Child leaving school - WWYD

[cleaningandbathing]

DS will be leaving school on 31 May as he is going to college in September. He is 15, 16 in July (in Scotland so this is ok) and is sitting his exams in May.

College starts in September so he’s home for 3 months or 13 weeks over the Summer. As a family we have 2 weeks away in August, I have another 4 days booked off work in July and he will have camp with his hobby for a week so all in, we’ve covered 4 of the 13 weeks. We aren’t sure what to do about the other weeks. We are just us, no grandparents or extended family to help.

At the moment, we think it best that I take parental leave or even informal unpaid leave from work - employer open to this. Neither DH or I can WFH and we both work full time.

I have a week off in April, a week off in October and one more week unallocated at the moment. I’d like to keep the unallocated week, if possible as our year end isn’t until Christmas and I am not sure I could do August until December with no break. I am just adding here while I remember, DH has no other leave available over the Summer as his work is fully booked and has been for over a year so him using more is not an option.

I am thinking that I take April and October has unpaid leave and use those 10 days to cut my week from 5 days to 3 over 5 weeks. Financially we could cope with two weeks unpaid if they are 6 months apart. This still leaves him few weeks on his own but more manageable.

The other option is to just ask for a 3 day week over the entire summer. Financially, this would be tough week after week not being fully paid. I do want to give my employer options though.

Once his exams are out of the way, DS will be looking to get a part time job. We do live semi rurally so options are difficult and limited. I am not sure anyone will take on a 15 year old for anything more than weekend work. There is a chance of seasonal work where we live but those employers aren't looking at the moment. They’ve said after Easter/closer to summer.

What would you do? Does either option sound ok, can you suggest anything else? Thanks for your thoughts.

You mean…. Being a normal teenager?

We had this last year. Last exam mid-June, start of 6th form mid-September.

I took a week off in July and then we did 2 weeks in August as a family.

Otherwise DD still had her normal hobbies running until the end of school year.
She also had transition work from the 6th form, nothing major but some reading, some mini essays (2 pages max), some TV watching and podcasts.

She also had some extra chores.

If my mum had taken time off work to be around the house with me all summer at that age I would have been absolutely mortified (and also slightly pissed off).

He's nearly 16 - let him sleep until 2pm and game until 2am if he wants!

In Scotland the Highers courses start before the school holidays so most of his friends will still be at school.

If you're really worried about him getting board could you give him some cash for a couple of Ubers?

They live in rural Scotland.

@cleaningandbathing I wouldn't cut your hours, that makes no financial sense. Encourage him to look for a job, are there any local farms that are might need extra help over the summer? How far to the nearest village, could he realistically cycle there for work?

I'd give him a couple of chores to complete each day (nothing too onerous, but maybe putting on a load of laundry and then hanging on the line, and doing the breakfast dishes). That way he has a reason to get up. Other than that I think I'd mostly leave him to it. Maybe book a few days off, or a day every couple of weeks if you want to do something with him, but don't go taking unpaid leave, that's bonkers!

At that age I also lived very remotely; I'd get on my bike in the morning and head off for the day with a bottle of water and some lunch. Just explored the local area. I'd never have expected my parents to drive me about or entertain me.

I thought it was pretty normal to leave a 15/16 year old to their own devices over the summer holidays. Maybe get a holiday job somewhere.

Perhaps give him a project around the house like decorate a room or a garden project.

Sort out clothes / stuff he doesn't use anymore.

Expensive but might work https://www.internationalsummercampuk.com/date-and-price/

Cheaper https://www.ridgway-adventure.co.uk/summer-camps/two-week-camp/

https://www.gvi.co.uk/volunteering-for-teens/

DD has her last exam on 15th June I think. We have two weeks booked off in July, and I might take her away for 4 nights in late June… other than that I’m encouraging her to get a job and will make her responsible for dog walking and laundry every day! We are out 9-3 though, if we we were out 8-8 might feel differently…

My DS is finishing school too this year. I'm certainly not taking parental leave! Who cares if they spend the summer gaming, they've just done exams. They're old enough to sort out meeting friends if they're bored, how many 16 year old lads want their mum organising activities for them in the school holidays?