To hate being at home in the school holidays?

[AAAHHHHH]

I'm at home with my 4 year old and she's driving me crazy. She won't stop talking, I can't even listen to an audiobook.

Everytime I tell her to play in her room, she just follows me. I can't get much cleaning done and theres no point really as she keeps making a mess.

We cant go anywhere as theres nothing to do for free (no money atm) and it's raining so the park is off our list.

I feel terrible as well, because shes so inquisitive but I just really hate having to tell her why and what and how to nearly everything.

@Iusedtobeapartygirl Does it? Just sounds like she's stressed out to me. No need for such nasty comments.

I used to set dd up on a kitchen chair at the sink, roll up her sleeves, fill the sink with warm soapy water and let hew wash her toys or plastic cups / bowls. Kept her amused for ages and I could get on with prepping dinner or folding laundry etc beside her.

My DD is 7, I’ve only just starting reading novels again. Totally unrealistic to expect to listen to audio books. Get out the house, library?

Don't listen to the vipers. They don't know how to BE KIND.
You're human that's why you feel this way. The constant need is exhausting at this age. I've been there.
Write out a list of things to do and give her your full attention when doing these with her.
However, I disagree with others. A four year old should be able to entertain herself for say 40 mins. Even if it is a little TV.
Be firm with her during this time. Say " it's mummy time now" She'll soon get the message. X

Mines the same age. Also asking lots of questions. I'm feeling more irritated today than I should. I've taken her for walks and to the shop so far. Meeting a friend tomorrow. To be honest everything does feel lik hard work. She's making lots of mess. She's hungry every five minutes. She's in my space alot. It's just their age I think. I like her being home for the rest and relaxed mornings and evenings. But i feel you! Hopefully we will be busy now for the rest of the week as it's her birthday Friday x

I love the school holidays, lots of down time and no routine. Even if the weather is poor, there’s still plenty to do if willing. Perhaps also use this as a reminder to set aside money for activities for the next holiday.

Be thankful you are off and can spend this time with her and not having to pay childcare. You can have your audio book when she’s in bed later.

Jesus, so much smugness on here!

Of course parenting is fucking boring at times.

I’m not one play doh usually as my DD is a carport smoother but it has been a god send this week, I just get random creations plonked in front of me from time to time.

I’m going to get shares in the stuff!

Why did you have children OP? Maybe in moments of frustration you should remind yourself of this.

Autocorrect went made with that post *carpet smoosher

Just a reminder to all the judgy insufferables today that it is BAD for children to be constantly entertained and GOOD for them to get bored and to have mentally healthy mums.

Honestly, how many of the people criticising the OP today shared something on fb about being kind following Caroline Flack's suicide? How quickly we forget.

For goodness sake is the poor woman not allowed to feel overwhelmed at times? Way to go to make someone feel better about themselves.

^^
THIS.

Sending hugs. It's exhausting sometimes, and as much as you love them it can be tough! X

Ignore all the smug ,shitty comments!!! Try and get outside and have a walk and puddle splash...you are not alone finding your day boring and monotonous it’s how most parents (if they were really honest ) feel at times !💐

FFS what a lot of horrible people. Mine are older now but I used to find the holidays relentless especially when the weather is bad. It’s hard work and generally thankless to have to entertain all day. Doesn’t mean you don’t love them, and it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have had children but it can be brain numbing my boring to entertain them all day long on your own

Yellwat...exactly what I was thinking!!

I cannot understand why some posters are coming out with this 'Surely you knew this would happen...' bollocks. No, OP probably didn't think this would happen. Outside MN, parenthood is painted as the most wonderful, fascinating, amazing thing ever and ALL women love every single second of it. The reality can be quite different and it only ever seems to be talked about here.

I loved my kids at that age but they are relentless and it does get boring.

Here were my go to activities for some peace and quiet.

Dress them in waterproofs, stick them.outside with poster paints. Paint the patio doors, patio etc. Hose it off. They will do this independently for AGES.

I don't know if you've got room for it but I built a sort of gravel pit with tarpaulin, sleepers and a few bags of gravel. Plus a tarp to keep cats off. This honestly was their best toy for years. With plastic bags, bigger rocks and water all sorts of dams and rivers can be made. My now 13 year old will still do this on the beach. Again, one full waterproof bodysuit and they're away.

A bath. With those pens that draw on the bath.

Take all the cushions off the sofa and make a den. Add dolls, cars whatever. Cover with blankets. Mine would honestly stay in dens for hours.

Cleaning windows. Vinegar solution, disposable paper, mine would again do this for ages.

Every now and then i would do an eggbox challenge. Paint or colour the bottom of an empty eggbox different colours and send them off to find something small that matches that colour. You get a cup of tea and a good rest with that one.

Hide an object. Play "Hot or cold". While having a cup of tea.

Annie “ I loved that age! There was so much to do together for free with the right coat!

• feeding the ducks
• splashing in puddles
• snuggling up with a movie
• making cupcakes
• making a den
• colouring / crafting ”

Please adopt me. I’m 44 though 😂

The holidays can be intense. I vowed after the summer holidays the year before last that never again would I spend every single day of the summer with both the DCs (admittedly that was a tough one with undiagnosed ASD being particularly difficult in the aftermath of SATs, and while DS1 will not do holiday clubs, a change of dynamic putting DS2 in for sports club does us all the world of good).

Plan a bit of structure. Active days, house days, getting out in the morning. The shitty, sodden, saturated ground is no help though. My DCs were done with splashy puddle walks 4 months ago (and the garden has been avaliable to play in once in that time without being so squelchy to be pulverised into mud in minutes), although yesterday they were impressed by the lake that is normally a local park- the way the forecast is going, it will probably be halfway up the play equipment by Friday! Anything south of town is inaccessible due to major flooding knocking out key routes.

Children do need attention, but not constantly. Entertaining themselves is a vital life skill. No other generation of mothers has ever been expected to martyr themselves by playing with the little darlings constantly. Family, friends and community were more involved. Children went out to play. While endless screens are very far from ideal, there's nothing wrong with using them for a chunk of the day to gain a bit of headspace.

As for us, we had a busy weekend, yesterday we made it out plus a regular activity was still on, so today I'm feeling no shame about resting an injury in bed while my DCs snuggle up and Minecraft next to me. Not something to be a habit, but a plesant way to pass a tedious day while Noah cracks on and builds his Ark.

@blastendedskrewt

Abit extreme? She's fed up. I've seen plenty of people on here say they work because full-time with the kids is hell.

They do do your head in some days. Other days they don't. Maybe she isn't feeling well today or is on her period or just tired. Some days you want 20 minutes to drink a coffee whilst they play happily. It's not like she is saying she's done nothing with her. She's saying the constant questions is abit much. I sometimes can't be bothered with my daughter's pointless questions. Are you a girl mummy? Why's your hair long? Is your hair long? Why do you have your hair down mummy? What's this mummy? It's a map darling. No mummy it's not a map what is it? I don't know what is it? Guess mummy. Ermmm a park? No mummy. mummy can I have a bath? Will it make my hair longer? I'm hungry mummy? Can I have tuna sandwiches? No it's 10.30am. can we go for a walk? Yes go and get dressed? (Half an hour later still battling her putting a t shirt on) mummy why do we live on earth? (Good question to be fair) do the teachers live on earth (funny question) mummy why are boys boys. Mummy can I have a treat? Mummy do doggys lick you. Mummy why have I got auntie's? I don't have auntie's do I? I just have cousins? That's not your cousin mummy. Grandma's not your mummy. Is this purple dress pink? Is my hair blue? It's Tuesday today mummy. No it's Saturday or you would be at school. No mummy it's Tuesday. Why are their houses over there? It's a village. Does a wolf live there?

Im sorry but adorable as they are. Sometimes it's constant and a tad annoying. 99% of the time it's fine. But some days it really is draining.

There are the things we enjoy and hate when parenting. The trick is to find something YOU like. So for me it's Lego, I can't do dolls, I always hated dolls and tea parties and pretending, I despise arts and crafts, but I really love building Lego. I swear it's so relaxing and you get to build some amazing shit. Hours can pass and you won't realise. The mad thing is , all my kids loved Lego too so it was actually win win. Dh loved art and pretend and dolls so he did that bit if they wanted. Find something that you enjoy aswell.

Mine are grown up now and I wish I could turn back time and make them small again. I used to love spending the holidays with them, whether we were walking in the woods or playing with playdough or just chilling. Housework never got in my way and I was always sad the holidays were over. Everyone is different, but do not wish away the years.

YANBU! I remember those days. Sometimes I just wanted to tear my hair out at the 8,000th question in two hours and the insistence on make believe games that seemed to drag on and on.

I went out in the rain. wellies and raincoats all round. They seemed to ask fewer questions when they could jump in puddles. Wore them out a bit then home for a long bath to warm them up and keep them occupied while I sat by them and chilled out. I also found that trying to structure a day around a subject I enjoyed (space, say, or flowers, or whatever) made it a bit easier to put up with all the questions (but only a bit!).

It feels relentless in the holidays, but the week will be over in a few more days and then a year will go by and it will get a touch easier, then another and another and all that frazzle fades into the background. (Then they become teens...)..

You’re not a bad mum, you’re struggling the way many parents do when they have sole charge for an long stretch. You sound like you’re doing fine from your DD’s perspective. I’m glad it sounds like you have some support in the evenings.

It's REALLY hard work. I can tell you what I do.

To save myself from another breakdown, I save up what I can for the holidays so we can do some activities. Getting outside, away from the house, new environments - is the ONLY thing that makes it manageable, even to the park in the rain and getting muddy. Double layers & waterproofs. I can't stand the "in the house" activities, craft, baking etc. I spend too much time doing my own chores in here as it is. It's suffocating and it creates more chores.

Ex was meant to share half term with me. He messaged yesterday to say "Oh sorry. Can't" He hasn't seen our two boys in weeks. So obviously I've had them for weeks. It's always up to me to save and plan and I'm getting good at it now.

Yesterday they were up at half 6. Appalling behaviour from the 7 year old, threatening his 3yo brother "Get out or I'm going to hit you really hard" I was disgusted with him - I have not brought him up like that! Because of that I couldn't take them swimming to the "fun splash" (and reward the behaviour). Grandad (luckily not at work that day) took youngest swimming and I made eldest walk/climb 5 miles in the rain to a trig point with our springer spaniel ... backfired though because he loved it!! (so did I, so did the springer) we were all covered in mud but came back smiling and singing!.

Today they'd both been good. We went to a trampoline park, then a free science museum. It was flipping PACKED at the museum. Then a panic amongst staff as a child had gone missing. We left at that point as we didn't want to get in the way of the search. They had wellies on so they played in a fountain pool thing after. Chucking it down still. They got soaked but they loved it. The long bus ride home they sat like angels!! They're now happily playing together with brio. Then really simple homemade quorn & sweetcorn pizza, then the lollipops I've promised them all day if they continue to be good (great for bribing!) and they should go to bed knackered with no trouble. The payoff of getting out is sooo worth it for my mental health!

Tomorrow we're going food shopping (needs must, but they're helping) then bike riding/scooting in the park through the mud and puddles. Waterproofs!

Day after we're going to some glow in the dark 4D golf thing - IF good behaviour.

So my recommendation is to just get out of the house and tire your kid out no matter what. And have a savings pot/account for school holidays!

Parent her ffs