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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To REALLY hate half term...

51 replies

curiousgeorgie · 13/02/2012 18:57

Its probably going to become really hypocritical of me when my own DD is older, but at the moment she is 15 months and half term is a nightmare!!!

Against my better judgement and because it was raining I took her to softplay, and the toddler area was filled with much older kids, throwing balls from the ball pool, parents nowhere to be seen. It got so crazy I had to leave. (After asking the staff many times to remove the older children.)

There is nowhere to go!!! Everywhere is too full... I'm bored!!!! (And I supsect a massively bored DD by this time tomorrow :(

What do those of you with smaller children DO for this hideous week!!

OP posts:

jellybeans · 13/02/2012 22:29

I avoid soft play with my little one in the school hols. I love half term though and having all the DC off. Just lazing around and chatting etc. Even if we aren't having days out i enjoy it. They like just chilling at home. We met friends today and plan a couple trips out later in the week but otherwise nothing much and all love it.

mrswoodentop · 13/02/2012 22:37

At 15months mine never really went to activities like soft play or even toddlers.So many nice things to do at home ,or just generally going about doing everyday things ,learning to amuse themselves and I cherished that time with them ,wish I had more to be honest.

I really cannot understand how a 15 month old can be bored ,surely every minute of every day is an exploration for her.Get out some saucepans and a wooden spoon,play with toys in the bath,make play doh,do finger painting.

Despite the lack of organised baby activities my children have grown into well adjusted teenagers/pre teens who are achieving at school and consequently YABU.

thekidsrule · 13/02/2012 22:43

the kids are only of for a week thats hardly a hardship

u wait when yours are older you will be complaining about the toddlers being there in halfterms,and saying they have the other 40wks of the year to go

lol

sharenicely · 13/02/2012 22:57

Monday round to friends in the morning, friends here in the afternoon.
Tuesday lovely country walk and lunch with friends.
Wednesday park and lunch with friends
Thursday lunch at friends house.
Friday nandos with friends
Love half term

Bunnyjo · 13/02/2012 22:57

OK, I do have some sympathy - I did lots of activities with DD that literally shut up shop come school holidays and I did resent this. Plus the town centre, soft play areas, libraries, pools etc were full to bursting with much older and more boisterous children... It felt like a nightmare! But DD was easily entertained with paints (finger painting, stamps, hand and feet painting) and play doh etc. It wasn't really that difficult to find alternative enjoyment, just required a bit more thinking...

Now, my DD is 4 and in reception and I have an 8mo DS too, I really look forward to the school holidays - I love doing lots of activities with them both together and seeing them have such fun with eachother.

So, on balance, YABU and possibly a bit PFB, but I was there so I won't judge too harshly

DrCoconut · 14/02/2012 00:02

It's not necessarily true that toddlers can go to things any time though. I work at a college and am only allowed to book holiday when the students aren't in i.e. school holiday times. I'm annoyed by the fact that with the exception of a fortnightly dads group, baby and toddler activities don't run out of term times or on Saturdays. It excludes quite a lot of people because even parents who don't work in education are more likely to book holidays and be available for things when there is no school. But if you are in a position to be able to go whenever you like is one week sharing with a few more than usual or giving it a miss really so bad?

lockets · 14/02/2012 08:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shagmundfreud · 14/02/2012 08:33

Oh no 'tis lovely. Am sat here in bed with a cup of really good coffee, a Jilly Cooper novel and mn. Children still asleep as I let them all stay up late last night cause no school today.

May be a bit shite later when they get up and start arguing and asking for stuff, but right now it's great!

Northernlurker · 14/02/2012 08:46

Oh dear OP - you will look back and cringe when yours are school age. Take dd out in the buggy, go for bus rides, look at trains at the station - and stop moaning about other people's children. It won't lead anywhere good!

missmapp · 14/02/2012 08:54

I LOVE half term, I am a teacher and work 4 days a week, so love feeling like a proper mummy.
I remember feeling annoyed that our usual places were full of big, noisy kids in the holidays, but you get used to it and soon forget the crowds.

We are off for a long bike ride today ( mine are 4 and 6 ) and then to a bday party at soft play, it will be busy and noisy, but I will be there with my boys and it will be fun!!

BTW , my two are no angels, and of course Im sure a bit if me will be glad to get back to work next week!!

cherrypez · 14/02/2012 11:17

snapesmistress I am also on a PGCE... waves it is tough, yes?

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 14/02/2012 13:21

NorthernLurker, if you read my post you'll see I said I was being hypocritical, or would be as soon as mine is older.

And its not all children, I understand that, but many children do behave badly and are allowed to do so. There is a small toddler area that is fenced off, compared to a large playframe where older children can run wild and yet they chose to come into the ball pool etc where they are constantly knocking smaller children over and are rarely even glanced at by a parent.... (And just to reiterate, I know this is not by any means ALL children, but it does happen and is far from rare)

My daughter does amuse herself, she plays with spoons in her high chair, we go to the park, she gets every toy out, she watches Mickey Mouse, we go food shopping, I meet up with friends and I take her to my mums etc... but why should she have to forgo softplay (That she loves - doesn't walk due to hip problems and so finds many situations frustrating but truly truly loves it at softplay) when there is an area where the other 40 weeks of the year would be safe and fun for her, and should continue to be so the other 12.

OP posts:

arghmyear · 14/02/2012 13:24

OP - lesson learnt re soft play and half term/holidays. It is absolutely horrible at those times!

When your DD is older, half term off school will be better - she'll need a break, she'll be able to play independantly etc. My DCs just play together over half term and really enjoy it.

Miomio · 14/02/2012 13:29

I would not go anywhere near softplay. Practically every school aged child across the whole country is off today - I would expect it to be rammed and plan accordingly.

Today I had a 4 boys - 10, 8, 6 and 4 (not all mine!) to look after. We went to a museum (was pretty quiet) went to a cafe, stopped at the park for a play on the way home. No where was particularly busy, all were happy and well behaved and they got some culture and fresh air ( to mitigate the DVD that they are now watching!)

We always plan to visit family in the hols (as we are at the moment). It breaks up the week and gives everyone a change of scene.

Soft play brings out the worst in everyone (parents included) - you leave your soul at the door of those places

Whorulestheroost · 14/02/2012 13:42

Op I think you need to be a little more tolerant. It is the school holidays, that and the fact that it's cold outside will lead many a desperate parent to these hideous places. Next week it will be empty and your 15 month old will be able to play until her hearts content. You are probably right as well, it will be hypocritical, just wait and see!

theDevilHasTheBestMNNames · 14/02/2012 14:22

Some toddler groups run through, some children centers have things on, some museums and things put things on - worth having a look around- try and arrange to meet others during the week or lots of craft stuff at home.

YANBU - I had several DC and DH would often be away during the longer holidays I remember it being very hard sometimes.

I've two at school now and the break from the manic school run every day is a relief - plus towards end of week they'll be less tired and fun to be around again.

Pandemoniaa · 14/02/2012 14:59

I'm sorry, but so far as softplay is concerned, YABU. Everybody with a child who is not yet school age knows to avoid it at half term. When, in fairness, it is hardly reasonable to expect the children who spend the majority of their year at school to stay away so that the precious parents of toddlers can continue to own the place. I know that February isn't the jolliest month for weather but it can't be so difficult to keep a 15 month old occupied without soft play, can it?

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 14/02/2012 15:13

Pandemoniaa - It is reasonable to expect me to stay away from softplay altogether but unreasonable to expect parents to keep older children out of the toddler area?

OP posts:

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 14/02/2012 15:14

And sometimes, yes, it is difficult to keep her entertained. Who wants to sit at home all day?? And why should she?

OP posts:

strandednomore · 14/02/2012 15:23

I have some sympathy for OP - 15-month-old's are quite difficult to entertain and I was someone who hated just "hanging out" at home with my dc's. It gets easier, as they get older and there is more to do with them, plus they get better at entertaining themselves.
But I agree with everyone who points out that half term is a time to avoid soft play like the plague, especially if you can visit during term time.

lockets · 14/02/2012 15:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CheerMum · 14/02/2012 16:01

we home ed and the school holidays are times when we tend to dig in at home and not venture out as everywhere is teeming with school kids, so I sympathise.

startail · 14/02/2012 16:05

YANBU
I know the DDs need a break, but Feb half term is grey, cold and bloody hard work.
Everything indoors is absolutely heaving too.
Made the mistake of going to London in Oct half term once. Yuck.

Love the long summer holidays, Christmas and later Easters and spring half term, but Feb and Oct

undercoverPrincess · 14/02/2012 16:05

YANBU
I hate school holidays, it's lovely to have the bigger kids at home but rubbish everywhere you want to take them is so busy it's just not enjoyable.

DialsMavis · 14/02/2012 16:21

Yes, of course other parents should keep their DC out of the parts they shouldn't be in, and they should be made to behave.

But life is rarely that simple. Should the Mother of a 2.5 year old send them off on their own into the big bit that's full of 6 year olds tearing about madly (as 6 year olds should be doing, it's their job) because she also has a 1 year old she can't leave in the baby bit?

DC do muck about when their parents aren't watching (even naice ones with naice parents, even mine, even yours when she is older ). As they get older you can't watch them all the time.

If these children in the baby bit were so much older: did you ask them nicely but firmly to be a bit more careful? What did they do?

It's one week FGS,

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