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Original poster

So last two summers I’ve spent a month in a holiday destination, can’t do that this year, and now I’m feeling lost

117 replies

Redrobinbobbin · 08/03/2023 23:58

As I’ve genuinely forgotten how the hell I fill 6 weeks of summer holidays
I’ve obviously had many many summer holidays to fill in previous years
but it’s like pre covid I cant remember them !

then last two years then summer holidays have flown by as been in holiday for most of them

now I’m thinking the what fuck are we gonna do for 6 weeks
xx

OP posts:
ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 09/03/2023 08:16

Redrobinbobbin · 09/03/2023 08:00

we do have a garden but I’m not sure if trust them with other peoples pets

Well maybe working on their sense of responsibility and reliability would be a worthy summer project.

It doesn't have to be a frivolous time of non-stop entertainment.

Twattergy · 09/03/2023 08:18

Round here you can book tennis camp that is 3 hrs (morn or aftenoon). A week of something like that for each of them?
Then a couple of long weekends camping.
Couple of multi day trips on a train staying at cheap hotels to places like York, Bath, Edinburgh?
That'd give a focus activity for most weeks of the hols and the rest is seeing friends, cinema, local stuff etc.
You'll get little sympathy from working parents like me to be honest. We have to do this but without the ability to actually spend time with the kids bar one or two weeks hols.

3WildOnes · 09/03/2023 08:19

GoldenGorilla · 09/03/2023 07:05

I like to write out all the dates of the holiday out on one big sheet of paper so you can see it all at once.

Then start filling dates in - start with any plans with family/friends , move on to local events you’d like to go to, then add in your trip away to the coast.

Then add in “chill out days”, so before and after events you plan to be at home/local parks just relaxing.

then see where the gaps are, make a list of who you want to do play dates with and what activities you want to do and then start filling those in.

does that help? I used to find planning the school holidays very overwhelming so now try to be methodical!

I do this too. I try not to have two chill out days next to each other.
I like to have a plan for most days even if it just for a few hours.
Things on our calendar
-theme park
-cinema
-picnic in Park
-bike ride

  • play dates
-swimming
Rainbowshit · 09/03/2023 08:21

If you can't book a month why don't you do 2 lots of two weeks instead with some time at home in the middle?

Scarfywarfy · 09/03/2023 08:23

We don't even have holiday clubs here. We have zero childcare options for the whole 6 weeks 😂 so we're fucked too.

But we aren't used to going on holiday either so we'll happily stay home, camping, NT and beaches , maybe a weekend in London (but thats 6 hours away!)

We have such few options that I'm struggling to find work! Nightmare

Myjobisanightmare · 09/03/2023 08:24

Welcome to the years of “what do I want to do that for!?” Where you spend the entire 6 weeks doing shite all as any mention of parks picnics National trusts etc etc etc are met with the sentence above

maddy68 · 09/03/2023 08:25

Redrobinbobbin · 09/03/2023 07:59

Why would that make me feel better?

Show quote history

Because you felt sad ;). It wasn't a gloat it was to remind you it's not always as we picture it In our heads when we can't get there

Bearonthestair · 09/03/2023 08:26

This thread is stressing me out. I'm trying to think of how to entertain 2 small kids, do I really have to do this until they are 16!!

16 I was working and out with friends. I didn't ask my mam what we were doing.
Put the 9 year old into some summer camps and chill out.

orangelotus · 09/03/2023 08:28

i don't know where you are based. or if you have any sort of budget in mind but would you get a ferry to iteland or france? Camping in France would be great .

00100001 · 09/03/2023 08:30

Why does being in a different or a month suddenly mean the days are automatically "filled" a D by remaining where you are, all of a sudden the same length of time is suddenly unmanageable??

Confused
00100001 · 09/03/2023 08:32

maddy68 · 09/03/2023 07:54

I live in a holiday destination. Tourists piss me off frankly the restaurants are all full , takes ages to walk down the main street and it's really hot.

Hope that makes you feel a bit better

Yeah, isn't it awful that the tourists are filling local restaurants bringing in money and helping local companies. Must be fucking awful having a boost to local businesses.

00100001 · 09/03/2023 08:35

Quite. Kids are happy just being. They don't need constant adventures and to be doing stuff.

It's perfectly acceptable to mindlessly potter for 4-5 weeks and maybe have a 1 week holiday, or a half a dozen max days out over 6 weeks

3WildOnes · 09/03/2023 08:36

00100001 · 09/03/2023 08:30

Why does being in a different or a month suddenly mean the days are automatically "filled" a D by remaining where you are, all of a sudden the same length of time is suddenly unmanageable??

Confused

?

Scarfywarfy · 09/03/2023 08:51

I live in a tourist destination and I hate it. I see all these people on holiday who are diverse and clearly happy. I overhear their intelligent conversations and think "I wish that was me. I wish I could afford to live somewhere better"

😭 I'm being legit. No sarcasm.

thaegumathteth · 09/03/2023 08:53

Whilst I agree OP is micromanaging especially the 16 year old I am so sick of the 'this is insensitive' brigade. Some people have more money than others, they shouldn't be expected to hide that fact.

maddy68 · 09/03/2023 08:58

00100001 · 09/03/2023 08:32

Yeah, isn't it awful that the tourists are filling local restaurants bringing in money and helping local companies. Must be fucking awful having a boost to local businesses.

Show quote history

Don't be ridiculous. I was trying to make the poster feel better.

If you want me to make her feel worse then I could. Frankly I am very fortunate to live where I do but that doesn't mean living here doesn't come without it's frustrations. We own a tourist facility so we are grateful to them. No need to be so bloody snippy I suggest you have a other coffee

WinterDeWinter · 09/03/2023 09:07

I want to know where you have been going for a month previously <nosy>

Rainbowqueeen · 09/03/2023 09:19

Teach them useful skills. Like cooking. Get them each to plan and cook a 3 course meal including setting the table with a handwritten menu on it. Obviously you’ll have to help the 9 year old more and give age appropriate items. I’ve done this with my kids and when they were very young the entire was just heating up garlic bread.
You could also teach them both how to make basics like eggs every way, fruit salad etc.

Can you get your 16 year old to plan some activities for the 9 year old. For example ask them to crest a scavenger hunt type walk round the neighbourhood. Sample question - what colour is the roof at number 16. Then you and the 9 year old go and do the walk.

Check your local library and museum for special events.

Do some crafty stuff - make paper weights by painting stones, use potato prints to make a supply of wrapping paper
Hire a tennis court and rackets

YouNeverCanTellWithBees · 09/03/2023 09:49

It's only March?! I don't know what we're doing at Easter yet!

Badbudgeter · 09/03/2023 10:12

Our local leisure centre does 30 day passes for less than £20 for children. Something like that in the summer they can use swimming pool, ice skating (you have to pay for skate hire), muga, squash and badminton/ basketball courts. Lots of parents do it and there is much swapping of children for mornings/ afternoons. It's quite popular with teens too. DS is quite happy to go swimming with his mates, then they go to the co-op for a meal deal and then hang out on basketball court. I'd have a look and see what local council offers.

America12 · 09/03/2023 10:50

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 09/03/2023 06:31

I am struggling to feel any sympathy for you here. Very goady of you to start such an insensitive thread. I'm so sorry that you can't have your usual month away and that your nearly adult children might have to get off their backsides and entertain themselves.

One of the children is 9.

America12 · 09/03/2023 10:51

Redrobinbobbin · 09/03/2023 06:54

Not this year as left it too late and all too expensive

Every single thing In every single place ?

Marchforward · 09/03/2023 10:54

Most 16 year old fill their summer holidays with a job and seeing friends.

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 09/03/2023 11:32

How about another suggestion. Take away the screens, let the 9 year old get bored as they'll have to learn how to entertain themselves. It's a valuable life skill, which obviously none of you have at the moment. And as before, the 16 year old should be working or studying or spending time with friends. You should not be having any input into how a 16 year old spends their time (apart from getting them off screens).

Heartsandbirds · 09/03/2023 11:41

🙄

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