The Joy of doing nothing in the school holidays

[PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog]

DD is 5 yo DS 3 months. The weather is awful here. We have watched the animated versions of Mulan, Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, back to back. DS is full and asleep in his sling. DD has requested cheese on toast for lunch, which I will have too. Then I will sit and read my book whilst she does some colouring and drawing next to me. I am right in thinking that I am having the best 'lazy non enriching' school holiday day ever?'

Sounds like a fab day.

I fondly remember a day well several in the Christmas holidays, about 10 years ago. The DCs were about 6 & 8 and we had the fire going, it was crap weather and we stayed in our pjs, watched at least 3 films, ate Christmas chocolate and just chilled together a it was ace

It also has the advantage of being 'free' too. A massive bonus at the mo. 😀I worry about when such simple things won't cut it anymore...

When I was a kid we had over nine weeks holiday (not uk). No TV (not a lot on but my parents decided to lock it away). It was endless days of riding my bike, reading, walking to the nearest ice cream parlour, going to the park, local outdoor pool, daydreaming. At five a bit more supervision granted, but every day was not an 'activity day'.

My 3 older ones are in their 20s now. But my youngest is 8.

Older ones had PS1 but were only allowed on it an hour each per day. DD8 is wedded to bloody screens and we have a daily battle about it!

Apart from the screen thing, there seems to be SO much more pressure these days to be doing ''something'' with your day. There's nothing wrong with pootling round the house enjoying your stuff and looking forward to dinner :)

Remembering when i was a kid i would have been given short shrift if i'd gone to my parents for entertainment on a daily basis or wanted the telly on all the time. Hours of grubbing about in the garden with some barbies and some Lego .... ahhh
<old bugger alert>

Not DD8 🙄 DD4

I disagree that a day like that is not enriching

Sounds like a lovely day OP there's nothing wrong with having a lazy day

Its a rest, and that is so important.

Although yabu for cheese on toast, yuk 😋

I agree - so much pressure to ‘do’ something - I like the kids to occasionally feel bored - that’s when you start becoming imaginative and inventing games or picking up a pencil/paint and creating something.

My dc are older but most of our summer holiday days are the same. Dc1 is currently watching TV and reading whilst dc2 is out playing with a friend. I am simply sitting in the dining room listening to the radio.

Sounds perfect

We made a concious choice to do less this summer with our DC (9 and 5) as at Easter we spent a fortune and they were so ungrateful.

So far this has been my favourite Summer holiday so far, so chilled.

Sounds fabulous

Went on a caravan holiday with DC as teens a few years ago. Terrible weather, small site with no nearby attractions, so we sat about and drank tea and ate biscuits and chatted and read our books together. At the risk of sounding a bit cheesy, it gave us all a real chance to 'reconnect' and for us to get to know our fast-changing kids. I was a bit sad when the weather improved.

Just cwtching up together and watching movies is one of my favourite things to do with them still, even now they are in their 20s!

Hope everyone else is enjoying their plans too! 💖

My adult DS's still remember watching films, baking cakes with me in the summer holidays
They didn't realise we didn't have the money to take them to ' big day out' nearby places like longleat at the time
I think too much activity is tiring for them and they become ungrateful
I used to take them on the bus into town( don't drive. Free bus pass) which they used to enjoy and a cafe milkshake if I could afford it

Gets cheap again with teens, DD is happy doing not very much too. When she was younger she was always in various camps and we did days out. It's nice as I am wfh and she's laying around reading - which is how I remember my summer hols being!

Jealous - I don’t have children like that, my 5yr old never sits through a film - enjoy OP’

Sounds great, mine did get bored because if I don't take them out they start fighting and ask for more screen time..it has cost me a lot for 2 just 2 days!

I’d feel too guilty having a lazy day even though I’m sure I’d enjoy it. My kids can barely sit through one movie never mind 3, you’re very lucky to be able to sit and read I’m very jealous, so far today we have been to play crazy golf, made badges, went to a slime making class, had a McDonalds lunch, been to the park and have finished one of those plaster of Paris sets that you dig through to get the shark tooth. I’m just have a quick sit before we ho on a bike ride, by 6 o’clock I’m absolutely knackered!

All I can think about now is cheese on toast 😁

@Favouritefruits that is how our days go too. Mine would never sit and watch films all day. I really very much wish she would.

(Today she is at a holiday camp which is why I can read here)

Young grandson here and just had a great afternoon on our allotment. He watered plants, dug around with a small trowel, picked some raspberries and generally got filthy. Happy days and didn't cost us anything.