to want the summer holidays shortened

[makeminearose]

Kids driving me mad this week role on september :-)

Feel lucky, in the US they're 3 months long!

I was dreading it-no money, thought it was going to rain every day.
But....I am enjoying it!
Have had several days with ds's friends over, and had nice weather.
Visited family, had my friends staying, been to various playgrounds and cheap days out.
I think actually, because I am broke, expensive treats and days out just aren't happening, so it's just chuck 'em outside to play, maybe make some biscuits, play lots of board games etc.
I have to drag ds round the supermarket anyway, so that's just normal, but actually less stressful because I have a lot of leave, so have been able to do it without being knackered after work/school.
I don't want September to come!

Wow, you get way more holiday in Ireland than the UK

YANBU I enjoy the time with them but actually both they and I would be happy to be going back next week. We've had lots of fun but could do with some structure back in our lives!
I think extra time in autumn would be good, that term is usually a killer!

That should have read 183 (sorry, I'm a bit odd with numbers!)

It's 38 weeks, so 14 weeks a year free

I'm dreading having to pay for childcare when I get full time work!

i really hate to say this, but i can not wait till DS is back in school.

I feel really low and i miss my free time, he has austism and he needs the routine and he is up till 10pm and is up at 6am ( and he wakes up in the night) I am going to crack

i love the summer hol not just because I'm a teacher. it's lovely to spend time as a family and let routines go out the window. it helps that 2 dcs are old enough to play over the road at friends and there is a summer camp 2 days a week. If they had to shorten it, i'd love the extra week at xmas. 2 weeks is never long enough!

I have just looked at the 2012/2013 holiday time table and DD will have 192 school days in the next academic year.

I have found this summer far less trying because, although DD is an only child, she has had more friends to play with. We also spent a week at the beginning staying with family and have a week away planned for the last week. The weather has been far better than expected as well and at 12 years old DD is a lot more independent now.

I totally understand why some of you need your children to be at school, It is very wearing having to constantly monitor your children if they are younger or have extra needs.

I've really enjoyed the holidays so far.

We're quite lucky in that we live in a holiday area so there's endless free entertainment and the weather hasnt been too bad. Even on cloudy, miserable days we've been out crabbing, fossil hunting, kite flying, etc. our cinema does £1 morning showings, the swimming pool does free swimming for local residents so we've been able to do a lot for very little money.

I think it's easier when they get a little older, as on days we've had no plans the kids have just played out with their friends, go to the park, etc

We have 6 1/2 weeks. Kids go back for 2 days then it's a weekend

DD is driving me nuts.

I like the holidays long. I like the Summer holidays somewhere new and slightly exciting. I enjoy my son's company more, we both relax without pesky school runs and other commitments. He helps me with the housework more and also he does play out though quite a bit .

yabu, yes they are long and I have to say 6 weeks of dd (severely disabeld) being at home isn't easy, but your only a child once so they should have long holidays.

Oh I am loving the short UK school hols.

School here breaks up mid June, they go back mid september. But DS is going to a British virtual school from this academic year onwards and so will start early September. And then finish in July some time. That should go some way to minimising the September rustyness.

He is mollified by the fact that in the English school year he gets so many more short breaks throughout the year, which I think is going to be a real plus point. The first term here runs from Sept to Xmas without a real break so the kids are cream crackered by the time they get to take a breather. Looking the timetable this year things are broken up nicely, so burn out should be less of an issue.

May have to cave in and buy an air con unit for the end of the summer term thpugh. Not sure he won't melt or fall asleep during lessons in July when it is baking hot.

If any of you get really fed up you can ship your kids over to me in Italy for the last couple of weeks

With all summer off schoolwork and mates here all the time I am in a state of panic that he will go back to school having forgotten how to speak English so bunch of short native speakers might be a fabby antidote to his linguistic back sliding.

If any of you get really fed up you can ship your kids over to me in Italy for the last couple of weeks

I'm loving the holidays, not long enough IMHO,I love finding our own family pace without having to jump to the school drum,

but Suocerablues, I've packed them up and told them look out for you at the airport.

We're back at school.

it is far too long and also costs me £35 a day bloody childcare! I only have 2 weeks off so Im skint for the 2 weeks I get to spend with him anyway! GRRRRRR. 4 weeks fulltime childcare is not good

I'd rather they were longer tbh!

The summer holidays are going well for us. I'm a meticulous advance planner so had holidays and activity day camps organised back in April. We had two weeks away as a family (2 separate 1-week holidays) and then we've had/have four weeks where DD has 3 days each week of an activity of her choice - ballet, dance etc - all 10am-3pm at the local arts centre. I save up in advance for these. DD's having a ball and I get time alone to work from home. The rest of the time we spend together pottering around or she plays with friends.

I wouldn't mind the summer holidays if I could take 13+ weeks of holiday a year with my kids instead of agonizing over what to do with them .

I enjoy the holidays dont get me wrong but no money 2 dc wanting to do everything and go everywhere on no money its tough.... i know we all know the feeling but its been a tough week thankfully xp has stuck by his promise so i have a child free night.... Think holiday at xmas would be better longer that always seems too short :-)