Tricky- manageable half term ideas?

[Kittkats]

I really want to not waste half term. I’ve got the week off. 2 dc at home (12 and 14) who would love to do something together.
The challenge:

1. limited funds. I could manage £500 on credit card for a short break (eg camping) but that may not be possible because
2. DH had a stroke a few weeks ago and has various health issues. He’s scared to go camping because he’s feeling the cold (fear is a bigger problem than cold), can’t walk more than 100m (with breaks) and has cognitive issues so couldn’t manage alone more than 7 hours (assuming I prepare meds/meals/ drinks)
3. we have 2 dogs (though older dc could mind)
4. Dh currently has a virus. Dc 14 and I have had it and we’re laid low for a week, DC 12 may yet get ill

What can I/we plan/ do??? I’m sick of wasting leave in the house because of DH health (it’s been one thing after another since 2024 🤯) but don’t want me/ the kids to miss out. We had promised a camping trip pre stroke…

Can you take the kids camping and have a friend, relative or neighbour pop in on DH, or consider a few “Days out” instead of camping, trip to the seaside, water park, Go Ape!

Not sure I’d want to camp when the it’s going to be so hot, tents can be awful in the heat

Going away sounds tricky so could you plan some day trips instead? Drive to the coast? Theme park? Zoo trip? Cinema and lunch out? Escape room? Bowling? Etc.

Why not just a night or 2 ? Where in the country are you and do you have all the gear ?

Last minute short break mid week in a caravan or house where you can take the dogs?

We have camping gear.
DH doesn’t know neighbours well enough to accept check ins.
no nearby family.
friends not the sort he could ask to check in.
Day trips would possibly add up to too expensive and would mean leaving DH behind (unless specific suggestions he can accompany??)
we’re northwest but can travel

What do you all enjoy activities wise?
Would DH ride a scooter?

Just to be clear:

• Day trips are out of the question because: you can't leave him alone for more than 7 hours and there is no one to look in on him anyway
• A camping trip is out of the question because: he can't handle the cold and can't walk more than 100m

Is the right time to go away when he only just had a stroke a few weeks ago?

I totally get that you and the kids need a break, but every suggestion I can think of goes against the limitations you have outlined. Other than getting a carer in. Or booking a holiday cottage for you all and the dogs, but sounds like money is tight.

This is a good way of putting it clearly. Sounds like your only option is to find local things as you can only go out an hour or two at a time?

Does/ would dh use a wheelchair?
Could your adult dc stay with him?

If you’ve got nobody to check in on your husband and he can’t go away, you are very limited. It’ll have to be shorter day trips where you’re back in 4 or whatever hours. Or activities, eg bowling, cinema, crazy golf, escape room etc

Your poor DH. I had a stroke 3 years ago and still cant move the right side of me.

It’s probably all long COVID related, but since 2024 he’s had 5 (minor) heart attacks (all 2024), neuropathic pain and cognitive impairments (2025 onset) and now the (minor) stroke.
He’s not been great with DC (safeguarding referrals made), and it’s been hard on all of us. I’m the breadwinner/ carer/ referee/ cheerleader for everyone.
it is probably really selfish of me, but I feel like me and dc need a bit of joy.
I completely understand the summary above of why this isn’t possible… I just wanted a substitute of sorts.
im Hoping there’s something we haven’t thought of!

If ever there was a time for a staycation...

I think you've got to stay at home and do fun stuff from there.

Do you have any family that could come and stay with DH for a night so you and the kids could get away? You could do one night in a hotel with nice facilities within budget.

He doesn’t accept help from (or see, really) anyone but me.

Everything local seems so expensive- escape room £20ea and that’s an hour, not even a full day filled! Plus DC are the age they’re happier doing things with me away from home where friends won’t see them!

Going to a climbing wall place?

If you like escape rooms you can get game books or board games that are a similar vibe. One or two of these and some good snacks is a fun day (at home so no-one can see them enjoying your company). If you Google 'treasure trails' they are really good fun and very reasonably priced (and out of the house, and more than one hour, but definitely less than seven hours...).

Do they like Taskmaster? You can create some fun, simple taks without breaking the bank. That's a fun day or have a couple of tasks each day over the week.

Is there a movie you'd all like to see? Or a theatre show?

Do you have some outside space like a forest/beach/nice city to have a walk round? You can go an hour away so they don't bump into friends!

Clip n climb is fun and often reasonably priced. Or ice skating. Or maybe a climbing wall?

I think I want the whole relaxed weekend away feeling- scenery, sun, freedom for the kids, a good book, wine, paddle boarding, fire pit, no pressure….
im so behind on housework (and gardening) I can’t relax at home and would waste the time off trying to get caught up.
im close to burnout so need to make the most of the break. If im being honest DC would probably be happy enough if I gave them money for climbing/ cinema/ whatever, but I’d like to spend the time with them and know DH would make me feel guilty if I left him at home- he does when I go to work, and I’ve no choice then!

I promise I’m not being deliberately obstructive!

Realistically that isn't possible. The quicker you put that to bed and start making the best of what is possible the better. It's hard, really hard..but it's that or just whinge on endlessly. Making the best of it is the better choice for everyone.

Thank you. I probably need brutal honesty, as much as I might not want it!

Can you not just book into a hotel and have a couple of nights on a city break? I don’t know where you are or if you drive - go to a city- your kids are the perfect age to visit Liverpool, Manchester, York, Leeds - any big city will keep them occupied

Yes, but a city break would be a nightmare for DH as he can’t get around. Plus we live in one of the above and my elder dc is at uni in one of the others!

If you want to get away could you pick up a few days in a cottage somewhere. Something like this https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Lincolnshire-Beeches-Fm/114-Cherry-Park-1139541.html#duration=4&start=2026-05-25&changeover=1 Would squeeze in under budget and sometimes just being somewhere that isn’t home is enough to allow you to relax.

It’s too late for this half term, but if DH is so incapacitated, there must be some help available. Respite care, young carers groups, I’m not very knowledgeable about these things but I’m sure other people on MN are.
Step one would be to contact your GP to see what they can do, and you should make it clear the stress that you are under and how the DC are being affected.
And DH needs to come to terms with the fact that he should be accepting outside help for your sakes. Of course his illness is hard for him, but he sounds a bit selfish by refusing help from anyone else. He needs to recognise that you all need a break.