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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be counting down the days 'til the end of the school holidays when my daughter hasn't even started school yet?!?!

26 replies

ColdPenguin · 20/08/2007 18:09

She's not even 4 yet, but normally during term time we have a routine of toddler groups and nursery that takes up our week.

I find this age very difficult to entertain as she is obviously far from being a baby but still so dependant on me for things to do.

She has no brothers, sisters or cousins to speak of and I feel she is still a bit too young to go off to friends houses to play, so I end up being full-time play mate.

She's a lovely, caring, sociable little girl who honestly is a pleasure to be around, but I am just sooo bored. I end up losing my patience with her sometimes just because I'm so bored.

She's due to start school this September and I feel so bad that I am looking forward to it. Part of me will be sad to see her go and I really feel like I should be making the most of this time together in the holidays, but I am just so sick of going to the park and sticking glittery bits of crap on cardboard boxes.

AIBU?

OP posts:
ChasingSquirrels · 20/08/2007 18:12

can't you go off to friends houses to play with her - ie she and other kid play, you and other adult chill out. thats what we have been doing for the past 4 years!

Tutter · 20/08/2007 18:14

not at all

i also am fed up of the school hols

fark all for toddlers to do

Eddas · 20/08/2007 18:16

I am so sick of the hols it's not funny. I have a 3 year old(she's only at pre school) and a 4 month old.

YANBU. It is darn hard work to entertain them. DD does not understnd why she can't go to school, she loves it Roll on September

Original poster
ColdPenguin · 20/08/2007 18:17

We do go to friends houses to play now and again, but I don't know enough people with children her age for this to take up any significant amount of time. We have maybe 1 or 2 'playdates' per week, but still sooo bored the rest of the time..........

OP posts:
lalaa · 20/08/2007 18:17

YANBU

I'm officially counting down too. My dd is only sporadically pleasant to be around.

Also, I work so she spends more than half the working week at the cm. I'm still counting down.

16 today.

Mercy · 20/08/2007 18:21

YANBU!

Perfectly normal imo.

Eddas · 20/08/2007 18:22

where are you, PLEASE come round to entertain dd

kickassangel · 20/08/2007 18:23

i also get narked that there is nothing on for toddlers during the holidays - where are they supposed to go? some days we can't even go to the swimming pool because all the session are for older ones.

Original poster
ColdPenguin · 20/08/2007 18:29

Yes, exactly. All the places we usually go to (soft play, swimming pool, park etc...) are over run with older kids.

And the weather has been so awful this year, playing outside has been very limited.

Seems there is a total gap in the market for toddlers during school holidays. Surely there is a money making idea here somewhere?

OP posts:
Mercy · 20/08/2007 18:35

Well, older kids are just as entitled to be in those places - they often don't have the opportunity to be there other than during the school holidays.

Original poster
ColdPenguin · 20/08/2007 18:56

Apologies if I was not clear. I have absolutely no problem with older kids being in these places. My daughter will be an 'older kid' herself one day!

But that doesn't take away the fact that there is not much for toddlers to do in school holidays.

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 21/08/2007 12:23

YANBU.

My daughter is 2.9, I adore her and her company, but I am thrilled that she is starting school in three weeks time - we live in France where ecole maternelle (pre-school) starts in the September of the calendar year in which a child has his/her third birthday. My daughter is absolutely ready for school - mornings only in the first year - she needs the company. 99% of children go to school at 3 in France and I think that this is great for most children.

meandmy · 21/08/2007 12:29

lol,
my dd 14.5mo an im too counting down to the end!
for me its the street being quiet space on the bus being able to stroll through town without having kids walk in front of me and stop!

Rubybees · 21/08/2007 14:01

I'm the othe rway I can't believe there is less than 2 weeks left it has gone so fast.

Ds 5 going up to year 1 (but already in full time) and dd 3 (next week) starting 5 mornings a week pre-school (I'm dreading)

I'm a childminder and love school hols(most of the time lol), the best thing: not having to be somewhere for a certain time (ie: school) having to wake children up to go to school. Putting a box in the middle of the room which has been a house, car, postoffice for thepast 4 weeks lol

groan to them going back to schoolx

heifer · 21/08/2007 14:15

I thought it was just me..

DD is 3.8 and not due to start school until next September.

Holidays didn't affect me for the 1st 3 years, but since she started preschool in January I really really miss it when it isn't on, and she only goes to 2 sessions per week

Agree about the other stuff, re routines are all out, no trampoling or ballet to go to either.

Don't like to keep bothering my friends as they all have older children and seem to be enjoying spending the time with them at the moment..

Can't wait for the holidays to finish, all the other children to go back to school so that at least when we do go out it isn't packed with other children..

No idea how I coped as a SAHM for the 1st 3 years, as I am finding it really hard now!...

HonoriaGlossop · 21/08/2007 14:52

I think it's been a difficult holiday this year with this crappy weather and I think alot of people have struggled more than usual.

FWIW ColdP, I think you will enjoy next summer much more. You have had dd at home for four years and as you so rightly say going to the park and 'sticking glittery bits of crap on cardboard boxes' DOES being to pall, for even the most devoted parent.....When she's been at school for a year you will enjoy the time together much more and relish it, I'm sure.

That's how it's been for me, anyway. I'm with Ruby, I can't believe how quickly the time has gone and how soon we have to give ds' life back to the tyranny of school

duvet · 23/08/2007 20:49

Yeah I think heifer right the totally crap weather really hasn't helped this year. Personally I've quite enjoyed the hols yeah it's hard work at times but I am not looking forward to 4 yr old dd1 starting full time in Sept. We've been doing playdates 2 or 3 times a week, and once or twice had a friend round to play which keeps dd1 totally occupied for a whole afternoon, could you offer to have someone else child to play with yours, sure other mother would be glad and maybe even return the favour?

Soft play for under 5 is free at the leisure centres in our area which is great, have you anything like this or library activities maybe?

deepbreath · 24/08/2007 08:56

I'm another... YANBU

My ds is 5, dd is 4. Both are bored witless, thanks to promises of playdates falling through. You can only chase people so much.

Lack of funds and no car means we have been very limited as to what we can do. There's been sod all in the way of activities/playschemes locally. The weather certainly hasn't helped matters.

I am so relieved that I'm not the only mum that feels a bit like a caged cat!

amidaiwish · 24/08/2007 09:12

yep it's 9.10 and i am scrabbling round for something to do today!
the weather has meant far too much time inside with play dough, making a total mess and watching videos....
sunny days mean they entertain themselves in the garden, in and out of the trampoline and walks down to the park.

week after next: little gym, swimming all start again and friends back from hols. hurrah! soft play will be ok for them - no way can i go at the moment with a not quite 2 year old. she'd be overrun.

roll on sept. no YANBU

sandyballs · 24/08/2007 09:19

I agree it's difficult when they are tots, but next summer you will enjoy it more.

I have loved these hols, even though the weather has been absolutely awful most of the time. I just enjoy having no uniforms to think about, no lunch boxes, no homework, no rushing about yelling at them every morning (still in our pyjamas until about mid-day ). Also the evenings are much more chilled, we are all eating together when DH gets home because the girls (6) can stay up late in the hols and then lie-in. I must admit though that this is quite a new development, the last lot of hols consisted of late nights for them and early mornings, which wasn't so good. So, it does get easier as they get older.

HonoriaGlossop · 24/08/2007 09:31

later nights followed by lie-ins is my Holy Grail at the moment.....DS could go to bed at midnight and STILL be up at 5am at the moment

When he starts to lie in, that will be such a major, major thing for our family! DH and I will throw a party (you'll ALL be invited )

It must make life feel that notch more relaxed. Good for you Sandy

sandyballs · 24/08/2007 09:45

How old is he HG? My girls are 6.5 and it has only been the last few months that they have begun to lie-in

biryani · 24/08/2007 09:49

I was in your position this time last year, ColdPenguin, but remember that when she starts school and makes friends there, she will quickly become more independent. Having time away from you will help, too.

Easywriter · 24/08/2007 10:00

I don't want to say whether you are or aren't being unreasonable as I don't think that's your issue here at all.

You need a list of things that are going on in your area.

Try the phonebook for soft play, pottery painting.

Are there any nice rivers, lidos, swimming pools that you could take her to.

What about a bit of shopping, or a day of pampering, you could both go to a beautician (i'm sure they won't make you pay more than a pund or two to whack a coat of nail polish on your daughters nails and you get a manicure into the deal, or do it yourself at home.

Do you have a link magazine or equivalent in your area? (List's things to do, events for pre schoolers).

What about fruit picking followed by a spot of pie/crumble making?

What are you local stately homes, tourist attractions like? Can you go for a nice walk somewhere?

Can you get anywhere on a train for a day out, the seaside, the countryside or a town depending on whichever one you don't live in?

Any free museums, butterfly houses, owl and otter sanctuaries, castles, caves or lord knows what near you?

Do you see what I mean, you're bored, unfortunately the job to thinking of something to do falls to you.Ring up your tourist information, do you have a childrens advisory service for your area (this kind of info is usually at the front of the phonebook) they'll point you in the right direction.

Don't wish away this time with your lovley daughter, once the education system begins, that's it, game over unless you're willing to pay horrific prices to take her away somewhere.

I'm sure there's some lovely stuff to do out there. Have fun!

HonoriaGlossop · 24/08/2007 12:24

sandy he's just turned five. Oh well, only a year or two to go if he's like your family! Can cope with that. I was thinking I might have to wait till he's 14!