To just stay home in the school holidays!

[Quirrelsotherface]

Just that, really. Took my DC to an outdoor attraction today, along with the rest of the world. Queues were crazy for the special activities they put on so didn't bother with those. Place was packed with people who seemingly were completely unaware of anyone else..kids not waiting their turn for things, my 3yo got shoved over by someone who hadn't noticed him already stood where she had positioned herself.

Thing is, my DC are happiest at home, pottering, going to the park, local shops but I do this every holiday.
I just find it so unenjoyable and as though
everyone is desperately making sure their precious DC are getting the very best out of their day, even at the expense of other DC. Anyone relate? Maybe I'm just getting miserable and old

Your children your way.
Letting your child just veg and for Nd things to do is an important skill to learn.

I hate the schools holidays. I live in Cornwall and local kids were on half term last week and it was busy everywhere and this week there seems to be loads of kids around because of the varying half term times. I have two Dc, one with autism who cannot manage busy places. I struggle in busy places too so it’s a nightmare. We do go out but we go out early or for example we go to the park in the rain or swimming or soft play in the sunshine to beat the crowds.

I think there’s too much pressure to do things these days. When j was a child we seemed to spend a lot of time at home in the holidays. Doing things at home, playing in the garden, playing with the neighbourhood kids. But these days parents feel pressured to do things and I think it’s down to social media and everyone broadcasting what they are doing so other parents feel like they need to do so their children don’t miss out.

Nothing wrong with staying at home. This time of year days at home watching films sounds ideal.

Yes totally agree on the social media thing, seems everyone wants to show off their days #makingmemories. Peoples attitudes towards others seem to have worsened too but I can't work out if it's just me being a bit grumpy.
They are good tips for avoiding the crowds, thank you.

Surely all children need a few days to recharge after school and activities. Mine's only in reception but has an activity 3 nights and on saturday morning. We were simply pleased to sit in bed and read for an hour in the morning, see grandparents for longer and not be stuck on a fucking hamster wheel.

Sod #makingmemories. We had a great time reading 20 board books in bed on tuesday morning.

Do what your children enjoy. We spent yesterday at home and just went to the park this morning. We've been baking, playing games, in the garden, got the play dough out etc. The rest of the week we are out everyday but not to any big attractions.

Yanbu. Older DC (9)wants to sit infront of the TV and not be disturbed during the holidays. However I do drag him with me to the shops, library, park relative visits with me atleast once daily so he has some fresh air. When it's only 1 week off I am more laidback and feel he needs that rest. To him going out is a 'waste of precious time'. DC2 (7) otoh loves the outdoors so it's quite difficult to find that balance. Luckily I have a lot of family nearby so can send DC2 out with them.

Couldn't agree with you more op.

YA so NBU.

Like a PP we're in Cornwall too and this is the 2nd week of 'half term' - still can't get in the swimming pool so gave up trying to do much at all.

Not a massive fan of having to "do something" anyway - and quiet home time is very much underrated... but especially appreciated when we're still surrounded with holidaymakers!

Gosh no just relax!

We do lots on some days and utterly nothing for most days.

this is how many home edders feel in any school holidays

we cant wait for the school kids to get back in school as there is too many in our places when we are used to having them either emply or very quiet

i hate any school holidays as it stops us going out doing our normal actvities as my disabled kids cant cope with to many kids around doing what they want

YADNBU OP. I do wish DD was a bit more “ outdoorsy” as we live in Cornwall too & there are so many beautiful places on our doorstep. But there is a lot to be said for just pottering around at home

A facebook friend went to a local attraction yesterday and posted about how long the queue to get into the car park was (45 minutes I think she said) before they even got in the door. We stayed home most of the day and then went to the woods in the late afternoon as the sun was setting and had a "spooky" torchlight walk before coming home to sausage and mash and a warm cup of tea.

Today we've been to the cemetery to find out family members and talked about life and death etc.

Both places were quiet and empty which is great for ds who has adhd and doesn't cope well with crowds and noise.

I look on facebook and sometimes feel like we miss out on loads of fun things but then I think about days like yesterday and realise that we do have fun but it's suited to our own circumstances rather than trying to follow everyone else and failing spectacularly.

I think that people ought to realise that children need time to rest, relax and create their own entertainment quite a lot of the time as well as taking part in adult led activities.

stayed home most of the day and then went to the woods in the late afternoon as the sun was setting and had a "spooky" torchlight walk before coming home to sausage and mash and a warm cup of tea.

Sounds utterly perfect. Now I feel guilty to dragging my DC somewhere where actually they mostly had a shit time and mum was grumpy. Next few days will be much more relaxed I think.

God no, there is no reason why half term has to one long party.

Nice lazy mornings, no pressure, but also, depending how old DCs are, it's also good to spend a bit time doing some things like sorting out old unwanted toys or clothes and having a bit of a tidy up.

Sounds utterly perfect. Now I feel guilty to dragging my DC somewhere where actually they mostly had a shit time and mum was grumpy. Next few days will be much more relaxed I think. oh no, I didn't post in order to make you feel guilty op, sorry if it came across like that. I've just learned the hard way over time to avoid places where ds will get very overexcited and then have an angry meltdown.

I hope the rest of your week goes well and is happily relaxing! The weather here is due to change after tomorrow: it's been lovely yesterday and today but is going to rain for the rest of the week; however, that might keep the crowds away from the interesting places!

Stay at home, delete social media, cuddle, giggle and recharge.

We do go out but not everyday and not necessarily to some big crowded touristy place!! Son needs some downtime and I tell him it is compulsory to be bored!!

It's my bug bear as a mum of three, the bloody making memories social media pressure cooker. I have friends I like who turn into utter twats on Facebook in the holidays. Constantly posting pictures of days out. Aren't their kids exhausted? How do they afford it? It's a lot of fake nonsense anyway.
My kids said they had the best week off ever this time. I just bloody chilled and raised an eyebrow at Facebook nonsense. We had a couple of well chosen days out but chilled out a lot of the time. I'm not sure kids get a chance to just be these days with all the pressure

The woods were very muddy, fairly quiet, and loads of fun today.
Dens built, streams pottered around, playground investigated, massive slabs of cake in the cafe afterwards. Washing machine now trying to clear the mud!

oh no, I didn't post in order to make you feel guilty op, sorry if it came across like that.

Oh not at all, I'm making myself feel like that Going to put that idea on my list for the next few days!

And this is not news, BTW

When we were kids waaaauyyy back in the 80's that's what people did!

Fuck all these 'activities' and shit

I asked my 3 year old what his favourite part of today was. He said 'snuggling with my cushion on the sofa'. That answers my question I think!

I’m not a mum yet- currently 18+1 but I see this all the time in friends/family social media. WHEN did it become such a big deal to go out to ‘attractions and activities’ every day of the holidays?!?!?

I’m mid twenties (rapidly approaching ‘late twenties) and grew up in a working class rural family - we got 2/3 cheap/free days out per summer holiday IF we were lucky!
We saw Santa at Christmas and MAYBE went to a museum or NT property during Easter! Nobody ever thought we were deprived or impoverished - but now you hear about schools taking parents aside as they’re concerned a child didn’t ‘do enough’ during the holidays!

Isn’t that simply poverty shaming low income parents?
Luckily for us (not meant as a stealth brag) DH and I have a solid income and can afford to do nice things - however I have NO intention of spending every day of the school holidays dragging my child around expensive and overly crowded activities 🙄

Half the (clearly staged) pictures I see on social media just leave me rolling my eyes and thinking ‘wow that looks terrible!’
‘Family time’ and ‘fresh air’ will be very much my choice I’m afraid.

(TBH from what I’ve seen/am bracing for from motherhood - I wonder how these social media maniacs have the energy? Seriously I think If I make it out of the house with us both dressed once a day I’ll count it as a win!)

We had the school holidays last week, it was relatively quiet as we went to York and the school kids there were still in school. This October half term is strange as everywhere is staggered.

Veging our is great, but my two are would kill each other

When mine were little and I was off in the daytime, I used to absolutely detest the school holidays and weekends. Purely because of how busy everything was. I used to save days and trips out for weekdays when places were empty. Weekends and school holidays were for lazing around at home or visiting family. If I had DH with me, I would brave places when they were busier, but even then it was a nightmare.

Now my DC are school age and I'm back at work full time, I have to do it in school holidays otherwise we don't get to go. But I still hate it!!