Character building?? Holiday clubs

[Dreamersdontdie]

Having a mum guilt wobble.
I've just started a new job/ course/ career change and as a result the kids are doing a lot of weeks of holiday clubs this year. I've signed them up to an outdoors one and obviously this year the weather is atrocious.
My friends kids are having lots of days inside, watching films, playing with toys. I thought there would be loads of talk about day trips but the weather has sort of put paid to that.
Maybe they feel guilty too but this sort of forced out the house at 8, back at 6, out in all weathers feels really hard on them. Usually I'd be able to take a few weeks off or they'd go to relatives or their dads but it's not really worked that way this year.

Just worried they're going to resent me for it :(

I have the opposite worry! We have been stuck inside for ages playing toys, doing craft and watching movies. I feel guilty we haven't done anything exciting and that the kids haven't been anywhere.

I wouldn't say it's "character building" but I wouldn't say it's in any way damaging either. They'll be fine.

I work TTO so my kids get all school holidays with me, but the flip side is I can't attend events in term time like prize giving or sports days. It's not ideal, but they accept it. I would say don't make a big thing of it and the kids won't see it as a big deal either.

Absolutely do not feel guilty. I talk to my grown up kids about this now - the guilt of holiday clubs and after school club - and they look at me with confusion because they have the best memories of times they spent doing sports or crafts or just messing about with a new set of mates. For me, I just remember the stress of trying to get them to and from the venue in rush hour traffic, outside of work hours, while juggling pack lunches and swimming kits, but they'd come home happy and tired every night.

When they get past the holiday club stage and you can't even crow bar them out of bed during the holidays, you'll feel grateful you found something fun and active for them to do while they were still little enough!

Have you actually spoken to then about it? What have they said? My kids don't seem to mind getting wet.

I would have been much more bothered when my DC were younger if they had spent the day inside. As long as they have good waterproof jackets they will be fine. I used to get the holiday club guilt but my now adult children fully understand that it was necessary.

@DinoDaddy that sounds lovely, I'm pretty sure no kid will ever turn around and say that playing with toys was a waste of their childhood.

Don't feel guilty, you don't have a choice! As a lone parent for years I did this to myself too but had no choice so loads of clubs and holiday camps. My DD14 is fine, and I think the more kids they meet outside of school via clubs and stuff the better.

She still loves doing tennis camp in the holidays so overtime they will whittle it down to the ones they really like.

Good luck in the new job/course!

I think we all have these wobbles whatever we do! I was so worried about my kids doing a full week of sports activity club in case it was too tiring (and worrying without them not knowing anyone) but they have loved it so far.

If you're worried about them doing too much with all the clubs then keep summer weekends quiet, chill out together at home then.

Can you switch the club to an inside option?

Don't feel bad. My 9 year old moans sometimes about going to holiday club because she's not a morning person but now she's older I let her have the odd day off if we're both WFH and guess what she moans that she's bored and wants to go to club!

I expect there is a hall or something for indoor sport so they aren't getting soaked outside for hours on end?