Kids at twixmas

[parentpanic]

I hate the term twixmas but AIBU to wonder what you're all doing with your children in this period between Christmas and them returning to school?

It's a really shitty period of time, stuck in limbo where its not Christmas anymore but not back to normal either.
We usually spend the time going for walks, visiting family and letting the kids chill and play with new toys.

We went away for a night so two days at the beach etc
We are home. Yesterday we took drive to a place selling half price baubles
I organised wardrobes yesterday afternoon. Dc played. Also football in the garden.
Nothing much. Might bring them to the cinema

I actually love the days between Christmas and New Year. Nothing on my to-do list, nowhere I have to be, children calmer than pre-Christmas, presents to be played with, leftovers to be enjoyed. We go for walks, maybe cook/bake and play games together. We also ignore each other a fair bit, read books, chill.

What I don’t like are the days between New Year and the children going to back to school. By 2nd Jan I am over Christmas and ready to move on.

LivesinLondon2000

Agree this holiday is really different to most school breaks. We also have the usual clubs and activities closed. Tbh though I really quite like it. There's little pressure to do much and the DC are quite happy enjoying Christmas presents, leftover chocolates and watching movies. It's a lot more lazy than usual school breaks.

Mine are older - 18 & 15

The 18 yo should be studying for his A levels but instead is hanging out with his girlfriend and mates. He's happy and having a fab time so although I've the low level worry of not enough work being done, I'm pleased he's enjoying himself.
The 15 yo is waking up extremely late, doing a little revision for GCSEs (not enough) and watching the entire back catalogue of Marvel films with her poor long suffering mother

Visiting friends
Going swimming
Lots of telly and gaming
Using new presents eg waffle maker
Colouring
Theatre trip
Baking
Going to the tip (not exciting but necessary)

I can't get them to go on walks as it's constantly raining and very muddy. I've been on walks though.

Twixmas comes from 'betwixt and between' I think.

Not heard of this phrase but love this time of year as it's the Christmas holidays. It's when I book most things as opposed to doing them in the busy rush up to xmas.

We've done a train ride, show, cinema & visited friends & family.

Pre covid would often have a few days away

Nothing particularly special. They’ve just had all the excitement of Christmas after all.

My daughter is 4, she’s off until the 10th. During this time we are spending time chilling at home, she’s got all her new toys to play with, watching movies together (she’s just started being able to sit through one!), doing bits of cooking she can help with. We’ve been to a playgym for an afternoon, we’ve been to the park with her new bike when it stopped raining. Today we’ll go to an an NYE “party” at a different playgym. She’s also had a sleepover at grandmas and she’ll have another next Tuesday as it’s DH’ birthday (so we’re going out for steak and wine)

plus lots of park trips/playground/swimming. Normal holiday stuff

Just let them enjoy their holiday?

Really not done anything this year. Usually we have a meet up and drinks with mates, but illness has put paid to that. Been on a couple of walks. Kids are pre teen, so we've played games every night and let them stay up to watch films with us.

For those with little kids: you will get to sit on the sofa and read again😁 one day.

Annoyingly we hardly get any down days. From Christmas Eve through to NYD we tend to have commitments. While they're all lovely, I can't even look at another glass of prosecco or cooked turkey.

During the long winter break, it's largely just relaxing.

My 17 year old has mostly been spending it on his computer, but has already completed his course due until the end of January so I'm not going to push it at this time.

The 14 year old spends a couple hours Monday-Thursday revising for the practice exams when she goes back, 12 year old spends about 20 minutes doing some revision work, but otherwise they're dancing around, playing board and card games, watching funny cat and comic videos and video games.

We have our New Year plans for later today and tomorrow, and tentative plans to go to the cinema next week and maybe visiting with friends in the woods, but beyond that it's mainly been relaxing with a few walks, films, gaming together.

DH is working so older DC is on a sports course (skiing). We've also done a play date at a soft play, some walks, some baking and some building of Lego.

Today we're meeting cousins at a great country park with a play area.
Tomorrow a walk round another country park.
2nd I'll take the kids to David Lloyd for a sports class & swimming.
3rd we're going to an indoor water park.
4th we're going for a hill walk.

Back on the 5th.

@NothingIsWrong

I'm treating nits today. Happy NYE!

No clue where they have come from, but I have them as well...

Me too. They love my head. Thought they’d finally gone. But was mistaken. Have used nitwits 3 times in the past 2 weeks since realising they’d gone plus straightening twice (nothing else works). Am going to have to keep this up for 2 months at least. Really pisses me off!

Not a lot!

We usually just relax for a few days, in preparation for family staying over the new year period.

Now they are teenagers, DS2 just enjoys gaming or meeting friends, tonight is the first NYE since DS1 turned 18 - he's off to a party which I expect will get messy not jealous at all

You’re visiting “rellies”???

Never heard the word “twixmas” and hope to never hear “rellies” again.

@TheVolturi

It's a really shitty period of time, stuck in limbo where its not Christmas anymore but not back to normal either. We usually spend the time going for walks, visiting family and letting the kids chill and play with new toys.

What's shitty about that? Sounds a lovely way to spend time

I call it the fag-end of the year. I hate it.

I have fucking COVID although mercifully everyone else here doesn't. So crafts, TV, playing on the console they got for Christmas, some trips out but DH has to take them, some sorting out toys and doing all the other stuff we already beat to death during isolations.

I love twixtmas! I usually manage to take the time off work (like this year) and it's lovely and relaxing. Still feels christmassy but without the frenetic pace of shopping/wrapping, juggling work and drop offs to childminder etc. i usually work long hours (city lawyer).

So far since Christmas day we have done:
Two national trust properties (decorated for Christmas)
Panto
Christmas trail arranged by school (clues in various windows)
Had neighbours round for a drink
Winter Wonderland visit
Visited friends for coffee and cake
Hosted playmate for youngest's best friend
Carried out minor repair on my car
Set up and used my new steam mop (I am thrilled with this!)
Set up and used my new laptop
Set up various toys/gadgets for the children
Caught up on loads of telly/podcasts
Read our new books
Cooked new recipes, helped by youngest
Eldest taught us to play poker and chess
Lazed around a lot! Bloody love this!

Today we're going to the park, running a couple of errands and making gingerbread men, then having a games night and party food.

NYD we're doing another National Trust property. Meeting up with friends on 3rd Jan. Back to work/school on 4th - boo!

Twixmas ? Never heard of it - sounds awful though making me feel irrationally uncomfortable 😬. Anyhow I've mostly been eating and drinking more wine that I should. Get dc back tomorrow thankfully. They've been at their dads since Boxing Day where their step mum has covid. I offered to pick them up early so they weren't stuck in (they've just had covid and already done 10 days inside) but apparently according to exp they aren't doing anything different than they'd normally be doing at his anyway as all they ever do is sit and watch tv or go on phones - fun! I'll take them riding most days til we go back to work/school

Oh forgot online workouts every day (youngest joins in if she feels like it). Gym reopens 2nd Jan so I'll be going that day.
Eldest has been out zooming around on his skateboard.