To be absolutely dreading February half term

[Whatdoesitmatterif]

I know i am being a bit pathetic about this but It's actually making me feel so nervous and sick because I know it's going to be impossibly hard.
the weather will no doubt be shit.
The kids will just fight at any given opportunity if I take my eye of them for a second.
we live in a small flat with no outside space or anything like that.
I have no money to do anything with them, we will be stuck in the flat pretty much the whole time.
i know I need to just build up some resilience and just get on with things like everyone else does and make the best of it but I just want to cry at the thought of trying to entertain everyone for a week, one dc has sen and I'm a single parent so even just going to the park or the shops can be very chaotic when I have to take the children with me.
the February half term is definitely the worst, most miserable one imo!

I'm really not being nasty,but why did you have children if you are dreading time spent with them ?
they are going to pick up on this you know.
negativity attracts more negativity to you.
try to think of the positives of having them with you and enjoying family time together.🌈

Goodness me, there are some right wankers on this post!!

And yes, @KarmaStar , you are being nasty!

Bollocks.

Isn't there just?!

Not rtft but winter holidays are the worst. I have one sen child and I felt really guilty during the Christmas holidays because it was just so hard and cold outside and I’m really lucky as I have a bit to spend on holiday time and access to plenty of outdoor space.
I would contact the council and find out if they could fund some holiday club time for one of your children, it might be easier to get the younger one in. Are there any local charities that help families or sen children.

the biggest hit during the Christmas holidays was the indoor sand pit. I used a tough tray but you could use a large plastic or cardboard box. I didn’t allow water in it to reduce the mess. Mostly the sand swept up even off the carpet.

KarmaStar · Today 18:42

I'm really not being nasty,but why did you have children if you are dreading time spent with them ?
they are going to pick up on this you know.
negativity attracts more negativity to you.
try to think of the positives of having them with you and enjoying family time together.🌈

I am awarding this one Dickhead of the Day 🏆. Extra points awarded for following up the triple bitchiness of "why did you have kids, you are damaging your kids, you bring misfortune on yourself" with some toxic positivity and a smug rainbow. Excellent work.

why say "I'm not being nasty" and then proceed to be nasty? Weird thing to do

I hear you OP (I'm also a single parent and one of my children has some relatively minor SEN - your point about even the basics of popping to the supermarket being a stress really resonated for me!).

I work FT, 5 weeks holiday a year and I never, ever take Feb half term off. Not for a moment suggesting this is your solution - there are ups and downs to either structure and tbh mostly we either can't afford to work FT or can't afford not to, so it's not a choice anyway - but while I feel hideously jealous of parents who get all of Easter, May, summer, Oct with their kids, I feel completely differently about this one. It's stressful and miserable with no money and in this weather.

I hope it exceeds your expectations.

February half term is brutal if you're poor, single and don't meet the extremely low threshold for free school meals which gets you holiday activities too. Finding others in a similar situation is the only way out but can also be difficult if you live in a tough area with drug dealers about

There are some utter dicks responding. I can’t believe another parent of an SEN kid would kick another one when they’re down and I’m choosing to believe that the dick posters are trolls and don’t actually have kids with SEN.

Anyway OP i totally get it. I have a 4 year old and an autistic older child. We have lovely times but it is very hard to get out on my own with them for so many reasons which I know you will understand.

I can’t think of much useful help but I get it.

Feb half term definitely takes the last of your reserve strength to get through! OP can you do a Harry Potter marathon on the telly in the front room maybe with a bit of homemade popcorn and dens made from seat cushion that could wipe out a day for you, I think its on Nowtv and they used to do a free 7 day trial??

Clearly you know absolutely zero about children with additional needs and disabilities.

Quite

I few years ago when mine were small I did a massive brainstorm of holiday activities and made a list if local free and cheap activities. I was in mat leave over the 6 week summer holiday and had weeks to fill. I still refer to it now they are older. It was a list of local parks, outdoor spaces, museums, libraries as well as things to do in the house and garden. You need to take an hour this evening to get a list together of options, use local parenting fb pages for inspiration. Maybe cash in some clubcard vouchers or something for a day trip. I'm spending my clubcard vouchers on a family railcard this year so we can visit some new spots. Packed lunches are your friend too - it's an activity in itself and minimal cleaning up afterwards.

Or else I actually do, but it's easier to make excuses than try hard enough to overcome difficulties.

I also never take leave in February. I'm lucky to have family who help out but I save my annual leave for the summer.

Carpet picnic, get kids involved making some food, sandwiches, fairy cakes, sausage rolls (ready made pastry, skin some sausages and bake)

treasure hunt, maybe use Pinterest to look for things before the holiday to do with the children, put in folders according to age, type of activity, maybe get kids help plan this (or maybe not if costs is an issue). Use recycling trash to make something, a track for cars (trains) with bridges, tunnels etc, make something new everyday to add to it.

a large sheet over a table to make a den, play party games, make a pass the parcel,

maybe have a nicer thing to do toward the end of the week where it rewards good behaviour etc. definitely try to get out every day for some fresh air, hope your week turns out to be a good one.

@5hj56 I'll ask again, do you have SEN kids?

No SEN here but February half term sucks balls.
Check out your local library for Lego club or similar. Get a plan even if it is popping to a shop or something. Just try to break the day up in chunks if you can.

Remember: you're doing great 😊

Dear me. If you "can't even understand" the issues in the OP, the level of home education you can provide anyone is highly questionable.

These are some good ideas. My two have always loved building dens and 7 day free trials for things are a great idea! As long as you remember to cancel them. I always set a reminder.

We sat down beforehand and drew up a rough schedule of activities that they wanted to do, both at home and outdoors. I made it clear that any fighting/whining/bad behaviour and I would be setting them homework (I am a teacher, have plenty of resources for this haha). I ONCE had to carry it through. Whole morning of homework after bad/whiny behaviour the day before. It never happened again hahahahaha

I hear you OP, single parent to 2 with additional needs. I used to dread school holidays and only take a/l if we were going away. I vividly remember the hopeless misery I felt on the local park on boxing day one year, hating it while trying to stop the kids from running into the road and picturing other 'proper' families cosy at home playing board games.I can only charitably assume that the posters being judgemental dicks have no idea how relentlessly hard work it is to be in your shoes.

If it's any sliver of consolation, it's not just you, and I personally find it easier as mine are getting older. Do what you have to do, have a movie marathon, make a tent in the living room with a sheet and the chairs and camp there one night, drag them out if they behave better in public than alone with you (mine do) or don't if they don't. You will get through it

@DONTMESSWITHMEDARNA you "couldn't cope with seeing them 2-3 hours a day like most households"?

You realise your children don't exist to serve your need to feel smug don't you? Children deserve a balanced and varied life and that includes time apart from their parents to build other supportive relationships. Keeping them at home because you "couldn't cope" without them is selfish.