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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be rubbish in school holidays

17 replies

Rollonbedtime7pm · 16/02/2017 10:56

It's half term and the DCs have had a super lazy week (they are 7, 4 and 9 months).

I do find this particular holiday hard cos the weather is often ropey so not like you can just decamp to the park all week but I am so bad at knowing how to keep the kids busy!

They like playing at home and generally get on with each other but just feel like we should be doing... something...!

Tbh the baby needing naps doesn't help my motivation and I hate being cold and muddy parks... I am rubbish!

OP posts:

DorothyL · 16/02/2017 10:59

Try things like the local library, museums, national trust type places... They will have craft sessions etc and often they are free

BarbarianMum · 16/02/2017 11:03

A quiet week is fine. Being rubbish through all school holidays would be pretty rubbish imo as that's nearly a quarter of the year.

FaFoutis · 16/02/2017 11:03

National trust and craft sessions at those ages! What a nightmare.

Super lazy is fine. This is the worst school holiday of the year so you do what you can. Freedom from routine and playing together is worth a lot.

Groovee · 16/02/2017 11:05

Sometimes, just chilling at home is what everyone needs x

Original poster

Rollonbedtime7pm · 16/02/2017 11:28

Yes fafoutis - craft stuff is a mare at the moment as the 4 year old often needs help and the baby grabs everything!

I am better during holidays with nicer weather!

OP posts:

LittleBoat · 16/02/2017 11:32

If they're happy, don't worry about it.

Getting out for a walk everyday is probably a good idea, just to get a bit of fresh air and catch whatever little bits of sun you can. Otherwise, just let them play. You can 'do stuff' when the weather starts getting a bit better.

It's ok to be demotivated this time of year.

happypoobum · 16/02/2017 11:34

Mine are older now but at that age we often did this. I would get lots of pressure from PILS about how my fucking perfect SILS were taking their DC to this that and something else, having picnics in the fucking rain, such fun.

Mine were happy watching tv, painting, playing a game, popping to a friends house for an hour etc.

Please don't beat yourself up, sometimes you just all need to recharge your batteries.

Sunnie1984 · 16/02/2017 11:39

Children need downtime!

School is hectic and often stressful. Recharging the batteries is a good thing.

My two barely see their own toys as they are out of the house so much. Half term is time to relax and reset before the next term starts.

It's hard to manage such a large age range too, they probably all want to do different things.

Enjoy it!

EmeraldScorn · 16/02/2017 11:43

I'm off this whole week and thus far my activities have consisted of -

Monday - Lunch with friends/Evening cocktails.
Tuesday - Stayed in and consumed food all day.
Wednesday - Potted about the house.
Today - I'm not even washed yet.

My point is that sometimes the best way of relaxing is doing absolutely nothing; We're all so busy these days and bogged down by routine that it really is nice just to laze about and enjoy the lack of structure.

Don't feel bad by being unmotivated this week, it's alright not to have a plan for once; I'm loving my week of carefree nothing ness!

StandAndBeCounted · 16/02/2017 11:47

Mine are 8,5, 2 and 10 months, so we probably have similar issues. We've been to the cinema this week which was a success. Cineworld do Movies for Juniors in the holidays and at weekends where you can see a film at 10am for £2.50 a ticket. The baby was happy with snacks and usually naps at 11 anyway, so had her bottle and slept on me for the rest of the film. We went to the park after, weather wasn't that bad and baby slept in buggy. Had lunch there. Also been bowling this week, again baby slept in buggy, good indoor fun . . . two year old loved it! Had a couple of playdates at friends houses too. Soft play works too. I know none of it is free, but relatively cheap. I find half terms easier if I try to plan it and book stuff in before the week arrives. Being spontaneous and trying to think of something to do on the day can be hard. My 8 and 5 year old fight like cat and dog if left together at home all day though.

JustEatYourDinner · 16/02/2017 11:58

I have a rule they need to do something creative, something active, something vaguely educational and something helpful each day.

That means a day could look like making cakes (.creative) 0playing a board game (educational) going on the trampoline (active) and putting away the dishes.

So all in all a pretty low stress day. As long as I can justify all those boxes I feel like I am doing ok and I can supervise all of it from the couch

HackAttack · 16/02/2017 12:10

I can never understand this I'm bored in the house after a few hours. On a week off we might have one day at home and at least one activity every other day. It's not a competitive thing, I hate being still.

I suppose I'm used to working long hours in a very active job so perhaps it's a mind set. On holiday I envy people who can lie in the sun!

FaFoutis · 16/02/2017 12:15

My children were so bored yesterday that they eventually made a film, with lines and costumes and everything. That's a result.

RueDeWakening · 16/02/2017 12:16

Mine are 9, 7 and 3. So far this week we've been to the library, and the 9 year old baked a cake yesterday (part of her half term homework!). That's it.

We've got friends coming round this afternoon, and will hit the local soft play tomorrow. Nothing wrong with a lazy week even one that involves unlimited Minecraft

EccentricPickle · 16/02/2017 12:29

Me too but TBF, the weather is rubbish and usually in the Feb half term everyone is too knackered/full of a cold to be bothered anyway.

I was rubbish at Christmas too but the DC seemed to be in hibernation mode at the time and didn't want to go out/wanted to play with their new stuff.

This holiday I've been working in the mornings, while DH worked from home. By the time I've got home, made lunch the day is almost over. Plus I can't drive, which makes things a bit more difficult (I'm hoping to have passed my test by the next holiday).

DD1 has conjunctivitis and looks like the elephant man doesn't want to go out anyway.

OneLumpOrSeven · 16/02/2017 12:42

I've been trying to persuade my 4 year old to go out all day but he just wants to play with his toys.

whomovedmychocolate · 17/02/2017 11:17

Mine are 8 and ten and we have a dog so they are forced to go out and walk every day but if they choose to spend the rest of the week building blanket forts and lolloping that's fine with me. They will spend most of the summer on a trampoline and yomping around the fields, let them nap now I say.

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