Aibu to refuse to do "cool and exciting " activities for the kids every day of the half term days??

[btfly2]

Instead of allowing lazy and relaxing hours at home? Sooo fed up of the feeling of pressure about "performance and you have to have a hectic schedule to exist these days! Is only me and aibu or others feel the same? Particularly when you can't hide anytime the children compare themselves with their friends and want to do the same "cool stuff ". Oh well, sorry but I'm feeling on a survival parenting mode today...and yesterday...and probably tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

[bumsexatthebingo]

The problem is that letting kids have complete free choice will often mean them not leaving the house and shuffling from IPad to Netflix to the Xbox for a week which is no better parenting than packing their day full of activities. If they actually play and have a few days at the park running free then I think unscheduled time is great. For a lot of parents though 'nothing planned' means a week of being babysat by screens. And I've nothing against tv etc occasionally but I know kids that do nothing else when they're out of school.

[nocutsnobuttsnococonuts]

We've still got another week until half term but so far we have a party and are seeing friends on one day (probably park or one of our houses nothing fancy!)

I plan on having a few days in which are a mix of playing, screens and constant snacking. I have loads of coursework so they will have to occupy themselves!!

Will probably go to the park/beach one of the days and text friends to meet us there.

Maybe the cinema as our 'big day out' I have meerkat movies and I'm a student so fairly cheap! They have been asking to see sing and moana so hopefully one of those will still be on - even better if it's on the kids cinema!!

[NeverTwerkNaked]

I think I probably over plan slightly, not sure if it's a hangover from the days when I was a single parent and if I didn't make plans it felt pretty lonely!
Our half term isn't till next week. We're seeing friends one day, family another. Then we've booked two workshops related to DS's interests. They only last about an hour each, after each we'll mooch round towna bit either to a museum/toyshop/book shop and have some lunch. Afternoons /other days will be all about taking it easy at home and at most we'll scoot to the the playground or to beach at the end of the road to throw pebbles in the sea.

I think it's good to have a balance. And to do a few activities which they don't get to do during school term time, but also ensure there is plenty of time for them to amuse themselves while I mumsnet catch up with the housework

[TenMinutesLate]

We have something planned Monday to Friday but weekends are completely free hence still in jimjams now.

We'll be ready for something tomorrow but I suppose if you looked through my FB feed you'd think we're really busy and packing lots in but we dont tend to meet anyone until after 12.30 so lazy mornings! We're with friends tomorrow to a fair, national trust (we're members so free) will be Tuesday and Wednesday...different ones, trip to London for a Xmas pressie for my DD for an activity and then the big expensive day out on Friday.....and then two days rest/homework/Xbox/Lego/TV.

I don't feel any pressure to do these things, and I hope my fb friends don't feel like some of you as that would never be my intention to gloat. I use FB as a diary and somewhere to store my pictures. Some families like nothing better to do nothing all week and that is absolutely fine, but then those who have to pack stuff in every day...that's fine too. It would all be very boring if we all liked the same.

[MycatsaPirate]

Day three.

DD2 has finally been removed from my laptop and is now upstairs with dp painting her toy soldiers with enamel paint.

Yesterday we all felt utterly shit with stinking colds and although still streaming eyes and noses today, feeling much better.

Tomorrow we are taking DD2's friend out with us and heading to the beach for some fresh air.

That's as much as we've planned because the weather is dire and tomorrow is actually forecast to be dry and sunny.

[F1GI]

My dc want to stay home and just do little bits. One wants to feed the ducks (she's 9!) but said when they return to school, the teacher asks them what they did/to write about it. Dd's best friend is skiing so I do feel like I am a bit shit in comparison not ever having been skiing . Kids watching the lego movie now.

[pieceofpurplesky]

We break up on Friday. We have lots on but Tuesday has been designated a PJ day. Movies, easy food, popcorn ....
it's the day me and DS are most looking forward to!

[FixItUpChappie]

we took 2 weeks off at Christmas and after the main event we refused (foot firmly down) to do any visiting at all and explained we were having unscheduled free time. That was our "plans". We could go sledding....or not. We could go for a special day out....or not. Lay about watch movies, play a board game, watch more movies....yes, yes, yes!

Was the best holiday ever and we felt so relaxed and refreshed after - all of us, kids included.

[user1483981877]

Why don't you just not give a crap what anyone else does and just do what you want to do?

[LittleLionMansMummy]

I've planned things in, but not every single day. Our issue is that we have an 11 week old and a 6yo with a low boredom threshold. 6yo ds goes to school a distance from home and therefore has no friends nearby. He's very sociable and misses his friends during holidays and tbh it gives me a break to have things planned for him. He'll go to run around games tomorrow for an hour, Nerf wars on Friday for an hour, if the weather is good one day we might visit a country park, we'll have perhaps a day with his cousin and visit grandparents another day. But in between times I'm happy for him to just watch TV, plays games or whatever. Having activities lined up is a life saver when trying to deal with two dc of different ages.

[Starlight2345]

YANBU. We broke up Thursday Inset day..We went to soft play friday before it became busy. DS has so far done his martial arts Saturday and Sunday am. We have watched 3 films, he has cooked brownies, learnt new song on guitar and not much else. We have also sorted out all the clothes of his that don't fit. Sometimes these jobs need time at home .

I am currently cooking a roast dinner so we can chill out and chat

[btfly2]

user1483981877 thank you , that's what I need to do, true. I try my best though and consciously reinforce the idea of " be yourself " but many times you just found sorrounded by competition and without even realising trying to please people particularly at the school because fear of my kids being left out if you don't follow the trends. Anyway believe me I'll will keep trying to do my thing and mumsnet has been very supportive reminding me to feel free and not to care about people's opinions.

[user1483981877]

I hear you and I feel exactly the same it's just easier to dish that advice out to someone else than follow it yourself! I have realised though that basically we're fighting a losing battle though as there are a multitude of reasons why kids are left out, and we can't possibly fire fight for all those things so far easier is just to have a lovely holiday all together doing what you want to do. When faced with the other competitive mums I am trying my hardest now to just not buy into the competition, the less we raise the bar for each other, the less need there is to raise the bar if that makes sense. Well that's my mission anyway, anyone with me???..... tumbleweed....

[Starlight2345]

I would also add are you on FB..Someone once said to me you always do lovely things with your DS..

That is not because we run about doing something all the time. It is because I don;t post slobbed on the sofa most the day, Played Ex box. I post when DS gets awards not when he has been sent to my room.

As for what they write at school. They never write the most planned/ expensive things either.