - my dh is enjoying the fact that there is less traffic in the mornings on his way to work.

ComeOnGordon I know what you mean about spending money to get your teenagers off the screens. I have taken my teen into town once or twice and vowed that I wouldn't spend much - somehow I ended up doing so...the "mum I need this for school," thing really worked.

The best money I spent this Summer (apart from our family Summer hols) was money on a holiday club for my middle dc. Dc requires loads of stimulation which after running around after a toddler and their needs isn't always easy. She had a fab time and was able to expend some of her energy plus had some social interaction which due to lack of meet ups with her peers was invaluable in keeping her in the loop for school. I could then spend time with my teen and toddler and I really looked forward to seeing dc2 at the end of the day. Definitely doing that again next year.

I feel the same. 3 dc here ranging from 10 to 2 years. They have been off since 28th June and I am heavily pregnant too.
I enjoy the first part of the holidays but now I'm tired....and skint!! I feel like the kids are getting.a bit restless too. The bickering has definitely ramped up this week.

Me! Also with a 7yo who has missed the constant stimulation of school and his friends. And a toddler who has got incredibly energetic and mischievous. I have a permanent headache. The sliggghht drawback for me is that when the holidays finish I go back to work teaching teenagers! Out of the frying pan, into the fire!

🙋‍♀️ Definitely looking forward to school starting later this week, although have to say if you’re in England then count yourself lucky, this is week 9 of the holidays here in NI (although some schools have already started back this week).

Not me. Dgd is 7, goes back to school on 9 Sept. I’ll miss her. I’ve had the time of my life.

Mixed feelings here.
Also have 3 and also a spread of ages so agree it can be difficult to get older ones out and find something everyone will enjoy,
Blessed with term time only working & that’s recent enough that it’s still a bit of a novelty and so I do appreciate how lucky I am.

But I couldn’t do this for many more weeks. So much easier when the weather is nice though (but it helps we are not too far from the coast).

Looking forward to seeing work colleagues and having some time to myself without the kids.

Not looking forward to stressful school mornings, homework nagging and all the after school activities starting up (though they don’t want to ditch any!)

YES YES YES...and I’m a teacher!!! Can’t bloody wait to get back to routine!!

I've surprised myself. Currently on maternity leave and have a 5 year old and almost one year old. Was always very work focused before and found my eldest challenging. But I've actually had a fantastic time with fab memories. Pleased I've priced to myself I can actually do it! That says there are definitely difficult moments. Constant requests for TV and sweets. And the house is a tip! I am absolutely exhausted both physically and mentally from all the days out and loading / unloading the car!

Yes, absolutely looking forward to both of mine going back to school. The bickering has ramped up, the heat/sun is too much for them to be in the garden for long and it's been hard the last two weeks.

I start a new job next week too, so it's all change here too. I think the youngest (going into Reception) is playing up because he's a little worried about school and also going to the childminder.

There are people around me who are saying they think the Summer hols have flown by?!!!? I suppose in a way they have but it doesn't feel like it to me but then again the people who are saying it don't have a child with challenging behaviour like me.

Yep. I'm struggling!

There are people around me who are saying they think the Summer hols have flown by?!!!

Try 9 weeks holiday as we do in Ireland.The novelty has well and truly worn off @Nightjar1.Mine are back on Monday.

So the children then become someone else's problem? Do you think the fighting over screens etc stop when they go back to school?

Jeez.

I am a teacher with a toddler and a teenager at home and loved spending time with them. Because they're funny, loving, kind, even if they drive me nuts occasionally.

And to the PP who said they can't wait to get back to routine, why does it go out of the window during the hols? Surely it's just a different kind of routine if you find things to do?

The mind boggles.

The 6yo is ready for routine again.
The pre-schooler is ready for some space from his brother.
DH is ready for his work to quiet down a bit.
I am ready for less chaotic household, and ready to go out less.

We are all ready for the tourists to leave Cornwall now!

Atropa I am absolutely ready to hand over some of the 'thinking' to school! I’m out of ideas! I’m out of motivation!
I’m sure teachers must feel the same a bit at the end of the school year, isn’t that why they’re excited for the holidays?

Also the ratio of funny/loving/kind to rude/loud/bored is approx 80/20. Not relaxing or even pleasant to be around a lot of the time!

@Atropa so as a teacher you still get up at the same time every morning all summer, have your meals at the same time every day, leave the house every day, go to bed at the same time every day?? i highly doubt that. Yes, I can’t wait to get back to routine!! And by that I mean the school day routine, the weekly routine (gymnastics,swimming, ballet all stop here for the summer term) etc etc!!

My eldest is going into reception so has been in nursery all summer (2 days) so we’ve continued as normal up until this week - I took him out of nursery for the last couple of weeks before school and my god his week is never ending 😄 can’t get any housework done with the 4 yo AND the baby ahh! Realising this will be basically half of my life now as the school year begins haha

@Youngandfree Yes, I do. I use this time to widen my skills, exercise, get crafty. I have also done some work towards a new career path. We still do the same stuff with the children we usually do - same shopping days, same library days etc.

Routines during the holidays can differ from those during term-time, but that doesn't mean that holidays have to be completely routine-free. The children go to bed 30-60min later, but also get up 30-60min later. We eat and get ready first thing and I am confident that when I go back to work on Monday I won't be looking like a zombie, because nothing much has changed. Why make a rod for your own back?

@ThursdayLastWeek Most teachers don't run out of ideas; they are worn out from dealing with 150+ students (secondary level) per day, their parents and the meaningless paperwork and pressure. Plus their own lives. The holidays tend to be the only time I get to do routine tasks, like dentist, boiler service etc.

The kids here have been back at school for a couple of weeks.

I'm looking forward to it too, my dd starts reception and she's so ready to go. Summer has been long and I have not been able to get as much time off as I have been doing in previous years.

Dd needs constant interaction and stimulation and as she's reception age yet she's missed out on being able to go to summer clubs although one of her hobbies made an exception for her this year as they know she's self sufficient and she loved it

Next year I'll be investing in another week possibly 2 of paid clubs and activities for her to burn some of her energy

My dc are now ridiculously bored.

My bank account is relieved they're going back. It's so expensive trying to entertain them. Yes they go to the park, but they can't go every single day and do nothing else. It's a long time to fill.

Took them to a local fun fair yesterday..I spent £26...they went on two rides each, played hook a duck and got some candyfloss. I felt like I'd been mugged.

Oh and my house is fucking tip

Oh that’s good, I’m glad teachers don’t run out of ideas!
But I am not one, so I do.

And I’m grateful to teachers for taking some of the burden of keeping my child busy and engaged. But education is mandatory so I’m not going to act like teachers are doing me a massive favour during term time.
I dont really love the company of children TBH, that’s why I’m not a teacher!

Yes and no.
I am enjoying lazy slow mornings! I've even had a couple of lie ins as my 8 year old is capable of getting up, making a drink for him and his little brother and putting Netflix on quietly.
I thought they were still asleep this morning it was so quiet! I went downstairs and found ds1 and ds2 curled up under a blanket watching Captain Sauce on YouTube. I have no idea how long they'd been up!

However ds1 is actually champing at the bit to go back to school. He really likes his new teacher and wants to see his friends. We went school shoe shopping and chose a pair that he said looked like his headmasters shoes!
Ds2 is less keen. I really am not looking forwards to the morning battles with him.
I will miss them yes, but the thought of having some quiet in the day is really appealing!
My house is also a tip.