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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To complain about half term?!

20 replies

YoshimibattlesthePR · 17/04/2019 14:40

In theory i have it easy. DC amusing themselves, not fighting, happy to hang out at home.... but I was really looking forward to some days out. It seems pointless to drag them out as they turn their nose up at every idea. They are happy playing at home. Its the first long stretch I've had off in quite a while. Apart from the odd bit of crafts or baking we've done I'm pretty much sat around while they play.

I envisaged some chill out time but not this much.

I'm sooo bored.

OP posts:
NoSauce · 17/04/2019 14:53

You’re the parent here. Let them have a few days chilling then tell them you’re going out for the day.

Cherrysoup · 17/04/2019 15:02

Why are you allowing them to dictate to you? You're the adult, just get them out, no choice. Can't understand why you're whingeing.

sanityisamyth · 17/04/2019 15:03

It's not half term. It's the Easter holidays!!

CupOhTea · 17/04/2019 15:05

Ah your username brings me back op! Do you have a black belt in karate Wink?

Anywho, I’d probably quite enjoy what you’re describing but how old are they? Could you sit down and ask them what they’d like to do with the rest of their holidays and decide on a few trips?

YoshimibattlesthePR · 17/04/2019 15:06

Taking two reluctant children out isn't incredibly appealing.

Yes sorry, Easter!

OP posts:
YourSarcasmIsDripping · 17/04/2019 15:06

Why the hell would you force kids to do something the don't want to and possibly won't enjoy just because? OP is bored..one would expect a grownup to be perfectly able to occupy or entertain themselves.

Xiaoxiong · 17/04/2019 15:09

Read a book yourself. A real paper one. I just read a study that says kids who see their parents reading for pleasure are more likely to do the same themselves. And it's also brilliant for kids to have unstructured play time at home together so good work raising them right not to be at each other's throats.

I just started Bina Shah "While she sleeps" for book club, and it's brilliant so far!

CocoLoco87 · 17/04/2019 15:09

I would love to be bored. With 2 preschoolers I have to be out and about more to keep them entertained. I'm absolutely shattered! I'm currently desperate for an afternoon nap but the 4 year old keeps talking to me Sad

chillpizza · 17/04/2019 15:12

Enjoy it. It’s just pure downtime. Take a long bath, read a book, do some gardening, clean the skirtings. There is always something to be done then watch some trashy tv.

justasking111 · 17/04/2019 15:13

ah. just chill, sit outside with a book and catch some rays.

picklemepopcorn · 17/04/2019 15:16

Do something you want to do. Clear up a gritty corner, cook a new recipe, learn to balance on one leg while juggling tomatoes.

Be glad your children are self sustaining!

viques · 17/04/2019 15:21

As a matter of interest OP what do you say to your children when they stand swinging on the door saying "I'm boooored".

I bet you come up with twenty things they could be doing, why not ask your kids what they think YOu should do.

LittleMissMummaBear · 17/04/2019 15:22

Ah they sound like kids. I've taken in my younger sister who is 16 as I am quite a young parent and I like the company and she is happy at home unlike other girls her age lol. I would enjoy the chill time, find something else to do and then for at least a day or two take them out, you are the parent! x

YoshimibattlesthePR · 17/04/2019 15:23

CupOhTea i do indeed!

I've just suggested we go out to tea and they could choose....They've gone for bloody Pizza Hut!! But we had a laugh that mummy is grumping about being bored and the children are cheerful. Grin

I might sneak in a play on the beach after.

Going to do a bit of gardening.

OP posts:
Richmond1972 · 17/04/2019 15:43

im in the exact same situation. i forced them out on a few days out to theme parks and local attractions last week. this week they want to stay in and im bored. so ive bleached my kitchen from top to bottom and done house jobs i never get round to. im about to go replace the foam lining stuff in my cupboards and then have a cup of tea and watch netflix before dinner. thats as good as my day gets Grin

DippyAvocado · 17/04/2019 15:46

Let them play etc but plan one proper day out. Let them know when it will be. If they're anything like my DC they protest at the idea of going anywhere but always enjoy it when we're there.

Richmond1972 · 17/04/2019 15:46

yesterday i managed to get all the silicone round my kitchen worktops sparkly by paper mache-ing bleach kitchen roll onto it and leaving it for 20 mins. then i cleaned the crevis's of the bin with a cotton bud.

not been bored enough to clean the microwave yet though

MadameDD · 17/04/2019 15:56

To be fair - I'm struggling with WFH days this Easter holidays and a bored 4.5 year old DD. She usually goes to day camps - 1-2 days or more or to her nana's house or if a friend takes her for the day then there.

Next week is fine as we're off for a week to Bath which is to see brother's in-laws family and more to do there.

I was mentioning this predicament - the shorter holidays - Easter rather than half term to my DM the other day as I recall especially at Easter but also in the summer holidays - she had no money when we were kids but we stayed in from recollection:-

an old farmhouse in Sussex countryside - near Bodiam Castle and an approx. 30 minute drive to Cambersands beach which was ideal for days out. The farmhouse was divided into 2 parts - we had the larger part and the farm family had a normal house nearby. From there we could go and play in silos - until we were told off by farmer - oops! There was a small safe stream nearby where we played watched by an adult and lovely garden.

Farm used as retreat type place in Avon countryside - near a river and canal and near Bath - donkey in field, playing laying coins on railway track and watching trains squash the coins, we went to a small swimming baths with a slightly older 'new friend' who was a girl locally - she knew the owner of the farm. The farm was a holistic place with hot tubs and rebirthing...

Holiday bungalow in Sussex countryside near Littlehampton - the garden opened out onto a river which went down to the sea, rarely went to the sea but played in the river, made friends with little girl in static caravan park, did a few horse-riding lessons locally, saw a barn own one afternoon in the shade of trees in the garden.

Essex seaside coast - recall seeing old wet wooden boat timbers - Mary Rose?! Stayed with family friends again in old weatherboard/wooden board house - one Easter I recall me and my brother and our friends who were with us from London going to the village bakery and buying hot cross buns in huge quantities, hot and delicious and returning for them during the morning/day! Don't recall doing much else there apart from wandering round village, graveyards, churchyards.

The above is slightly a taster of a different childhood - but from age 8 me and a friend were allowed to get train/bus to nearby town and swim - no mobile phones then but had money to ring people. Also went into nearest town 10 minute walk away for old fashioned sweet shop trips, pet shop trips etc.

Some friends of my mum landed her approx. 3-4 years ago with an 8 year old and 10 year old brothers for a week days - mum was foxed as what to do with them until a neighbour a few doors down suggested her son also 10 hang out with them - they went to parks, borrowed bikes, went to see local aquarium/lizard/snake shop and generally did 'boy' stuff but were out all day apart from visits home to my mum's house to replenish food and funnily enough the older boy (10) came back with tweenage boy cheeky 'swagger' after a few days, not rude just cheeky! Did them the world of good and they soon forgot their parents - 8 year old just tagged along. Surprising how they did stuff but they were also allowed as a few of them to get bus 20-30 minutes away into nearest large safe town to 'shop' or do stuff that was more interesting than around locally and also to swim in the local pool - 15 minute walk away.

My DM was a teacher and unless she was taking us and lots of other kids out on day trips (she did this) she also invited kids into the house - friends of ours. If we weren't doing anything - like in a huge paddling pool with big sides in summer, or playing, then they'd watch her make bread - a few friends recall watching her making bread!

If your kids are happy playing at home OP then that's fine!

BMW6 · 17/04/2019 15:59

Microwave cleaning is easy - put a cup of water with a squirt of lemon juice in it and set to microwave for 5 mins.

when it's done wipe out the steamy inside with kitchen roll. Tah Dah.

juneau · 17/04/2019 16:03

My kids are boring too - the 11-year-old refuses to go just about anywhere - but every approx. 3rd day I insist that we all leave the house. One day we walked into town for an appointment and had lunch, two days we've been out with friends and gone to NT places about 45 mins away, tomorrow we're meeting up with friends and going out. The rest of the time I'm letting them chill out. I just finished reading my book and I've done lots of gardening. I'm not going to run myself ragged if they don't want to go out. I can amuse myself quite happily.

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