Too hate the holidays..

[pansydansy]

I used to love having the kids at home during the holidays but dear god their killing me.

They've put me out of house and home.

The tantrums.

The shouts of "I'm bored"

The money spent trying to entertain them.

The day trips trying to sound all enthusiastic when your sick to the back teeth of seeing yet another pig/sheep/cow/ chicken/ horse 😩

The washing 😳

The toys everywhere.

The absolute mess until their in bed.

The fights.

And the worst thing is we're only 1 week down 🙈 feeling very jealous of my dh who's at work getting some peace and quietness 😬

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss my working DH would disagree with you there. He works full time in a challenging job yet admits he is far more tired and stressed after being home looking after the kids and says he absolutely couldn't be a stay at home parent and do the job I do.

Well if we have started the debate... it depends on the job surely. I work part time. My days at work are usually much easier than if I have the kids all day at home.

Some of my friends who are full time have kids who are really looking forward to some time with them over the holidays. My own kids see me all the time so time spent together is not remotely exciting for them. It all just depends. And as I said, the working parents still often have childcare issues in the holidays.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss my dh had two days off a couple of weeks ago because he was ill. He spent 2 days playing referee. Listening to whinging and crying and losing his shit every 10 minutes. He couldn't wait to get back to work. Infact so much so that he went back to work still feeling ill but said he'd rather that than stay home slowly going out of his mind 🙈 so yeah dh would disagree. He's knows he's got the better deal. He is self employed and works alone 99% of the time. I know which role I'd choose.

I'm off for half of each week this hols. DH and DM are covering the rest. Only one DD and I figure she's only little for a really short time so I'm enjoying our time together.

We are lucky (skint as anything, but lucky) as we live near the beach and some safe woods. And we have a dog. That and some baking is the holidays done ✅

As a teacher I bloody love the holidays, would prefer to spend time with my own kids being a pain in the bum then with other people’s kids! We only broke up yesterday so it’s been a long term and everyone was tired! Can’t wait to spend time with DH (teacher) and the kids 😊

I'd like to add another thing to my list of moans.

Dd 4 has had the greatest showman soundtrack playing on repeat since Monday 😳😑

My advice... to myself, I just need to remember it.
Stop trying to be the “entertain staff”
Offer this or that or stay home where you find something to do because you didn’t like my idea
Fruit for snacks, hide or don’t buy junk, it’s addictive the will eat it all
Let them bake if old enough to wash up !
Bore them to tears for 2 days or so and then they will want you to take them out anywhere
Online food shopping is perfect for school holiday

I think those saying that we should be enjoying every minute are a tad delusional🙄 my DS is 3 and going through the “lets push every boundary” stage it’s quite tiring and I am NOT enjoying it!! (They are the bits that no one tells you about!!) He’s too old for a stroller so that means doing jobs that require me going to town (which I aim to do childfree) need to be orchestrated to perfection with him at the moment. Dh works away for 3 weeks at a time so there is NO ONE to take over or bounce off even for a minute at times. I’m ok with saying out loud that I find it tough, or that I’m not enjoying it. It doesn’t mean I love them any less. To be honest as a teacher I find managing a class of 26 other children easier than managing my own at times 😂😂

It's really not a competition @Youngandfree 😂 The days might feel long (been there) but the years are short.

@mellongoose I never said it was a competition merely saying it’s ok to not enjoy parenting at times 🤣

I like holidays but I can often work from home (brings its own probs though )
Have disposable income, large garden, live in London (lots to do) and have friends with DC the same age nearby.

My four generally get on fairly well, after a day or two of adjusting to spending more time together, so that helps.

I’d be tearing my hair out if I was rushing around trying to juggle inflexible work and expensive childcare and entertaining DC on a tight budget. Let alone any more complicated issues.
Went through some tougher times when they were younger and it can be so relentless.
to everyone struggling a bit.

I assume these kids who need entertaining all the time have no toys or books?

It's what the teachers deal with on a daily basis, x30. Children who play up when they're bored for 2/3min and have to wait. It is a symptom of a system in which inactivity is somehow seen as bad and fosters a massive lack of imagination and creativity.

Allowing children to be bored actually does the education system a massive favour, as does non-adult-regulated free play and socialising, where children have to learn to get along without constant adult moderating.

My toddler obviously needs more stimulation than the tween, but even at 2 they can be left to play unsupervised for 30min while I get a break.

Allowing children to be bored actually does the education system a massive favour, as does non-adult-regulated free play and socialising, where children have to learn to get along without constant adult moderating

Exactly. The constant hovering over kids (of which I've been guilty sometimes) stifles them.

@Tessalectus as a teacher I can tell you that I personally think teaching and parenting are completely different. I get two breaks in my school day and the children go home at 2.40 and I’m being paid!! 😂😂 parenting = all day, no breaks, children in bed at half7and no pay 😂😂

I love the holidays. My dd (4) only goes to a school nursery 3 days per week but I'm thinking of cutting it down to two for this last term (I only work two days) as we've had such a good week. Personally, and I'm sure I'm in a minority but her behaviour is better the more she's with me

@Youngandfree

I teach teenagers. I get no break at all during the working day bar a rushed wee if I'm lucky (alongside duties, supervision, sorting out various issues, management duties and intervention work) and my working day at school rarely ends before half 4. I then have my own kids at home.

I know what I'd rather do - my own two are a delight compared to what I have to put up with on a daily basis and I do get breaks as mine have been taught to keep themselves busy, even at a very young age, for a certain amount of time. Most of the kids I teach are unable to wait for me to finish a conversation before it's their turn to nag me.

@Tessalectus that’s why I chose primary 😂 I wouldn’t stand a chance with a room of teenagers!! 😂😂😂 I would be eaten alive 😂😂 enjoy your well deserved break!! 💕

Yesterday I used £18 worth of 'supermarket' clubcard vouchers to buy a family cinema ticket (usually £46@ our local big screen) and also 2x slush puppies + large popcorn. ..

Supermarket rewards vouchers can be exchanged to make school holidays more affordable.

Despite having an itinerary for last week I struggled, i think mine do well with the structure of school. It didn’t helpthat my eldest son was projectile vomiting Thursday night which impacted on Fridays plans and made me wish I still drank by 7pm.

Luckily, DH is off from Monday until the 24th and the boys don’t want me if he’s around. Result

This morning we went to IKEA to buy a couple of bits. It went so well I felt like I’d had a glimpse into the future as to what it’s like when they all behave nicely at the same time for more than half a hour.

Got them home and fed and thought they might like to play Lego or something for a bit but dh has just rushed them out to the local park because he can’t stand the bickering and very frustrating ninja style kicking and wailing that’s been going on.

I’m going to enjoy my quiet hour with a cup of tea and ikea jammy dodgers.

doctorboo I also have boys who just want dad if he's around.

Despite having an itinerary for last week I struggled, i think mine do well with the structure of school

Try dropping the itinerary and leave them to learn to thrive without structure.

I wish I could get this mythical lie-in in the morning during the holidays.

My 5 year old DD is up and rampaging about from about 5.45am most mornings...6.30 is a lie-in..and once she is up, the whole bloody house is up.

the whole bloody house is up

Why? Assuming she has no SN you can get her a clock and tell her she can't get out of bed til the little and big hands are both pointing at 6.
Then she can pour some milk on cereal and turn the TV on.
She's school age so you shouldn't be tolerating "rampaging"

You see, I bloody love the school holidays. Get sadder than my kids when they go back to school. BUT - and I’m aware it’s a big factor - I’m a SAHM and money isn’t an issue. And my kids get on really well. So it’s lovely days out galore. If I were struggling for childcare/stuck to going to the park every day/refereeing fighting kids, then I’m sure I’d feel differently about it....