Parent guilt re half term

[INeedNewShoes]

I bumped into another school parent, who in the space of the school holidays has taken her DC on four big days out (think exciting things requiring entry tickets that cost quite a bit of money).

Comparison really is the thief of joy. I hadn't really considered our half term plans until I had this conversation and realised that in comparison we've done so little that's exciting and if the teacher goes round the class asking what everyone's done, ours has been very very low key.

Reasons we haven't done much are that money is very tight at the moment but also DD and I are both a bit tired at the moment and so I didn't feel motivated to plan big days out. DD is in reception and is still adjusting to being at school. She seems to find the social elements of school hard work so it was intentional that I didn't line up social stuff with her peers.

We had friends (with older kids) to stay for the first few days but days out were hindered by the wind. She went to a fun birthday party. Otherwise we've gone for walks and today I took DD to an adventure playground we've never been to before. Indoors we've done a bit of baking together, watched a couple of films, made marble runs, drawing etc. and a fair bit of DD entertaining herself while I do other stuff that needs doing.

Clearly I'm after validation here but also maybe ideas of how to make some better plans for other school holidays.

[MissAmbrosia]

We had visitors one half term and did all sorts. When dd went back to school she wrote in her holiday diary that she'd been to McDs. She has no memory of any of those days out now.

[ChocolateMassacre]

I think it's best to stagger big days out so children have the energy to make the most of them. And even then children often enjoy the smaller things more.

I'd never take my 4yo DS to more than 1 (at most 2) big days out in a week. Then we might do another couple of smaller things like swimming, soft play, climbing, adventure playground, bowling etc. Anything more than that and he's a bit cranky and overwhelmed (and so am I!). We need the quiet days in the middle - just pottering at home, reading books, watching TV, cooking, doing play doh or colouring - to regain our equilibrium. And he'd probably be perfectly happy if that was all we did, although he enjoys the other stuff when we get there.

[MargaretThursday]

We've rarely done anything for this half term, and the children are teens and older and don't resent it! Even more so they like to have some times at home just to chill.

I remember the school trip one of mine went on-I think to a farm park. They had to write a sentence about what their favourite part of the trip was. I think 28/30 wrote "My favourite part was going on the bus". One of the remaining two liked lunch.
The teachers will totally understand.

[OrganisedChaos22]

Weve done one day out as such that we have an annual pass for. The rest has been lazy mornings with YouTube, yep crap parenting to some. Then come lunchtime they say they're bored and are motivated to go out. It seems to work more than rushing them Im the morning.
Weve only done local parks, visit friend, pet shop grab bits and look at animals. And a friend visit for few hours.

My kids have always just had park type days. Rarely do we pay for places. We have a few season passes to places but go term time. With the preschooler age ones. Because it's less busy and go weekly.

Holidays tend to be.
W walks round forests, parks, visit friends, play in garden, Country parks, local beach.
We don't spend much in the holidays tbh

[NothingIsWrong]

Well I spent 4 days at work so the eldest DC's were left free range and the youngest one was in holiday club. No guilt here AT ALL

[Howmanysleepsnow]

My DC’s favourite things this half term were building a den in the woods, having a snowball fight and toasting marshmallows over a fire pit. No big days out, but still fun and plenty of downtime.

[FTEngineerM]

I quite like doing the boring stuff with my dc.
I like days out too but they’re exhausting for everyone. I love nothing more than playing games, cooking/eating food and going for walks in the forest with them. Don’t worry about it.

[Whybirdwhy]

We hardly ever do big days out, only really on birthdays. We can afford it but my kids are still young actually prefer more low key days and it's less stressful for me. My kids certainly need to rest and chill out in half terms. But other people's kids are different and have different needs.

When I was a child we had very little money and school holidays were spent at home, in the garden, swimming or going for walks. I have happy memories of them.

If you and your DD have enjoyed the half term then consider yourself validated, honestly give this no more thought.

[ToastedCrumpetWithCheese]

We've done nothing too, except the kids have been on devices a fair bit. We've all been relaxing and enjoying the time off. If money was no object then we might have done more but I think they've enjoyed being home, having a lie in (we did have a pyjama morning) and generally lazing about.

I haven't even done all the house jobs I was hoping to do without actually doing fun things!!

[Woahthehorsey]

Mine has mainly been in holiday club 🤷 needs must.

[Moonflower12]

We've been to London yesterday- so a big day out. I've just asked my DD (9) what's been your highlight of the week? ( expecting something from yesterday)
'Going on my trampoline'.

[navigatingcrumbs]

My kids love being at home, only because they would love to watch Tv all day ( if I'd let them). I think sometimes if you have DC that won't entertain themselves and always need input to play then in a way I easier to take them out somewhere then let them watch TV once you get back. So don't compare.