to be dreading the easter holidays?

[exactchange]

Dh has just wanted informed me that he needs to work all easter. It means he will get paid a bit more (salary of under 20k so we need it) and time off in lieu, but it also means I have to occupy a travel sick 5 year old and a nearly 2 year old on my own for 14 days straight. Most people we know in our new neighborhood are tied up with family or on holiday. We have no money to take them anywhere, and visiting our old neighborhood/family will be problematic due to the travel sickness. Already dreading it. Just had to get it off my chest! Half term was the same and it was awful.

I really don't remember either of my parent 'entertaining' us during the holidays.

We mostly played and did our own thing, apart from a few trips to the park/swimming with them.

Why do parents put so much into entertaining their kids nowadays?

What Worra said.

Having children doesn't mean necessarily wanting to spend every waking hour with them! When they're babies, yes but they grow out of that and you get used to adult time again. I think that's actually a good thing. If people just want to be with their kids 24/7, they'll struggle when kids become teenagers/grow up and leave home.

It's hard if you never get a break because you have no family support, like us. And it's hard if you have DC who don't like playing independently and want attention all the time. And it's tough to have to police squabbling and meltdowns all day.

I'll hold my hand up and admit I wanted kids very much, but I underestimated what I was taking on without any extended family backup.

And another thing. There are loads of people who get to have kids and still put their career first and not have to entertain their kids in the holidays. They are, mostly, called men. No one badgers them about why they had kids.

What MagentaMouflon said! I don't object to looking after my children...I actually really enjoy their company, but, I struggle to spend 2 weeks without a single moment to myself, unable to go to the gym, an exercise class...unable to pop to the shops alone, have a coffee in peace or keep on top of the housework.

Can your child not take travel sickness medication?

stugeron is the best kids one IMO, but at one point my dd had to have phenergen, but it can make them sleepy too (not her though)

Another thought, if you are religious at all, many churches will be doing things aimed at children over the easter holidays, ours is doing crafts on Good Friday that's aimed at reception/KS1 children, others in the area are doing things aimed at young children.

And definately find out if the people you know localling will be free at all - few people have many family plans beyond easter Sunday unless they are going away, there's 2 weeks of possible times.

I have a DH who has to often work weekends on top of working in the week, it can be hard in school holidays as without the school run and all the toddler groups shutting for the holidays, you can go a few days without chatting to other adults during the day. I find holidays quite lonely unless you plan the time so you are out doing 'stuff'. (I'm very fortunate DH has 1 of the 2 weeks off this time round, he only got a few days at christmas and wasn't able to get either of the last 2 half terms off, im going to pack the rest of the time with playdates if I can).

I also don't get the idea that we should provide structure and entertainment for our children 24 hours a day. Right now my youngest is in her room playing 'schools' with her dolls all lined up in front of her; my middle one is reading and my eldest is on his xbox (teenager). I know they are older but even when they were little they were happy to do their own thing lots of the time.

I think the problem is that the more you organise them, the more they are at a complete loss if you don't.

I'm looking forward to the holidays but only found out yesterday my kids schools have different holidays so they are off for three weeks in total with the middle week being the only time they are off together. Bit peeved! Plus I had bought dd1 a ticket to see mcbusted for Xmas thinking it was in the holidays (it is, it's in dd 2s holidays!) So I've had to fill out a holiday request form for one day, which is going to be refused as she's doing A levels and we don't have as much family time as I thought now.

We are going to a friend's farm on the Saturday of Easter weekend with lots of other families with kids to do a massive Easter egg hunt (we've bought 350 little foil wrapped eggs) and let the kids play with the dogs, roll about in horse shit, fall in the pond (both dd 2 and sd managed to do that on our last visit), groom the horses, climb the hay bales and generally get so mucky they have to strip in the garden when we get home :D

Some very harsh posts on here. I love the holidays but I only have one 11 yr old. Can understand op may find it understandably isolating and hard work with two los under five.

Sorry your dh has to work exactchange. Given that that is the case though, I think you are entitled to organise things exactly to suit you (as far as that is possible with a 5 yr old and a 2 yr old).

First, if travelling is difficult, then don't do it. Slow things right down. Just toddle to where you can locally (a park)? Take the time to do some crafts, suggestions as follows:

dltk crafts

activity village

nature detectives, the Woodlandtrust

tetes a modeler in French but many of the Easter crafts self explanatory

Second, my dh was away travelling for most of dd's infanthood. I always found it worked best if we were up and out (or did that day's project) in the morning, and then it was easier to have some 'down time' after lunch when you can relax a bit too.

Defnitely engage use of rhyming/counting/nursery rhyme DVDs and do 15 mins every day, plus read a story every day and a bit of Cbeebies every day.

Could you do some cooking with them? (Cheap and easy recipes such as rice crispie cakes, funny face pizzas etc)

Third, could you link up with a fellow Mumsnetter in your area who is perhaps in the same predicament?

Church idea good too!

Hope it goes well!!

Penguin I agree. My oldest is fine, she's 16 but youngest, if left to be "bored" for long enough will find something to do.

I cannot recommend empty cardboard boxes highly enough. They sit in them, draw on them, make them into things and build houses/forts with them.

We choose to have our children I am amazed so many people dread spending the holidays with there children, am young Single and skint it's bloody hard work but I so look forward to the holidays.

Oh yes, all that lovely baking/scampering around parks/crafts/making easter nests… meanwhile in the real world, that lasts about, ooh, three days.

I do love the break from the routine of drop-off/pick up/rushing about to various clubs, but god yes, holidays can drag if it's only you. We have 3 weeks at Easter, thankfully we're away for a week, and have a few clubs booked in, but my dc are a bit older. It can be more of a drag when they're younger, and of course if you can't go away.

Is your 5yo travel sick on all transport, or just cars? My dd was quite prone to travel sickness in cars, though now she's 5 it seems to be improving a bit. Also someone gave me the tip of her sitting on newspaper (on top of car seat). Have no scientific proof of its efficacy but she hasn't been sick since we started doing it! What about trains?

What about getting playdates, at least for your older one? Can fill a few afternoons.

But do look at local activities. Lots of places like libraries, museums, nature centres etc put on easter activities for small children.

If all else fails, put Frozen on.....

Op I feel for you, awkward age brackets there to entertain, or indeed worra entertain each other!
I have similar ages and its hard, as one is too young for games/puzzles the older one likes, they do play a little bit but mostly its younger annoying older. So its separation to stop arguments. The best thing they do together is go in the Bath, that occupies a good hour .

My older doesn't need entertainment but at the same time, doesn't want to be stuck in all day either, as her mood will deteriorate. The younger needs interaction.

Its tricky.

Oh for the days one can just sit and watch them both play, independently or together and race off.

Op we had a hard half term due to weather, I always find Feb hard...if the weather is good hopefully the local park wil be helpful.

No one is dreading spending time with their Dcs ffs

Me- I love it. I have a17 year old and a 16 year old who will probably sleep through most of it and an 11 year old at foitball camp.

2 weejs on your own with 2 under-5's is tough for many, it was for me.

Harder if you've no cash!

I have been there, and found it essential to be out of the house by 10 every day.

Make something into a "project" like walking to the shops to buy bread, go to all playgrounds within walking distance, go to the river/lake/pond to throw sticks or pebbles the furthest. Go to the library, get on the bus to nearby town, and buy a donut. Anything really.

Do picnics if weather allows.

Go put to see who can find the biggest pieces if flint/sticks/stones.

Scour local papers/websites for free activities.

Go see your family, just dose kids up with the appropriate amount of Kwells or Stugeron. When travelling make sure they have just eaten, but NOTHING sweet and NO juice. A cheese sandwich and water are ideal. Keep car very cool and make sure they are not hot (coats off) and distract them with an audio book. Mine get very travelsick so feel a bit of a pro.

In the afternoon plonk them in front of a film/tv.

Having a sort of schedule really helps.

Xxx

Some very harsh posts on here. I love the holidays but I only have one 11 yr old

yes, my older is a dream no problems, we could do a million things and have a blast, but we are tied with younger one.

Penguinsaresmall Wed 18-Mar-15 18:13:42

children come to imaginative play if at all, at different times all DC are different.

Everyone is different though Crazylady. And people find different stages of parenting suit them better than others.

More ideas ...

• cardboard boxes definitely recommended
• build a den (in the garden if you have one) or hang a sheet on the landing
• dressing up
• teddy bear picnic
• let dc loose with pots pans and wooden spoons with dry pasta, lentils etc on large old sheet
• roll of lining paper, lie children down, draw around their outline, let them fill in their own features with big colouring pens
• cress eggs
• build a minature Easter garden in a tray, using some pebbles, a cosmetic mirror, some twigs, some compost or sand etc and a few minature daffodils
• cut out Easter egg shapes and colour them in
• play 'shops' or 'restaurants' or 'hospitals' or 'schools'
• cut out sheep shapes (colour in feet and head with black marker pen) then stick cotton wool balls on body for fleece

-face painting

• coloured bubbles in bath (can buy v. cheaply)

God, I love the hols!
We go feral :)
No having to be up for a certain time...can have pj days.
Ds1 and I are planning a Star Wars DVD a thon.
Both dc like to spend time on their iPads, watching DVDs, playing with their toys, painting, drawing, baking, we might go out for the day.
Perhaps cinema of there is anything on.
I might get some Easter activities for youngest Ds.
They will also go to their gps for a day or two.
No cleaning gets done :)
I know some churches do Easter activities/groups. Maybe check your local out?
Ditto libraries.
Some cinemas do cheap showings in the hols.
Baking is cheap. But can be messy :)
You can google how to blow eggs and decorate them. Can be messy!
Walks...free!
Sometimes I think it helps not to have too much expectation of school holidays...we tell the dc we will go out on one day per week. They are happy with that. It's something to look forward to.
I agree wrt to the sickness meds. They do help.

Oh and start collecting good boxes for junk modelling now, lots of smaller, interesting shape ones, so you've got a collection before the holidays start.

Oh and start collecting good boxes for junk modelling now, lots of smaller, interesting shape ones, so you've got a collection before the holidays start.

My 5 year old will do imaginative play by himself, but not all day for 14 days straight, trips out, some structure is needed, otherwise I'll get whinging for the TV to be put on and he'll need exercise.

No expert by any means, but reckon the trick to the crafts/baking/park stuff is to schedule it a bit every day, not frantically, but in a leisurely way - think dc that age respond to a very loose routine - so they vaguely know what to expect each day - and days have a very leisurely rhythm (but a rhythm none the less).

It's all very well saying we should encourage children to play independently, but not all will, especially when they're young. My 4yo would never choose to spend time alone - he always wants me to do some godawful craft project or answer incessant questions about minibeasts. It's not like I would mind if he decided to go upstairs and play with his Lego for half an hour! As it stands I barely have time to swallow a secret biscuit before he and his little bro have followed me into the kitchen brandishing toilet rolls and demanding we 'invent something'. I suspect those of you loving the holidays have older kids or ones who enjoy their own company. There's no WAY that the school run would be more hassle than keeping mine at home with me!