It's already started

[Haruka]

Oh my.

Day two of the official start to the holiday. Already, I have heard two sets of parents utter the exact same thing to their poor kids. "Can't wait until you're back at school". One this morning, another dad on Friday at pick-up, the literal beginning of the holidays, saying he'll celebrate the day they go back in September.

Yes, I'm being a massive judgey-pants, but the holidays are 6 weeks long and some people can't even stand to be around their kids for a day, let alone the weeks yet to come?

I don't know, it makes me so sad. And while everyone gets annoyed by their kids at some point, you don't openly tell them you wish they were somewhere else?

Pretty sure IANBU, but it's every holiday I hear this kind of thing and every time it gets me.

YANBU Summer holidays should be the highlight of the family year - so much time together -surely that is why people have children in the first place.

I used to say this to mine quite openly but not on the first weekend.

Shocker, kids are annoying and parents enjoy routine.

Even MN has a sponsored thread on "surviving" the holidays, as if the summer is an ordeal, rather than a treat that you spend the rest of the year working towards and waiting for.

They should count themselves lucky that it's 6 weeks and not almost 3 months like other countries.

Really sad is t it.
I mean, we're all allowed to find it tricky, but telling kids they're not welcome in their own house- I couldn't.

I do find it shocking, yes. Why do people have kids if they find them so annoying? Poor kids

It’s pretty bad to say that to them. I don’t expect anyone to love every minute and I’ll probably be relieved not to be trying to juggle everything by September but I wouldn’t say it to my kids

Holiday hasn't started yet but quite a few voices at my kids school have said they're not bothering next week, so on the flipside .... I think some people just complain non stop, about holidays, not holidays about positive people, about negative people, about judging people. But if it makes you happy to put parents down when you literally don't have context fill your boots.

I am probably saying it out loud for real on the last week and as a joke on the first

A well-meaning if extremely naive view.

For some it is. Single parent, no money, kids too young to be home alone, still need to be housed, clothed and fed so parent needs to work. The endless juggle and guilt is not something everyone looks forwards to.

Not surprised.

What I think is worse is 'back to school' advertising. Bus shelter I pass on my way home had one advert on Thursday evening (film I think), Friday evening had H+M advertising 'back to school'.

Maybe there should be a levy on such early advertising (and Christmas ones in October), perhaps it could fund more holiday activities for children.

Couldn't agree more. We are an active family and plan sports for the summer.
The snuggly autumn thread gave me the rage yesterday. Who wants to snuggle their kids under blankets and give them a screen to look at.
Terrible lazy parenting.

Such a shitty thing to do.

I would be careful judging - it's not ideal but you don't know their circumstances.

For me personally, I love the 6 week hols with my son. However, I am in the exceptionally fortunate position that as a teacher, I get the holidays off. I have one, very easy going 9 year old and I am lucky that we have a 2 week holiday booked and I can afford to take him out. We also have lots of safe outdoor space at home. I drive as well so easy to go places.

So, all good for me. However, for families who may not have the money to go anywhere, have to find extra money for lunches usually covered by school, cannot afford a holiday, struggle for transport, have limited or no outside space, struggle for childcare as they have to work or have kids that are more demanding, the holidays will be very, very different.

I can absolutely understand why some parents dread 6 long weeks at home when circumstances mean they can't do much with the kids and have a stressful time organising childcare.

Yabu, it's just a thing people say sometimes, doesn't mean they mean it or don't have good times with their kids. Save the judging for something more substantial than overheard small talk.

I used to love school holidays. But. I was a SAHM so no worries about child care. My children got along and were NT. I had plenty of space, lots of friends, a car and plenty of money. And a loving, supportive partner and mother. And I live near a beach. So yes, school holidays were great. In other circumstances, I would have dreaded them too.

Do you work at all?

The six weeks for me are nightmare of juggling child care topped by one week away at the end.

I'd love the luxury of us all frolicking in the sand and over the hills for six weeks. 🙄

I used to look forward to the holidays when I was a sahm, but now that I'm juggling work around inadequate holiday childcare options, it's a bit of a nightmare. The children are fine, but the circumstances are not. I'm relieved they will be with their father for 2 weeks, meaning I "only" have to cover the remaining 4. (No, he won't help)

I agree it's not right to openly say you don't want your own child around you. But the summer holidays aren't endless fun, either. And in this weather? 😬

I just think its 6 weeks of - 1 week holiday, then 5 weeks of holiday clubs (expensive), the clubs mine go to are not full day clubs and finish mid afternoon so half day holidays are needed, then with cost of living atm it’s difficult to keep them entertained especially if there at the “its boring” stage. But sometimes the thought of the 6 weeks is worse than it is! I quite enjoy the short working weeks due to taking holiday to cover and generally it tends to go quickly. All else fails, invite friends over to entertain each other!

Single parent here, too, and one of mine is quite young. I get that it can be a challenge to juggle it all and be responsible for it all, but at the end of the day we chose to have kids, and I hope most chose them for a good reason.

I can't afford a holiday away. Weather here is shite. But I make the best out of it, my kids are happy and will be well occupied.

It's not a chore.

We haven't even finished school and one dad went off at his kid proper screaming he even got out of the drivers seat opened the van door screamed even more slammed the door got in his seat slammed his door and drove off completely deranged had the whole car park watching him literally ten minutes after school pick up

Ugh, the superiority complex of sporty families.

I don’t have kids. But when I was a child my mum used to get as excited about the summer holidays as us kids did! She still talks now about how much she liked having us at home for the summer.

However, she worked at a playgroup that was only open in term time, so my parents didn’t have to stress about childcare. I can see why parents would want the holidays to be over if they’re having to figure out six weeks of childminding, holiday clubs, grandparent childcare shifts, juggling annual leave etc.