To think this is closer to the truth about school holidays than we like to admit...

[Ubik1]

The Daily Mash kids looking forward to a carefree summer being a massive burden

I work ft and already my three have spent a week at 'Mrs Hannigan's cut-price boot camp.'

I'm lucky to have some limited family help and dp
Is self employed so flexible- but Swallows and Amazons it ain't.

What do other people do for childcare for six weeks?

Thanks tayto x

Yes to the sports clubs above, my DS would love to go to football club but it's 9.30 to 3.30 so no use for work. The only people I know who use these clubs are SAHMs. I am stupidly thinking that next year I may take a week off work so he can go to one!

1 week visting GPs overseas
6 weeks of summer camp 3 days per week (tues-thurs)
Me doing 6 Monday's using annual leave
DP doing 6 Friday's using annual leave

Luckily our summer camps have a wrap- around care option for £4 per session so that is 8am-6pm in total.

Eh Tough - do people expect you to help with their childcare because you are a SAHP?

tough, tell them to piss off!

Wow! I could see circumstances when I might ask a SAHP friend for the odd emergency day at a push (with appropriate pay) but I would be fully prepared for a "no".

Is it possible that you have been kind and helped out then your name gets put around as a possible summer childminder? Honestly, please just say thanks for getting in touch but I am unable to take on additional children this summer you cheeky feckers

Tough if you're not interested, simply say that you're not in a position to help them out with childcare over the summer. Would you even fit all the kids in your car? Could you use that as an excuse?

"I'm not in a position to help you out. Good luck with childcare hunt."

Whatever you do, don't explain or apologise.

The same as I do the rest of the year, I work one night a week and friends and grandad help out so I can sleep.

Just over 6 weeks to fill here. 5 birthday parties in that time for DD1 and DD2 to attend. We will be visitng family, going places like the beach and park with friends. And staying home and playing in the back garden.

I don't have any family here. I'm a SP and I've been trying to get my childcare bills down this year so I have insisted that XP covers half the holiday which he is doing.

So I have FT childcare for 1 week, 2 weeks holiday with DC, and then they are with their Dad for 3 weeks.

Tough just say NO and keep saying it. OR as someone else said simply reply "sorry but I'm not able to help you". You don't need to argue with these people - but it will be worthwhile to state your position clearly with no wriggle room.

The only time I'd ask someone to help out would be to offer a trade - I'll take yours for a day if you'll take mine for a day.

Paying for childcare is tough, but it's necessary. I don't see how any working parent can expect to get by without paid childcare unless they have obliging family.

ssd the clubs I use run 8.30am-6pm. They are hard to find but they do exist. The sports club I'm using is run by a subsidiary of the local authority and takes children aged 6-12. I have also used the local university's play scheme (open to all) in the past which has similar hours but they split the under 8s from the over 8s which would split my 2 boys up this year. Both are very reasonably priced too. Don't know if there is anything similar in your area?

I pay for child care mon-fri 730 to 6pm £135/week

A bargain frankly

knackered so sorry to hear about your losses, enjoy that week away - you've certainly earned it!

tough, time to get tough and just say no ... really, that is so cheeky of them to ask if it's not an emergency. Even in an emergency, they should think twice!

I am a SAHM who has booked her child on to those pesky part-time courses. Even the longest one is only about 5 hours, and is no good for working parents. Also cookery courses that are 2 hours in the middle of the afternoon and half-hour swimming lessons for four days a week. We'll probably spend most time in the car travelling to short activities. I do love the summer holidays though, and have been counting down for weeks.

Now I'm going to finish my wine and crawl into DD's bedroom under cover of darkness (and sleep) to hide the Blyton books

Oh and that's for one dc for 8 weeks

My folks still work and don't want to be free childcare,his folks live too far and aren't fussed either

Oh and that's for one dc for 8 weeks

My folks still work and don't want to be free childcare,his folks live too far and aren't fussed either

Fiz yes if I get one more fucking flyer about school holiday clubs that run from 10-4 I'll scream.

DD1 is old enough to start looking at doing a weeks activity club now, but I would actually need her to be there for the whole day or it won't work. I cold do 9-5 if it's close by. but 10-4, no way.

I'm a SAHM so I've got the holidays covered and DH's work closes for 3 weeks (paid), so that keeps me a bit sane.

Something I wanted to ask though. Are all holiday clubs 'sports heavy'?

They are around here and whilst 2 of my DS's would have loved that, 1 would have absolutely hated it.

So if they're not into sports, what sort of clubs are available?

DD is booked on a three-day science event. It's run by a local company who make science fun for children - she did an after-school club with them, and did the three-day course last year as well.

It's held at a large school locally which runs a cheap sports course every day - longer hours more suitable for working parents and very reasonable - which is VERY popular!

There is also a local company which runs art classes for a week or two. My DD would probably like that but it is expensive (they have the cost of materials to add to that one) so that's not an option

We have a holiday home at the seaside so I always take my DCs there for the summer break. The summer holidays are the main thing holding me back from returning to work. My DCs do have fantastic summers but I don't make any money so swings and roundabouts as a PP said.