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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be very worried how I’m going to work in the school holidays?

359 replies

Cherrymentos19 · 26/03/2021 05:56

Single parent
Returning to work
My children are at private schools - so great during term time as wonderful before and after school activities

However the holidays are outrageously long!

Easter break... 3.5 weeks

Summer holidays... 9 weeks!

Half terms are generally 2 weeks.

I have no support locally. The children’s father will not be on hand in any meaningful way, and absolutely no point pursuing that point - because zero chance of change. Zero.

So what do people do?!

OP posts:
eurochick · 26/03/2021 05:57

Take holiday
Use holiday clubs
Pay for childcare

billybagpuss · 26/03/2021 05:58

When my kids were young the private schools ran kids clubs for 8 weeks out of the 9. It’s a cost you should budget in when considering independent sector.

ChocOrange1 · 26/03/2021 05:59

Holiday clubs? I don't know if they run during the shorter holidays but most schools have them for summer holidays.
Pay a childminder or nanny?

PyjamaFan · 26/03/2021 06:01

Pay for childcare?

SuperCaliFragalistic · 26/03/2021 06:01

If you can afford private schools you can afford holiday clubs. There are loads of good ones out there.

soberfabulous · 26/03/2021 06:01

Same here and live overseas so no family help.

We band together with some neighbours and take turns to have the kids at our houses And do our own summer camps.

Our private school does a summer camp but it's not cheap.

Cupcakegirl13 · 26/03/2021 06:03

Holiday clubs , take annual leave and pay for childcare -
Simple !!

IggyAce · 26/03/2021 06:03

In addition to pp other suggestions:
Unpaid leave.
Ask one of their friends parents and return the favour.
Is sending them to stay with a grandparent/aunt a possibility?

garlictwist · 26/03/2021 06:03

You're obviously not short of a bob or two so can't you pay for holiday clubs or a nanny?

babyyodaxmas · 26/03/2021 06:05

How is this the first year this is a problem ?
Yes holiday clubs, week with grandparents (if possible) as much annual leave as you can swing. There is also unpaid parental leave (up to 4 weeks a year)

Panicmode1 · 26/03/2021 06:07

We used to have an au pair or nanny in school holidays, at least until we were teens....

Bluntness100 · 26/03/2021 06:11

You pay for childcare. Nanny, au pair, or childminder. It’s what everyone does if they don’t have local support.

Lostlemuria · 26/03/2021 06:12

Supercamps

qualitygirl · 26/03/2021 06:15

We use a mix of holidays, summer camps and they also stay with my mum for a week and my SIL for a week which they all love and is a fantastic help.

Washimal · 26/03/2021 06:18

Most people I know do a mixture of annual leave, holiday clubs, paid babysitters, grandparents/other relatives and unpaid leave. I know a couple of people who have nanny's or an au pair if they work from home. Bit drastic but I took a pay cut to work term-time only. I did that for lots of reasons, mostly because I love the job, but not having to pay for childcare or worry about how I'm going to juggle everything in the holidays is a bonus.

Lindy2 · 26/03/2021 06:21

You pay for childcare. Holiday clubs when available, childminder, nanny, au pair etc when you have extra weeks to cover.

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 26/03/2021 06:22

private prep schools are not allegedly the preferred choice for many

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 26/03/2021 06:22

take them out of private education for now?

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 26/03/2021 06:24

What did u do in the holidays before?
Btw all schools have holidays not just private ones , everyone manages somehow

midnightstar66 · 26/03/2021 06:26

Surely you've encountered/considered this problem before now?

Holiday club or nanny seems the obvious option, is there a reason the standard things aren't an option?

Ki0612 · 26/03/2021 06:27

I think asking what people do in the summer at private school is a bit silly as if people can afford private school they can afford a childminder, out of school club etc that everyone else uses in the school hols and if they aren't available as hols are longer thats the points u take annual leave...

LittleRa · 26/03/2021 06:28

@babyyodaxmas @Dontforgetyourbrolly as you are both asking how this has only become a problem this year and what she did before, just to point out it says in the OP “returning to work” so assume she was a SAHM previously?

Original poster
Cherrymentos19 · 26/03/2021 06:30

@billybagpuss

When my kids were young the private schools ran kids clubs for 8 weeks out of the 9. It’s a cost you should budget in when considering independent sector.
They don’t do this. For the first two weeks and last week. But not the 6 weeks in between
OP posts:
midnightstar66 · 26/03/2021 06:31

@LittleRa it's still something surely you'd have considered before enrolling dc in private school or planning to return to work. Most people think about these things before even becoming pregnant.

Original poster
Cherrymentos19 · 26/03/2021 06:31

@Ki0612

I think asking what people do in the summer at private school is a bit silly as if people can afford private school they can afford a childminder, out of school club etc that everyone else uses in the school hols and if they aren't available as hols are longer thats the points u take annual leave...
Both on bursaries
OP posts:
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