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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick of hearing parents moaning about the summer holidays, minding their kids, not enjoying their kids

141 replies

professorsnape · 25/08/2011 13:14

I've had to up to here with listening to parents moaning about minding their kids, wishing for them to be back to school and out of the house.

Sisters-in-law throwing her eyes up to heaven and sounding jaded when he DD needs a drink/help in toilet/help with a game.

Or friends who just want to keep children quiet by plonking them in front of DVDs, filling them with junk, etc in the hope they'll go off to bed at nighttime.

Look, we've all have off days, believe you me (have DD age 4, 1 year old twin DS) but do we not owe it to our children to have a better attitude, a more positive one? To pretend we have anyway!

FFS, I wish they would roll up their sleeves, switch off the telly, get out in the fresh air, and just enjoy their kids!!!

When they're teenagers and hate our guts we'll regret it!

Rant over

OP posts:
PerryCombover · 25/08/2011 14:52

dumbledore

scrambedeggs · 25/08/2011 14:56

Do you want to try being stuck in a tiny house with a postage stamp garden with 4 kids aged 6 and under,

why have 4 kids in a tiny house?

meh some people like to play the victim role dont they - shrugs

DogsBestFriend · 25/08/2011 14:57

I don't believe you said that, scrambledeggs. Shock

beckybrastraps · 25/08/2011 15:03

Lord, I love the holidays. But then I'm a teacher, and dealing with my own children, even when they are in full flight, is easier than dealing with middle set year 9...

nojustificationneeded · 25/08/2011 15:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shakey1500 · 25/08/2011 15:06

YABU.

And tool-esque Grin

youngwomanwholivesinashoe · 25/08/2011 15:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

aquos · 25/08/2011 15:11

Yes YABU for so many of the reasons already given so I won't repeat them.

PebblesAndWine · 25/08/2011 15:14

Oh shut up Op. Why the bloody Hell do you care if other people moan a bit about their kids.

Gosh it must be so difficult being a perfect parent like you.

MoreCrackThanHarlem · 25/08/2011 15:15

This thread's all gone a bit Monty Python

'you try enjoying your kids when you have to live in a cardboard box in the middle of a lake with 14 children and 3p....'

The smugs and the martyrs are as bad as each other

PebblesAndWine · 25/08/2011 15:18

But those are my favourite posts mcth!

halcyondays · 25/08/2011 15:19

Personally I find it slightly easier this year now the dds are 5 and 3, but I do still find it hard work and totally exhausting. Dd1 has Aspergers and I'm starting to wonder if dd2 might have it too. I don't drive and there isn't much nearby within easy walking distance of a 5 year old. Dh will drop us into town before he goes to work sometimes so we can go to the park and library, but it would be a lot easier if I could drive as we could just nip out to a playground or down to the beach and them be able to jump in the car and be home in a few minutes. We are supposed to be getting a couple of new playgrounds which will be a 15-20 minute walk away, which should be ready for next summer.

We have always been in a routine of going to toddler groups nearly every day and really miss them during the summer.

scrappydappydoo · 25/08/2011 15:22

Ha ha ha - I really love my girls but I'm desparate for school to start. We've done all the usual - walks, parks, camping, swimming, days out, craft, playing in the garden etc etc etc but I'm fed up with whining, constant demands for food, fighting, complaining of boredom. My two don't even sleep in so are on the go from 5.30am to 7pm everyday. I am only one human so please don't judge me if we have a lot of duvet days in front of the tv or come here to moan because everytime I sit down I get asked for something. It has taken me 15 minutes to write this post..

TheLimeFairy · 25/08/2011 15:25

I think that everyone has different circumstances and different reasons for finding the school holidays difficult. I have days when I enjoy the kids but I also have days (especially in the school holidays) when it is difficult and I just want to have a break. It is not helpful when people judge this feeling and make out like it is wrong. As parents we should be supporting each other and acknowledging that it is a difficult job and sometimes we have bad days.

PebblesAndWine · 25/08/2011 15:26

Where are you op?!

2shoes · 25/08/2011 15:31

yabu
but then I would say that, but if your so wonderful op, why are you on here and not busy with your kids?

WorzselMummage · 25/08/2011 15:34

Come back when you've actually experienced a school holiday OP and you might not sound like suck a wanker.

WorzselMummage · 25/08/2011 15:35

Oh and if anyone wants a 6.5 year old Girl, give me a shout.

NormanTebbit · 25/08/2011 15:41

Scotland went back to school last week. Halle-fuckin-lujah!

I love my children dearly. We had lots of fun over the summer holidays, camping, visits playing withe friends etc but there were days when I though I was going to ebay all three of them.

Towards the end they needed more stimulation than I could offer, they needed structure, more stimulation than me, the park, TV and drawing could offer.

Op post this again when you have enjoyed six weeks with your three children perhaps with the twins in reception and tell me you are not mentally crossing off the weeks

magicmelons · 25/08/2011 15:42

Yabu and rather nasty op, my dc will have had 9 weeks off when they go back to school. We have had a brilliant summer and I love them dearly but at 7 months pregnant with a pt job and my Msc due to be handed in on the 29th of sept( I had to beg for a 6 week extension so as I could spend time with them) .

I am desperate for them to go back, I loved the preschool years when my babies were home, so much I'm doing it again, but it's nothing like that having 2 school age children who are used to a high level of stimulation at home all day. We live in a city, it's costing me 40 quid at least twice a week to do entertaining things with them and before you comment, we have baked, painted had playdates, been abroad visited relatives been to the woods etc but it's still expensive to do nice things with them.

MoreCrackThanHarlem · 25/08/2011 15:45

Genuine question- why are people dismissing OP as her children are not school age? Why is 6 weeks in the summer seen as harder than 24/7 childcare for 3 under 5's?

Taffeta · 25/08/2011 15:47

I'm "enjoying" my DC loads this summer. Its the first summer they have both been at school all year ( 5 and 7 ) and crucially, I've gone back to work part time. I'd be a raving loon by now otherwise.

WorzselMummage · 25/08/2011 15:48

Pre schoolers are EASY compared to infants who are used to having their brain stimulated at school. My DD is literally climbing the walls, i've had enough of her and her of me.. I cannot wait for her to go back!

Original poster
professorsnape · 25/08/2011 15:48

Ok, was just away there fixing my bullet proof vest.

Can I just say, I completely understand that some people have difficult situations of course. Things are not simple, of course parenting is complex.

I did not wish to come across as judgemental/smug as I detest the competitive parenting thing as much as the next person.

I do not want to undermine people's particular difficulties, hardships and problems.

And yes, my children are not school age yet, but I have summer holidays off from work (as I work in education) so my children are off creche/montessori so I know what it is to try and occupy them over the summer months.

For the record, we don't have a huge amount of disposable income, don't have a huge amount of support, etc.

My original post was merely pointing out that, despite the challenges of parenting, we should try and find some joy and fun in it.

I've had a few tough times with my kids (health issues, etc, but not getting all monty python about it) but not really my style to go on and on about the difficulties of parenting. It's just that some of my close friends/ffamily seem to make hard work out of it all. Other parents (who do actually have it tough!) need to be spared this!!

Am off to polish my 'mother of the year' medal

OP posts:
MoreCrackThanHarlem · 25/08/2011 15:55

Interesting.
I can't imagine how one school age child could be harder work than a 4yo and 1yo twins.

I like the school holidays
Dd is relatively well behaved, and happy to spend days walking the dog/playing in the garden etc
Not had much money this summer so trips out have been minimal, but still had a nice time.

Much easier than being at work and school at any rate.