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Original poster

Easter hols have destroyed me

143 replies

YukoandHiro · 16/04/2023 10:50

I'm an absolute husk. And there's an inset day tomorrow too!

I can't believe how hard I work only for my holidays to be much much harder work. For reference I have a 2yo and a 5yo and work 4 days a week. I am so much less exhausted when completely flat out working!

Tell me the teen years are a little easier on this point? I feel like a shell of myself

OP posts:
Scanorspam · 16/04/2023 20:37

Please for the love of god can we move on from inset days?

Theimpossiblegirl · 16/04/2023 20:37

roarfeckingroarr · 16/04/2023 11:08

I know. Why can't they use one of the holiday days for training?! It's not like they're short of them,

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They are holiday day. Hth.

Stillwearingskinnys · 16/04/2023 20:41

Sailingaround · 16/04/2023 11:15

I assume this is a joke and you’re not suggesting teachers use their holidays for training 😅 but sadly some people probably seriously hold this view.

OP, if you’re tired sounds like the children had a great Easter break at least :)

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I know yeah, they have such few holidays already.

I remember a few years ago, teacher training day. Took kids into town for a look out. Was about 1pm. Seemed most of women teachers in their school were all done up having a lovely girly day out. Feel rather differently after witnessing that tbh

ilovesooty · 16/04/2023 20:43

Stillwearingskinnys · 16/04/2023 20:41

I know yeah, they have such few holidays already.

I remember a few years ago, teacher training day. Took kids into town for a look out. Was about 1pm. Seemed most of women teachers in their school were all done up having a lovely girly day out. Feel rather differently after witnessing that tbh

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They could have completed the training hours in twilight sessions.

PaigeMatthews · 16/04/2023 20:47

Stillwearingskinnys · 16/04/2023 20:41

I know yeah, they have such few holidays already.

I remember a few years ago, teacher training day. Took kids into town for a look out. Was about 1pm. Seemed most of women teachers in their school were all done up having a lovely girly day out. Feel rather differently after witnessing that tbh

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That will be because they took one or two of those inset days and turned them into endless after school sessions instead.

but again, dont let work contracts you know absolutely nothing about stop your unjustified and nasty bitching. You do you.

SpringHasSprungAtLast · 16/04/2023 20:48

I promise you OP - it does get better. I went from dreading holidays with all my being because i am ill and just do not have the strength, and felt so guilty all the time too, and it was always a sigh of relief when they returned to nursery and school.

But now it's the reverse. I love having them
around where we could all chill, and its luxury to have no uniforms, lunchboxes, school runs and homework.

KylieKangaroo · 16/04/2023 20:58

I'm glad to read someone else has found it as tough as me. I have a 2 and 7 year old so it shouldn't be that hard but being stuck in our tiny house has been exhausting. I'm counting down the years until youngest starts school and I feel guilty for wishing it away but I'm so tired all the time.

Tumbleweed101 · 16/04/2023 21:15

Teens are easier in some ways but just as hard in other ways!

You can leave them home alone but living rurally mine want lifts everywhere and when I say no due to work I get sulks and moans. They also want money more often for their days out so can get expensive until they get jobs.

Marshatessa · 16/04/2023 21:18

You are not alone. I have 2 year old and 5 year old. I honestly cannot wait for tomorrow. It’s been like going to war every day of these holidays. Work is much much easier for me.

beachruns · 16/04/2023 21:18

Scanorspam · 16/04/2023 20:37

Please for the love of god can we move on from inset days?

Yea. It’s like cancel the cheque. It wasn’t even the OP who said it.

Just have some sympathy and solidarity people!

Marshatessa · 16/04/2023 21:20

Don’t do the holiday abroad either yet. Did so last year and it was hell without their usual routine and boundaries. Being on full alert all day around pool and beach and then having them both wake each other up all night. Never again until the youngest is 5 x

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 16/04/2023 21:53

It does get easier. There's also a magic age where they are independent enough to kinda leave you alone , but not full on teens with all the issues associated either.

Especially if you Try and make sure they are nice ,polite and easy kids when visiting other people and develop a network with other parents and strong friendships between the kids.

The other day DD went to the park , then got invited at someone's house, then invited to stay over for sleepover. Score! Grin

Escapetofrance · 16/04/2023 21:54

I’m a primary school teacher and nothing -absolutely nothing is harder than looking after your own young dc in the holidays!
It does get easier!

BrutusMcDogface · 16/04/2023 21:54

roarfeckingroarr · 16/04/2023 11:08

I know. Why can't they use one of the holiday days for training?! It's not like they're short of them,

Show quote history

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

TheMoth · 16/04/2023 22:37

It gets easier. Easter holidays was always a mess of being ill, planning lessons, marking a mountain of a level coursework and trying to entertain small children.

This year I have barely seen mine. I hear:"I'm going shop/woods/ Park" or the click of an xbox controller and that's it. They don't even ask to bake anymore. I am first up in the morning and that empty time can stretch for hours. It's been 14 years coming and I love it.

TheMoth · 16/04/2023 22:38

They do stay up late and want to watch what you watch though, so we have a strict 'stay up and watch but stfu' rule.

Diymesss · 16/04/2023 22:38

Was at the park with my young two today (3 and 7yo) and overheard a boy who looked about ten on the phone to his mum, trying to persuade her to let him stay out in the park longer. She wanted him home at 3.30, he wanted to stay out till 5.

Part of me felt I might be a bit sad if my child was out all day, but part of me was also a bit jealous as I followed my kids around the park, endlessly cuddling the youngest every time she whacked herself somewhere and started screaming.

TeenLifeMum · 16/04/2023 22:56

I have been off work this week. I’ve had some lay ins (dc leave me and sort their own breakfast) and we’ve had a city break in the middle. It’s been fab and I’m sad it’s over. dd1 is 15yo and dtds are 11. It was harder when they were younger and work was definitely a break. I’m enjoying them being older. I can be a bit more selfish and feel more like myself.

Hernaneislola · 16/04/2023 23:47

@YukoandHiro I have a 5 year old and after holidays I always come down with something (happened at Christmas) and now at Easter. I'm so exhausted that I got really sick, I've been bed ridden for the last 2 days with an awful migraine, unable to eat anything. I'm just starting to feel better tonight. I thought I must be getting old or I perhaps need a check up as it's not quite normal to fall ill after a busy holiday?

You are not alone, it is hard. DD did have an amazing 2 weeks and that makes it worthwhile. But I do hope it will get easier when she is older.

Jo8chocolate · 17/04/2023 01:15

So pleased to see this response in support of teachers. They have around 30 children per class and are expected to ensure they all make progress in their attainment levels too not just keep them entertained!

WordtoYoMumma · 17/04/2023 07:01

The golden holiday times for me were when my kids were 10, 6 and 4. I absolutely loved those times. Younger than that was constant hard work, but then as they got older it's a different kind of hard work. I miss the days out (we are a low income family so can't do theme parks or holidays, our days out used to be park trips, wood walks, treasure hunts, etc) now they are all teens life is really hard work, and at least when they are in school I know where they are!

shockedballoon · 17/04/2023 07:32

I remember being told that is doesn't really get easier, just different - well as someone with a now 13yo I can confirm it gets so much easier!
Didn't have to even think about childcare/booking time off (tbf I only work 3 days/wk anyway)
Had a couple of nice days out & spent some quality time together at home gaming/doing art/board games/watching films (that we all like, not just bloody Frozen or whatever it is now)
Inbetween he hung round the house himself or had a couple of friends round or went to the park with them a few times.
An absolute breeze. Hang in there, the little years can be gorgeous but are super tough.

Bedtimemode · 17/04/2023 07:40

5 year old and a 3 year old here and an inset day today. I am knackered. They wake at 6:30am and dont stop until 7:30pm. I just want to drink a coffee without someone hurting themselves or wanting something to eat or needing their bum wiped. I just got in trouble with 5 year old for not drinking my coffee in his fort. I'm so ready for them to go back tomorrow.

mdh2020 · 17/04/2023 07:51

To the people asking about teacher Inset days: these are on five days that were taken out of teachers’ holiday back in 1988. Please don’t ask teachers to give up more of their holidays for training days. I do agree that it makes more sense to add them onto holidays rather than having them at odd times through the year.

skyglass · 17/04/2023 07:56

Ignore anyone saying teens are hard in different ways, it's irrelevant to this thread and what you're describing, they just love trying to put other mothers in their place. Yes, what you're describing now is going to get MUCH easier.