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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be counting down the days till school starts!

82 replies

Exhaustedmummy1811 · 05/01/2019 16:59

I am a mum of 4 currently 27 weeks pregnant with my 5th. These holidays feel like they have dragged, I love spending time with my children but we have run out of all the planned fun activities now. I have spent so much of the holidays cleaning the house and half the time looks like I haven't bothered haha
The kids are constantly 'bored' despite the abundance of art and crafts, baking, role play games, walks in the country side we are doing.. I just want my peace and quiet back now, does that make me a terrible mum?

OP posts:
gcscience · 06/01/2019 04:21

home eddersGrin

Clionba · 06/01/2019 07:09

Do you know one of the most important things you can do as a parent? Allow your child to be "bored". Don't accept the word, don't do anything about it, just ignore it. A bored child will learn to find things to do, read or make and become more self reliant and less demanding. You're not an entertainment manager. They've got books, toys, crafts, whatevs! They are old enough to entertain themselves while you put your feet up with a cuppa!
This time next year, you'll have 5!

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 06/01/2019 07:36

Do bore off, punctuation police.

ChristmasFlary · 06/01/2019 08:50

kids are a 24 hour job(disabilities needs)but we love this life

I read it that the children have extra needs so an english tutor or teaching them grammar might not be appropriate

Original poster
Exhaustedmummy1811 · 06/01/2019 08:52

@gcscience your not giving me much hope for the future there lol sorry to hear one of your dc is unwell that can't be easy for either of you, I hope they are feeling better soon.
Putti g my feet up with a cuppa sounds amazing. The prospect of 5 next year's has me both excited and fearful haha I'm at the point where I think will one more really make much difference at this point? Lol I asked for a sterilisation after the last but was told I was too young, luckily they have agreed I can have one of this little lady.

I will miss having them home and not too keen on the earlier mornings starting again but at 27 weeks pregnant sometimes I just want to put my feet up or have a nap so once they are back at school and nursery I can relax a lite more. I think now the hype and excitement of Christmas and birthdays have gone we are all feeling a little deflated

OP posts:
greenpop21 · 06/01/2019 14:30

May I ask why you are having a 5th?

Girlicorne · 06/01/2019 14:43

No! We are back tomorrow after a wonderful 17 days of family fun and I m sad today. I would homeschool mine if I could but I only have 2 and they are 9 and 11 so very very easy. Counting down the six weeks (30 work/school days) til feb half term!!!

greenpop21 · 06/01/2019 15:21

I stopped at 2, I knew my limits OP!

Spongeb0b · 06/01/2019 16:02

I have mixed feelings - my two have recently started a new school and are a bit worried about going back so I'm going to be thinking about them all day tomorrow.
I have enjoyed the holidays. But at the same time we are moving house soon and I really need to crack on with packing and have them out from under my feet!

AllTakenSoRubbishUsername · 06/01/2019 17:10

Ours go back on Monday. It's been so lovely having them home but I must admit, having a hot coffee and then a nice long dog walk after we drop them off whilst being able to have adult conversation will be lovely!

BooseysMom · 06/01/2019 19:17

@Clionba..You wrote.. Do you know one of the most important things you can do as a parent? Allow your child to be "bored". Don't accept the word, don't do anything about it, just ignore it. A bored child will learn to find things to do, read or make and become more self reliant and less demanding. You're not an entertainment manager. They've got books, toys, crafts, whatevs! ...

I think that's a very valid point and I'm going to enlighten DH with it! DS constantly expects us to entertain him when he's got mountains of toys to play with and his flash cards to practice from school too. Allowing him to feel bored and then have to sort it out himself might do him some good!

BooseysMom · 06/01/2019 19:21

@Spongeb0b... It is worrying. DS has started school recently too and has been saying he doesn't want to go on Tues. He has friends from pre-school who are now in the same school but he says no one plays with him and I feel sad for him and can't help worrying.

Clionba · 06/01/2019 19:27

@BooseysMom - go for it!
It most definitely works. Mine are adult, now, but when small they would always play and entertain themselves. It's a really important skill, and all the evidence suggests that it does help children to be more creative and self reliant. Good luck!

BooseysMom · 06/01/2019 19:37

@Clionba..Thank you x Smile

anniehm · 06/01/2019 20:08

Just dropped off dd, the wonders of boarding school! That said she has a level mocks this week so has been studying hard these holidays, but she's so noisy! Her older sister is glad to see the back of her

OutPinked · 06/01/2019 20:33

I’m a teacher so usually would also be returning tomorrow but I’m currently on mat leave so don’t have that to worry about. I don’t, however, usually do the school run so that has been interesting to say the least Grin. Not looking forward to that starting up again but with me not currently at work, I’m dying to have some sort of structure back so can’t wait for that.

Absofrigginlootly · 06/01/2019 20:49

@BooseysMom you need to read the book Simplicity Parenting.... letting them be bored is great for their development, creativity and imagination. Free yourself!!

BlitheringIdiots · 06/01/2019 21:36

tor8181 are you both at home with the children? How does that work financially?

Seafoodeatit · 06/01/2019 21:56

Dreading it, really despise the school run, I wish I could speed up how long it's taking me to learn to drive!

notsurewhatshappening · 06/01/2019 22:02

Mixed feelings really. Mine are ready to go back now although we've had a great time. A mix of activities, quite a bit of TV and them playing together (usually just as I want to leave the house but at least they are capable!) The school run and chivvying them to get dressed, brush teeth, put shoes on etc is crap.

WalkingInTheAir13 · 06/01/2019 22:40

^I think entertaining our kids (and therefore causing ourselves more stress) is the downside to modern parenting really. There were 5 of us and I don't ever remember my parents role playing, or doing anything much more than playing a few board games/cards in the evening.
We spent most of our time playing in the street or the garden^

@WorraLiberty

I must be your No.1 fan - as always, spot on and straight to the heart of the matter.

NameChanger22 · 07/01/2019 00:04

It's been great. I really don't want to go back to work.

flatulencebythebucket · 07/01/2019 00:45

The last thing i remember pre Christmas is telling my 5 year old it was 20 days until xmas & then boom it's all over. Years seem to get shorter & shorter as we get older.

Nicpem1982 · 07/01/2019 07:26

@clionba

You make and excellent point and i will be embrassing the im not an entertainment manager going forward

As for going back to school my dd (4) is ready for it she thrives on structure and has missed her friends weve not had chance to see many as everyones so busy this time of year ive got one excited girl this morning

yodelsay · 07/01/2019 08:35

Big hugs to all the Mums of boarders!! Will be a tough day here today Sad

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