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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you actually enjoy the school summer holidays?

144 replies

KrayKray00 · 21/07/2017 18:20

Because I don't. I dread it. The thought of it makes me so sad

And I know it is a horrid thing to say! My DS only broke up this afternoon and I've already shouted at him yes, I feel awful about it I know I'm terrible

I have a 6yo and 2yo and all they do is bang, yell, shout, fight and bicker. They are so loud, the walls are thin enough you can hear a fart through them so I bet the neighbour hates me as it is.

We are going abroad for two weeks which I am looking forward to but the rest of the holiday at home I am dreading. OH/Dad works mon-sat and I am a student so I'm off too. I cannot afford day trips out to nice places, and I am even worrying about feeding them a mixture of food rather than a sandwich for lunch every single day without breaking a budget - 6yo is "fussy" no pasta or rice...

All the summer clubs are sports or arts related which my 6yo isn't a fan of and I've had to cut nursery hours back to one day a week as I can no longer afford it (whilst I am at home)

All the other Mums were really happy the holidays are here and I just smiled with envy. How?! Why?

What do you do to break the days up, keep them occupied? Do you enjoy the holidays? Surely I can't be alone Blush

OP posts:
HollyHollyHo · 24/07/2017 12:28

Love them. No uniform, packed lunches, school runs, wanky craft homework.

What's not to love

CatInTheMat · 24/07/2017 12:32

Gawd I hated them too, because I had to spend a small fortune on childcare (I worked ft as a single parent).

However I had one lovely summer (it was period in between a new job so I wasn't working) when DD was about 11. She was at such a lovely age, we went swimming together, movies, the beach etc.

When DD was little I use to go on 'park adventures', I was lucky enough to drive so we went to a different park everyday in the city where we lived.

MargotLovedTom1 · 24/07/2017 13:19

I'm off for the 6 weeks and mine are a bit older (9, 11 and 13) so a lot more self sufficient. However I've already had a mini rant this morning about the bloody mess they leave around even though they've been told for years about it - plates not returned to the kitchen, never mind put in the dishwasher; empty packets and wrappers left lying about as if we don't have a single bin in the house; shoes lying around in the middle of the floor. That is what gets my goat about the holidays and I'm determined this year is the year they bloody learn.

Sleephead1 · 24/07/2017 13:38

My first one really as broke up from nursery and will start school sept. Am really looking forward to them. We have lots planned but i only have one so is easier. Look what your council does ours has loads of stuff on love parks, get active days ect. Also do small sessions of messy play and stuff. Our childrens centre has stuff on everyday if you have a sure start one and libary has a few things a week on also the reading challange. If you can travel to a few different parks with a picnic and do a few days at free museums that fills a few days look online and it will tell you what the museums have on. Ive git a wall planner and written it all on. I think if you make a bit of a plan you will feel better about it rather than it being six weeks with no plans.

Original poster
KrayKray00 · 24/07/2017 13:50

Even though I was having a moan I think this has been a very useful thread with brilliant ideas. I am glad to see I am not alone too! I have become a bit more relaxed with getting the toys out and making a mess it can all be tided up so that's ok. I love the more relaxed atmosphere too.

Thanks for your comment thefuture it is lovely to see your life is so perfect. I didn't realise I only "cared" for my children during the holidays... Hmm

I have wrote all these ideas down! Brilliant. I am not so intimidated now. Hope you all enjoy the holidays and fingers crossed the weather perks up.

OP posts:
LittleWingSoul · 24/07/2017 14:03

KrayKray I could have written your OP and this thread has also been really useful for me, so thank you!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 24/07/2017 14:26

For slightly older kids who moan that they are bored.... One summer, at the beginning, dd and I wrote down a huge long list of things she liked doing and some housework tasks and stuck it up in her bedroom. She was referred to the list everytime she complained.

Bananacustardyum · 24/07/2017 16:15

Love this post it's really made me think about planning fun stuff for me and my DD(2.5) to do.

emma2468 · 24/07/2017 20:36

I enjoy them but my 2 (6yo and 4 yo) are fairly laid back. Today we ran errands and they just came along no bother. I prefer summer over other holidays as weather is (sometimes) better so can go to parks or just chill in the garden. Makes it less suffocating!! We have zoo passes and merlin passes too. And kids are doing 2 weeks of camps as I have to work then.

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 24/07/2017 21:06

emma, what's your secret to laid back kids???

elQuintoConyo · 24/07/2017 21:08

Today we stayed in the (very small) garden and looked for insects. DS got a €2 magnifying glass/pot thing from Tiger for Christmas and anytime he finds something, we put it in the pot for an hour or so.

We found a funny red beetle. He drew it, he gave it a name (Red Incy Wincy!), he invented stories about it, then we googled it and found out a bit about how it lives, what it eats. He drew some more pictures, then we released Red back into the wild and caught something else. And repeat.

Then it was sandwiches while sitting in his huge box and we warched Smurfs Movie. Then "free play" this afty - dump Lego and trainset on the floor and cause havoc Grin

I also have a massive stash of empty bog rolls that i will make all kinds of crap from, DS too. Trees, superheroes, minions, rocks... Takes hours!

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 24/07/2017 21:20

what's your secret to laid back kids???

For me it's exercise. DS(6) is easy as long as he gets 2-3 hrs of good quality exercise every day.

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 24/07/2017 21:24

Mine need more than that to be easy (absolutely not a stealth boast Sad) but I do agree exercise definitely helps, thank you Smile.

Mittens1969 · 24/07/2017 21:26

There is also soft play, although obviously with a 2 year old you can't yet relax with a cup of tea yet, as you're often in demand! I found them a godsend in previous summer holidays though, when the weather was bad.

A paddling pool can be a lot of fun for young children, when the weather is good.

Also trips to the park are always a winner, though again, with a two year old they can be hard work. 2 year olds love it though so it's very rewarding. There's usually an ice cream van, which is a good incentive to encourage cooperation.

Our DDs have always loved riding around on scooters as well.

DVDs work well if all else fails!

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 24/07/2017 21:41

Stressy so say if they get an hour of swim training, and hour cycling and an hour trampolining/ walking/ climbing can they really come back at you for more??

Sorry, I have missed how old your kids are so maybe you don't have things like swimming/ gym club and climbing walls open to you yet.

DS does an hour of school work every day, and has a certain amount of time he is allowed on screens. By the time he's done all that, eaten his own bodyweight and played with his street-friends every day there's not much time left to be a pain in the arse.

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 24/07/2017 22:07

Kids are 4 and 6. I wonder if I need to ensure 3 intense hours of exercise then as they come back for more after 2 hours intense or 3 hours moderate so perhaps you are right.

Have had some success with packing loads into the day then an early bath and a film. Have found if we do lots of quiet time in the afternoon they are raring to go again in the evening. Will embrace soft play tomorrow I think as they are good ages for that and I can drink coffee Smile.

I've said it before on here but they just don't get that physically tired. When eldest started school everyone told me she would be tired. When I asked if she was tired she laughed at me and asked when she could go out to play. It is lovely that they have so much energy but ugh.

Badhairday1001 · 24/07/2017 22:29

I love the holidays because I'm a teacher so am off too. My favourite part is not having to get up at 6am and rush about to get to work on time. I feel like I hardly see my own children in term time so it is a treat for me to spend time with them. It has definitely become more enjoyable as they have got a bit older, i remember it being really hard when they were the same age as yours.

hazeyjane · 24/07/2017 22:45

Love them and dread them in equal measure. Dc's are 11, 10 and 7

Todays loved bits - getting up late, lazy breakfast, crocheting with dd1, watching ant man with dd2, going for a bike ride, helping a friend do some painting while the kids played
Todays bad bits - ds (7) screaming, crying and moaning about e.v.e.r.y.b.l.e.e.d.i.n.g.t.h.i.n.g..... He has additional needs and struggles with change, lack of routine, going out, demands, people not doing want he wants - it is bloody exhausting and really hard to have a nice time, especially if it is something the girls want to do and he doesn't.

By the time dh came home from work I was nearly in tears, dd1 was sat with headphones on trying to ignore the moaning and dd2 was relocating to the shed.

The lovely bits were lovely though!

aintnothinbutagstring · 24/07/2017 23:32

I have two primary school age children, I love the holidays as no uniforms, packed lunches, no school run (8 mile round trip in busy city rush hour every morning and afternoon), no homework. We can do as we please. I do agree that it can get expensive and not keen on everywhere being so busy. Couldn't find parking at our local supermarket today with a huge multistory that is usually half empty!

VinIsGroot · 24/07/2017 23:48

Severly disabled ds7, autistic DS9 and Neurotypical but very demanding DD6!
Very little money as I am full time carer to ds7.
Today needed to sort out tax credits, family fund, carers allowance ...DC uniform order gone AWOL...must have spent 4.5 yours on fucking hold!
Count your lucky stars !!!!

Imabadmummy · 25/07/2017 09:24

I'm probably 70/30 towards hating school hols.

My kids are 4.5 & 6.
I don't mind nice sunny days where they can get in the garden and I can get the paddling pool out. That alone entertains them for hours. All day every day if they could.

Eldest can be full on from the min he gets up so I look forward to going to work for a break.
It's nice not having to rush around on a morning, no school run gives us a bit more time even when I'm working.

But - they can be a pain when they start fighting and they fight a lot!
Lucky our adjoining neighbours have kids simular age so they are up on a morning too...don't feel quiet as bad when mine are being loud.

I do feed mine sarnies everyday for lunch. It's just easier. If they had packed lunch at school they would be having them anyway.
Don't stress the food.

I try and keep our days cheap. Playing out. Chalking on the drive way, a bucket of water to play in if the paddling pool isn't out, scooters/bikes in the garden.
We will have a few trips out to meet friends but even those will be picnic in the park to keep costs down. But then, all kids love a picnic (and we have been know to take lunch to our local park just so we can picnic!).

MrsT1984 · 25/07/2017 12:21

VinIsGroot I hear you, I really do! Huge hugs to you!

Cleanermaidcook · 25/07/2017 19:32

Love it (i work in preschool term time so it means i'm off work)
Have a look on your local council website, we went to a free sports event today in town, kids tried kayaking, rock climbing and wrestling. Then there's national playday 2nd august, again loads of free activities.
Play services (run by council) have their people in the parks for activities, we just look where they are that day and stalk follow them.
Swimming for under 16's is free here so we do a lot of that.
As pp said there's the reading challenge and stuff on in the library too then picnics in the park.
Have a look on urban outreach's site, they provide free packed lunches to children entitled to a free school meal, we sometimes get these and take them to the park for a picnic lunch for a change.

early30smum · 25/07/2017 19:36

I love them! Kids are 8 and 4 and I work term time only so have the summer off (although will do bits and pieces from home from time to time). But it's only day 2 and I've spent a small fortune... need to find some free stuff to do!

jobergamot · 25/07/2017 19:57

HATE them with a vengeance!!! Got a 9 yr old DD. She gets so bored. As she's an only child I have to be really proactive to sort out playdates etc. It's way too long. But basically we just have to suck it up and get on with it don't we?!

Only red wine gets me thru. Wine