To be dreading the summer holidays?

[JadedStrumpet]

Lone parent to nearly three year old twins. They currently go to nursery two days a week as I work PT. Obviously the nursery will be closed for holidays and they aren't old enough to go to the summer club.

I will have to drop down to one day a week at work for the six weeks (I work through an agency) My parents have said they will take them for one day but two days a week is too much.

It sounds awful but I am nearly in tears just thinking about it. The thought of six days a week summer child care slog honestly makes me want to run away from home. I feel like I can't cope and it hasn't even started yet.

Please tell me I'm not alone?

If I were in charge these “dads” would get no benefits / driving licence / passport until they properly contributed as parents. Might give a few pause for thought before fathering children and then bailing when it gets too much like hard work 🙄.

Summer holiday dread is something completely normal and in my experience the thought of it is worse than the reality. It always helps me to sort out my mental health by making a plan for what we are going to be doing. This can be as simple or as detailed as you like. Then at least you feel like you know what you're doing instead of floundering and toddler tantrums.

One of the things are used to do with my daughter at that age was print off picture showing lists when we were going to the shop. I would laminate them and when we got the item from the shelf she would stick a sticker on the sheet. Or I would do the same for different colour shoes and we would go for a walk round the village and look at the colours of peoples shoes and she would put a sticker on when she spotted one.

Sorry if this is a lame suggestion!

I hear you OP. My twins are 4 now but both disabled - their nursery was open during holidays but they’re now at a specialist school and dreading the summer holidays (although just had a two week half term ans only 4 weeks over summer).

Do you get tax credits? If so that should cover much of increased childcare costs if you can find a childminder.