To feel guilty that we didn't do anything all summer?

[aquaforti]

Eldest DS was admitted to hospital, the day after he finished school for the summer, and he stayed in hospital for the whole summer, only being discharged a few days ago.

My younger DCs (10 and 8) had been staying with different family members. They go back to school on Thursday.

I just feel so guilty that we haven't done anything all summer

I'm feeling very guilty too! I've had to work lots and my dd has been with her dad, the weather hasn't been great and we haven't done much. Previous holidays have been jam packed and fun but not this one. Feel like a bad mum to be honest !

I think you have pretty good reason to have not done anything. I hope your ds is ok now. There will be other holidays.

Gosh, OP, you really don't need to feel guilty. Sounds like you have had lots on your plate with eldest dc in hospital. I'm sure that your dc have had lots of fun staying with relatives. And sometimes having some downtime just to chill and do their own thing does kids the world of good.

Hope your eldest is better now.

Unless you made your ds ill so he ended up in hospital
They why feel guilty?
If people ask about your summer
You say
"Unfortunately ds was ill and in hospital for 6 weeks but other dc were able to haVe a nice time with relatives "
Will elicit sympathy and empathy

Not "you wicked parent"

Please don’t feel guilty. Your children were with relatives and I’m sure they made sure they had a good time. I’m glad your DS is out of hospital now, hope he continues to improve.

You can only ever do the best with the circumstances you are in and they are particularly difficult circumstances. I hope he's recovering well.

Lots of people have had an odd, curtailed summer for a multitude of reasons anyway.

We've done less than usual as DS1 has labyrinthitis so regularly feels dizzy, sick and tired. Plus just a general dose of life 2021.

It’s life. Stuff comes up and plans change. Sounds like your younger two were perfectly fine at family members houses and you can all go something another holiday when everyone is better

Please don't feel guilty!!! You have done well to hold up under such difficult circumstances. I bet your dc had fun staying with different people and no doubt were well looked after! There will be plenty more school holidays to make up for it. Take care

I've done sweet FA - again - and I don't have a kid in hospital. Don't be hard on yourself. I've been working for my kids' dad for extra cash at least two days a week and throwing seventy quid a week at a driving instructor who is too nice to tell me I'm unteachable. In an automatic, ffs. I've managed a couple of Pizza Express visits; a trip to a wildlife park; a couple of FlipOut sessions. No trips to London; haven't even been to the seaside :( My middle child has a party in a gaming bus next week, which is two hundred quid before food and party bags, and I only managed that because I've got filthy and been exhausted in a prep kitchen.

Life is hard.

We had some modest plans. Covid ruined them all. We have done nothing and the summer has been very boring. I don't think many kids will have stories to tell about their summer fun this year.

I think the pressure to have a jam packed summer isn't great for anyone. When I was their age I really relished the time to just kick back and have loads of unstructured time and play, they have probably had a fine summer. I try to give my children the same experience, especially after the strain of the last 18 months... and they are actually really very happy and relaxed after weeks of just pottering, rediscovering old toys etc. seeing the odd friend and family.