I used to actually love the summer holidays and absolutely loved having my kids at home. We used to have loads of fun together! Crafting, watching TV, going to the cinema, playing video games, going swimming, going for long walks, going to the beach, playing badminton and bowls etc etc etc. Usually them 2 and me, sometimes with DH too. I worked part time two days a week at the time, so had a lot of time for them. But I do understand that everybody's different.
However, there's a woman who lives not too far from me who has got two little kids, 4 and 6. She works about 20 hours a week in a minimum pay job. Her partner looks after the kids sometimes, and her 16 year old DD does sometimes, when she's at work.
All I've heard for the last two weeks is her screaming and shouting and yelling at the 2 little kids and actually sending them over to a couple of other families to play with their kids. I'm trying not to judge, but it's like she hasn't got a single second at all for them. They keep running up my drive and asking me questions, and talking at me, and bothering me. I can't even have a conversation with them as they just talk and talk and don't listen.
They are making me shut myself in the back garden, when I would like to pootle around in the front. Constantly trying to catch me, to keep me talking when I'm in the front garden and not leaving me alone for a minute. I know kids can be hard work, but this woman hasn't got a single second for her kids. I will be glad when the summer holidays are over because someone ELSE'S kids are pissing me off!
Just adding a different slant to the thread. If your kids are annoying you, remember they are YOUR KIDS. Don't allow them to wander off pestering the neighbours!