If you're a single parent, working, how do you manage school.holidays?

[ImFree2doasiwant]

After Bojos back to school announcement I've had yet another reshuffle on how I get my work done. I only work part time, and have bubbled with my parents so they have been helping with childcare. They won't be able to once schools are back (CEV). This I can manage because the dc will be at school/pre school.

Id just got that sorted and agreed with work when they asked what leave I wentto take over Easter and summer hols. Well.
I know that pre Covid I'd have had to deal with This anyway. I had 2 yrs of maternity leave a d 2 years of the other grandparents helping 1 day a week, so have managed that way.

Now though, the other GPS have withdrawn any childcare (long story, but essentially I think they see it as "helping " me when I've seperated from their abusive son. I dobt hold it against them)

My parents are CEV, and old. I have 4 and 5 yr old DC. Live rurally. No holiday care facility for their age group at all.

What do you do?? I literally have no idea how to make this work. I can take a couple of weeks leave in the summer.

Any suggestions? (Please don't suggest their dad, he's self employed and can't/won't commit to anything.)

Could you take some unpaid leave? Or WFH in the evenings to get your hours in?

Local 6th former, maybe a couple of them?

Au pair/nanny/childminder/local teenagers (prob only suitable if you’re WFH)? I feel for you - that sounds like a difficult position.

Thanks. I just don't know. There aren't many/any services locally. With both GPS helping out I can manage, and I'm sure it'll be easier as they get older but at the moment, having just dealt with the last year, it seems insurmountable.

I'm not keen on the teenager idea. The few I know are barely able to look after themselves. I have been looking for a childminder for Sept when both dc are at the same school, struggling to find one.

I am not sure that living rurally is the best idea in your circumstances unless you earn enough or have space for a nanny/au pair.

You're probably right but it's the circumstances I find myself in at the moment.

Well I worked full time and had to use holiday clubs .... the ex dh was useless on helping out.Had to use annual leave and holiday clubs paying through nose.
Youngest ds is 13 now and finally able to stay home alone , I’ve organised a/l spread over days each week to make sure he’s only home on own a day or two.

For 21years my annual leave has been around childcare and school hols - I can’t wait to take annual leave that’s not covering childcare

My only suggestion is holiday clubs or see if can trade a day or two with another mum each week you need?

@ImFree2doasiwant

You're probably right but it's the circumstances I find myself in at the moment.

Sure but can you find a way to move at some point? It's just going to be a huge pain for you every school holidays to stitch something together and even if you do find a childminder, you're stuffed if she decides to retire or do something else.

Just feels like longer term, it would be way better for you all to live somewhere with holiday childcare. Doesn't have to be a big city, most towns will have something

I can't really at this stage. I can "just" scrape to have this mortgage on my own (I mean the mortgage company only just let me have it, I can afford it) the mortgage payments are cheaper than any rent I could find. I wouldn't be able to buy a different house.

Au pair sounds like way forward