Feeling exhausted halfway through the holidays and missing the usual routine

[whitehawthornblossom]

It’s halfway through the holiday for us and I’m wrung out. I feel like I should really look forward to the holidays with the children but I just want the routine of school and work for me back.

It doesn’t help that my younger child attends nursery on Mondays and Fridays so is barely able to go this holiday. It’s a bit more manageable when the days are broken up with just one child!

I love the routine of work and school. As much as running around getting everyone where they need to be is exhausting, the endless days of entertaining my 12, 5 and 2 yo DC is worse.

House is a mess, we’re going through snacks like there’s no tomorrow and everyone is tired and grumpy.

I always hated school hols for this reason. My 3 are almost all done with school now and it’s actually lovely but it wasn’t until after GCSEs. YANBU.

I think the word is "routine", and without it we're stuffed.

I try to get round it by presenting the kids with lists - choices for activities, times for outings, house jobs etc. It helps a small amount to work towards something, but it all needs organisation!

I remember growing up I loved the easter holidays.

But I was on a farm and it was lambing season so I spent all day with my Dad helping with the sheep/newborn lambs. There was no time for boredom. Some of my fondest memories :)

There have been lovely moments, it’s just hard to get any downtime. Realistically even if we have a ‘chilled day at home’ much beloved on here the kids fight, the house ends up a mess and my backside never touches the sofa for longer than two seconds before I get ‘mummyyyyyyyy!’

It gets easier! Mine are 13 and 9. I work term time only so it’s a lovely break from the grind.

How old are the kids, OP?

They are five and two (three in July.)