To hate the school summer holidays?

[Moofart]

I really, really wish I didn't but I find it so hard. I have three children. Going out anywhere involves an hour of struggling to get their shoes on, to wash faces and get dressed. I feel like I've done a day's work just getting them out the door. There's a daily battle over them wanting ipads to watch teenagers on Youtube talking about Minecraft. I'm trying to get them to go to the park for fresh air and nobody wants to. I'm just a snack bitch and a maid. I feel like I'm on house arrest. Waaaaaaa

How old are they?
From the ages of around 8 to 10 my daughter used to watch a lot of those videos of other people playing computer games etc. But then she starting making her own videos (vlogs).
We didn’t actually post them online.
She would do an activity and basically film and narrate it. It was quite hilarious.
Also would get her outside sometimes so she could ‘vlog’ about a walk to the corner shop.
She did some of the film editing too as she is very into tech.

That's a good idea thank you! I will suggest they make a vlog. They are 10, 7 and 2 (The 2 year old doesn't have an ipad)

I'm in my fifties and as much as we have things easier in many ways than previous generations, I can't help thinking my mum had it easy when me and my 4 siblings would just play out in the street all day, and only knock on the door when the ice cream van turned up

We put an all out ban on you tube. They were not able to regulate their usage. Did this about a year ago. They have so much more interest in other things now and better behaviour. Worth a try?

I have two the same age as the older ones.
They love the playground. I take a towel in case everything went.
Happily play for ages if I take a snack and the exercise calms them down. Once we're out it's easier to then pop to the shops....with incentive scheme such as let's buy something for pudding.

Sorry you feel like this. Do you have anything booked that will give you any ‘me’ time? If you could possibly schedule one thing a week that you look forward to it may help.
Weather permitting, different playgrounds and take picnics are helpful. Sometimes just let them have whatever toys they want at home & don’t worry about the state of the house. Easier said than done I know. Meet up with other friends too.

Thank you very much for your advice everyone. I just managed to get them to the park and feel so much better. Yes I'd love to do a YouTube ban too. I guess I'm avoiding it a little as I know there will be meltdowns! Yes that's a good idea to plan in some me time. I could escape on an evening occasionally. I think it always feels easier when the weather is better as I can throw them in the garden!

@Moofart That sounds like a plan! We’re all with you! Hope the weather improves!!

Mine are 8, 6 and 3 - I feel your pain.

I do think it's harder with more children than you have hands. Sometimes I just cannot be arsed getting them all organised and out the door with the requisite billion snacks and drinks in tow obviously. The weather has been shit and it's expensive to do museums and all that. My youngest won't sit at the cinema but oldest is a bit past soft play and so it ends up a stress.

We went on holiday for a week (I'm in Scotland so they've been off since the end of June) and that was nice but now can't wait for them to go back to school!