Feeling guilty about all this childcare

[DizzyTiana]

This is the first summer holidays where I've worked full time since having my dc. I feel really guilty about the amount of time I've had to put them in holiday clubs.
Up until now I worked part time and they were in clubs twice a week during holidays. Now, it's 5 days a week minus the two weeks I have booked off.
I feel really sad about it. I know holiday clubs are fun but they still have to wake up early and be up and out. It's tiring for them.

Please tell me I'm not the only one having to do this. I'm feeling incredibly guilty at the moment.

Do you have any family members who could have them for the occasional day or a sleep over? 5 days of holiday clubs sounds exhausting

It is a lot isn't it ! My sister offered to have them over but she always lets me down the night before, then I'm really stuck.
Today is a day off and it's been lovely letting them have a lie in. Feel guilty from tomorrow it will be up and out by 9.

I worked full time when bringing up my two boys.
They were in holiday club unless we were on holiday together.

That was for primary school as by the time the eldest was at high school he stayed at a friends during the holidays, and was old enough to look after the younger one on their own by the time youngest was at high school.

I had to work. Single parent.

They just accepted it, and enjoyed holiday club when they were there. Early morning starts less so.

What do the children think about it? They might enjoy it.

I'm a SAHM, and although I get the kids out the house every day, there is still a lot of time to kill at home, and I feel guilty about that! We all beat ourselves up, don't we? Needs must, and we're all doing the best we can.

That will be us pretty much next summer. DD will get Mondays as home as that’s my non working day and then 3 weeks at least of clubs in summer.

Plus one or two half terms in clubs. It is what it is, we both work and have no practical family help (DH’s family are dead and mine are too
old and not local. They help financially but not practically).

I don't see the need for the guilt. I'm a sahm and I'm sending my eldest to summer camps for 4 weeks of the summer holidays, because they give her the chance to do activities she loves and to see friends. Much nicer than being stuck in the house with just her family. On the weeks she's not booked into camps she'll be up at 7am out of habit and we'll get out of the house before 9 so we can visit somewhere.