To think the pressure is on during school holidays?

[RaspberrySheep]

I work full time but booked the first two weeks of the school holidays off to spend time with my DS (8).

We don't have any much spare money at the moment, as I am a single mum and am attempting to buy a house over the next couple of months, but DS and I have made the most of the great weather and at the risk of sounding cheesy, spending time together. We've done all the usual fun stuff on a budget; baking, fishing, bike riding etc. and had a brill time last week. This week it's been a bit different.

DS has asked to play out with some other children on our estate. He's loving spending time with children his own age - I'm sure they laugh at all his jokes and poems about poo (he's at that age!) and where I will yell at him for climbing trees in case he hurts himself, to them he is a bit of a hero for being able to climb up so high. Meanwhile, I am pottering about the house getting the washing done, tidying corners which I had forgotten existed and having some time to myself.

My best friend visited us at the weekend and when I explained that the plan was for DS to play out for the rest of the week, she accused me of being lazy - explaining that she has a rota of activities for her DS who is the same age. This includes trips to the seaside, horse riding, camping and sailing. It sounds like he's going to have a wonderful time and now I'm feeling a bit guilty about not doing the same.

When I was younger, we spent the whole of the holidays playing with our friends on our bikes with maybe a trip to MacDonalds as a special treat at the end of the holidays, but AIBU to think that these days, the pressure is on to provide your child with a plethora of activities and entertainment, or risk being perceived as a 'lazy' parent who does not stimulate their child?

I've only read OP but feel strongly that your friend is being unfair to you so need to post in your support.

Being on holiday's doesn't mean scheduling the life out of your children. Having fun is what makes memories and having fun comes in zillions of different guises.
Playing out is such a valuable thing to do (imo), social skills, climbing, bike riding, arsing about... what could be better or more fun.

I have scheduled my DD's in to do 'things' for 3 days at a time. In between 'things' they'll be catching up with their mates, mucking about in parks, playing on rope swings, building dens, talking rubbish, laughing their heads off, getting filthy and having a bloody good time doing it.
By the way by 'things' i mean experiences had whilst visiting a relative in a different part of the country but with a specific activity tagged on (just in case they get bored).

You don't sound lazy to me at all.