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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to quite like the school holidays?

29 replies

domesticsluttery · 21/07/2010 15:04

Schools here broke up last Friday.

So many of my friends are already moaning on Facebook that they hate the holidays, their kids are arguing, their kids are bored etc.

Now I know I'm running the risk of sounding a bit smug, but I actually quite like the holidays!

So far we have been camping (it rained, but it was still fun), baked flapjacks, picked blackcurrants in MIL's garden and made them into jam, been to get books from the library, played lots of board games, played in the garden in between showers... The DC are currently playing that game where you fold the paper and each draw a bit of the body each and then unfold it. I am enjoying the holidays just as much as they are.

AIBU?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 21/07/2010 15:06

yanbu...

many threads on here over last few weeks saying how much we all enjoy them!

why would anyone not enjoy spending time with their own children??

moondog · 21/07/2010 15:07

Indeed.
Why have thme if it is such a chore to (God frobid!!) actually look after them oneself?

2blessed2bstressed · 21/07/2010 15:11

I love them - we're all still in our pyjamas! To clarify, it's pouring rain, we've done (a lot) of baking, boys have made model plane that has been waiting since Christmas, and I'm now trawling MN while they stuff their faces with aforementioned baking! It's nice not to be clock watching, and on such a miserable day it's great to be in a warm kitchen that smells like chocolate cake and cheese scones, and know that we don't have to be anywhere or do anything

MrsGravy · 21/07/2010 15:12

Sorry but whilst you aren't unreasonable to enjoy the holidays you ARE unreasonably smug about it!!

I was and AM looking forward to the holidays but I've not had a great start to them. On top of night feeds for my newborn baby I had to deal with 2 screaming tantrums in the middle of the night from my 3yo. He has then spent the rest of the day goading his older sister. I am exhausted and stressed and I reserve the right to moan about this all over facebook should I so desire. And it's not because it's a 'chore' to look after them myself. I'm a SAHM, I'm bloody well used to looking after them myself!!

2blessed2bstressed · 21/07/2010 15:18

So Mrs Gravy, you'll not be wanting the chocolate cake recipe then, is that what you're saying?

MrsGravy · 21/07/2010 15:42

It would take more than baking a cake to rescue this day. I've given up trying to enjoy today, it's about surviving til bedtime now!

We'll start afresh tomorrow when I'm sure I'll be smugly skipping about baking and making jam with the rest of you...

Original poster
domesticsluttery · 21/07/2010 15:43

I have to admit that when I had a newborn (who was the youngest of 3 DC under 4) things weren't quite so much fun... but I am talking about friends who have DC of the same age as mine (all school age now).

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 21/07/2010 15:44

You're not being unreasonable but do spare a thought for us working mums who can maybe organise 2 weeks out of the summer hols to spend with their kids. I'd love to have the luxury of spending a whole six weeks either being monumentally bored or having fun making flapjacks. Don't get that choice, unfortunately.

fruitloafrocks · 21/07/2010 15:49

I'm quite lazy and pretty bad at being anywhere on time, so getting the kids to school is a daily trauma for me ..... so I absolutely love them

Litchick · 21/07/2010 15:49

I love the holidays, me.
DCs are choristers so I bloody love not having to get up at the crack of sparrows.
Have already had two weeks and can't wait for the rest.

That said, there are plenty on here who have solid reasons not to enjoy them and I don't think we should point any judgey fingers at them.

Original poster
domesticsluttery · 21/07/2010 15:51

I am a working mum, but a working mum who only works term time.

Some of the people who have been moaning on FB are working mums too, on annual leave. Which makes me even more puzzled as you'd think if you only had 2 or so weeks of the holidays with your DC you'd make sure you enjoyed them!

OP posts:
Original poster
domesticsluttery · 21/07/2010 15:52

I wasn't pointing judgey fingers at anyone on here, I was just puzzled by the number of RL friends who hate the holidays!

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 21/07/2010 15:53

yes,even schoolage!!

i'm a lone parent.....so no break ever.....with 5 dc ages 2,7,11,14 and 16....still love the hols!!

Litchick · 21/07/2010 15:55

Do you think they really do hate the holidays, or have got into that whole moany pants thing where no ones allowed to say anything is just fine and dandy?

Original poster
domesticsluttery · 21/07/2010 15:56

I have wondered that Litchick, FB statuses do seem to often be grumbling about something, perhaps it is because it is the "done thing"?

OP posts:
2blessed2bstressed · 21/07/2010 15:57

Oh me too - was being light hearted, and no offence meant to working mums . Am sahm myself, although kids at school (I am well aware that I'm going to be considered lucky by many others on here), I'm just really enjoying the whole not having to be anywhere at a specific time, no swimming lessons, no homework side of things. A lot!

Litchick · 21/07/2010 15:58

I also wonder if some people don't just get into a habit of always looking on the down side. Those of us who say we love it have all mentioned what we perceive as the positives.
I suspect our DCs will still fight and moan. We will spend dispriting lengths of time in rainy parks/hot play centres and driving our kids around.
For some that reality will soil the whole thing. For others it won't.
Does that make sense?

MrsGravy · 21/07/2010 16:02

Yes, I can imagine it's different when they're all school age. I've been looking forward to spending time with my eldest, school age child. I miss her during term time!

Original poster
domesticsluttery · 21/07/2010 16:03

I don't even spend time driving my kids around, as I don't drive! Yesterday, in order to get to the library, we had to walk half a mile to catch a bus and then half a mile back from the bus. In the pouring rain. We were so wet when we got home that the rain had got through our coats and we all had to change our coats. But we had hot chocolate with marshmallows to warm ourselves up

So I understand exactly what you mean Litchick.

OP posts:
Original poster
domesticsluttery · 21/07/2010 16:05

This is the first year that they are all in FT school (DD started after Easter), and I miss them like crazy.

Not enough to have a 4th baby though...

OP posts:
slushy · 21/07/2010 16:11

YANBU I mentioned this at the school how I am looking forward to six weeks and not September (ds goes full time) and they looked at me like I was insane told me give it a few years and that will change.

Lynli · 21/07/2010 16:14

I love the school holidays. Got my lovely DS all to my self. No clock watching. Fancy some time to my self phone DD. The secret to easy parenting 14 year age gap.

darkandstormy · 21/07/2010 16:22

YABU I have already packed the kids off elsewhere,and have been keeping a poorly budgie company in the loft room.The tranquility is much more pleasant.I suppose the hols are okay if you like being around small children for long periods of time,if you don,t then they are a drag.Love my kids to bits by the way but just do not like to be MR MAKER and KATY "BORING" CAN COOK personified, for 6 weeks on the trotMy DH However, thankfully does like to do the kiddie things, so thankfully all is not lost

ArseHolio · 21/07/2010 16:24

Dd breaks up tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it

it'll be nice to spend some time with her. We've got lots of things planned with friends from school and we've got a decent sized garden I can shove her and ds in for a few hours each day

It wasn't mch fun last year when ds was a tiny non sleeper though.

MrsGravy · 21/07/2010 16:32

So we are all agreed that you are allowed to moan about the school holidays if you have a small baby then?

I have the opposite problem to the OP in that all my facebook friends are posting about how much they LOVE the holidays and it's making me feel guilty that I'm not enjoying them (yet).