Terrible holiday parenting.

[LewisAndClark]

It can't be just me?

Ds1 (nearly 14) has barely left the house. He's barely left his room, actually. He's permanently plugged in to his pc. I've coaxed him out a few times to come out to lunch with us and he's been on one dog walk. Other than meals and the occasional family film we've barely seen him.

DD (12) has only slept here a handful of times, she's either been sleeping over with her friends or at Grandma's. Again, we see her for meals and not much else, although she's come on a few dog walks.

Ds2 (nearly 5) has spent the majority of his time in pyjamas watching tv. He's been out every day with me and the dog and we've been to the park a couple of times, but mainly he's been either playing in his room or watching YouTube.

I've just realised that between them they've gone through a large tub of Nesquick in a week, and god knows how many biscuits. They are all constant grazers, although tbf ds1 has a fruit fetish so we've gone through oodles of grapes and plums too.

Am I an utter failure this summer? Please tell me there are others who are as slack as me? It's not the idyllic, adventure filled holidays I imagined for them, but they just don't want to DO much.

Creme My kids have never, ever wanted to spend the whole day indoors. I'm actually not naggy like you might think I am about electronic time, the kids can do it when they want. But the great thing is, they don't want to simply because from a young age they've come to appreciate all the exciting things the outside world has to offer, rather than seeing the fake side of it from a computer screen.

Don't all of you who boast about hours spent watching DVDs and eating crap realise this is detrimental to your kids health? Then people ask themselves why children have zero attention span and why obesity is the second leading cause of death? I've said it already and I'm sure I'll say it again, what's wrong with balance?! There's no cause for you to be so bloody easily offended when I am making a reasonable point.

But my kids aren't obese hiker.
So your argument is invalid for me
Your eldest is 12?
Come back on here when he/she is 14 😀

Skinny minnies here too. And very active when they need to be.

Ds2 and I usually walk the dog for at least an hour every day, DD often walks a mile to the centre of the village, ditto ds1 although less often.

DD also does gymnastics and riding every week but that probably fucks with your theory, sorry.

I consider her a teenager already. She's absolutely mature and definitely into puberty. Not an excuse.

Then people ask themselves why children have zero attention span and why obesity is the second leading cause of death?

All mine are slim. Three of them are skinny.

Their attention spans are fine.

Still a hypocrite, OP. Sorry, it's true.

Odd isn't it?
If our kids aren't raised the same as hikers they are either;
Obese
Have no attention spans
I'm afraid my kids don't fit either of those descriptions hiker.
Sorry.

My kids had to run down two flights of stairs to get their KFC.

To be honest, we need to cut down on the crap food. I will own that, but the rest is all perfectly fine.

Hiker...seriously...what are You getting from this thread?
You dont agree with op.
You think we are all borderline abusive?
You've made your point...
Move on.

well to REALLY fuck up hikers theory, my ds1(13) has NEVER;
Eaten chocolate
Drank anything other than milk or water
Eaten biscuits/sweets/cake
He has no sweet tooth whatsoever. He will occasionally eat flapjacks.
He chooses to snack on rice cakes and bread sticks.

He loves football and is planning on doing PE at GCSE.

He is happy. End of.

Shall I play the MH card? Shall I? For teh lolz.

I struggle to even get dressed most days and can't leave the house without another adult. My kids have a Young Carers support worker who takes them out once a week and my parents and ILs, as well as my lovely friends, have made sure they've been out doing exciting things fairly regularly. Ds1 is going out for the day with my parents tomorrow and Friday, DD has literally only spent about seven nights here and ds2 has spent at least a day a week with grandma.

But on an ordinary day they've done very little. And I think that's fine. They are happy watching tv while snuggling with me, or chatting to friends online while playing games, or making their own fun in the garden.

I only posted to make myself feel better (yeah, selfishly) and most people have really helped with that.

The few of you who have been cunty can cock off, frankly. We're doing ok. All fed, none dead, everyone happy.

Lewis
They sound like they are having a fab summer hols!
Don't let the goady fuckeryness grind you down X

Today I was sitting on the couch watching doc mcstuffins with my 6 dc - I fell asleep on he floor and woke up when my 10 month old tried to feed me a playmobil dog house.

In my defence we have been our , we have done things I just didn't feel like it today.

Ooooh a wild garden? I'd love that.
We have quite a decent sized one but the. Dh built another shed!
Grr.
Sigh. I suppose I'd better go and gather up all the tiny water bomb carcasses that are all over the garden....mind you, makes it look very festive 😂

And you thought I knew that Lewis? Just to make sure no one even listens to me. I really am going to leave this thread now.

Here everyone:

Hiker, I used to be like you. At least 4 outings a week planned in summer holidays, until DS had enough of it. The day will come when yours have enough of rushing around, going here, there and everywhere, sooner or later.

Every summer since time began I've dragged the DCs about on adventures to exciting or educational places. And then last summer I got ill and we had to spend some time at home when DH was away with work and the DCs loved every single second of it. So much so that this summer, we've been away on holiday for 3 weeks and now we plan to doss about in pj's and watch tv til our eyes fall out.

Adventures and bike rides and exercise is all well and good but what's wrong with a good old fashioned pyjama day? I work in a Reception class and see first-hand how hard those children work all year round. From day one we push and encourage and challenge them. They need down time to switch off and play and enjoy being little. I'm ashamed that it took me so long to see it.

Polter....sounds great except the frogs and toads...I'm afraid if I came across either of those I'd have some sort of episode 😖
I've enjoyed this summer holiday...we were away the first week, I had a new nephew arrive in the second week 😀 And the DC have chilled out which means I have too.
Another thing I've done this summer is not agree to everything!
I was asked if I would be involved organising a holiday club again...I said no. Because i didn't want to
I haven't spent so much time with my mother because i don't want to
It's very liberating 😊
Maybe it's an age thing?
I'm peri menopausal and I'm way past giving a flying f**k what other people think 👍🏻

I wouldn't personally want my kids never leaving the house so I feel half and half is the best option

Is there actually anyone on this thread whose kids are never leaving the house?

Personally I like to work from the assumption that we are all doing the best we can that our circumstances permit, which is the point I was making earlier on.

I think i'm going to have adopt all fed none dead.
I've had 3 weeks annual leave and middle week was spent in butlins. The 2 weeks at home i tried keep an even mix of going out and lazy days. I'm very lucky in the fact i live near epping forest and parents are near the olympic park. Have been a frequent visitor over last few weeks. Dc's are 7 and 4

Your theories just aren't adding up hiker, my DS does indoor climbing, judo, swimming and football during term time, he eats too much crap for sure but that's because he has autism and severe food sensitivities. Most people posting have given reasons that do add up as to why they may not get our much during the holidays but you're still droning on Daily Mail style. Are you even reading the posts?

Hopefully she's buggered off for good... Or she's giving someone else an undeserved ear bashing. Good luck to you lovely ladies - hope you enjoy the rest of your hols x

Huge difference between 12 and 14 (I have both). Around seven million tonnes of hormones for a start.

Mind you DS1(14) did tell DS2(12) this evening that he was fed up of xbox and they should go out for a spin on their bikes. So they did. Should I boast at the fact that they are self-regulating and are independent enough to make healthier choices without any input from me?

I read a review for an interesting looking new book in the paper today. By Alison Gopnik, can't remember the title but it was something about Gardeners vs Carpenters in terms of parenting, is how much you just nurture and let them grow themselves as opposed to controlling every move. Seems relevant here.