To find parenting exhausting in hols?

[bringon2024]

Am I the only one who dreads the school holidays? Let me elaborate on my situation below

I have 2 lovely boys ages almost 6 and also 3 years. The older one has autism and a speech delay. The younger one is NT

My older one can have a meltdown at such small things and due to the speech delay he can't communicate his feelings very well. He is NOT non verbal and he does talk but he talks more like a 3 year old than a 6 year old so basically is getting there and doing so well but can't talk about his feelings very well

I've found the holidays to be somewhat draining. The first week was ok as we had Xmas, Boxing Day with family, we had a couple days out to fun places which they loved but the second week funds were low and we stayed in a lot

I'm constantly feeling down in the dumps and I don't know why. They are not hard children. They are actually very good so why do I feel this way

It’s certainly much harder when it’s cold and wet.

I only have one (4.5) and he's very well behaved but I've found it tough going this week. I think it's just a lot with little to no adult/downtime.

I'm certainly ready for mine to go back, cold wet holidays are definitely the worst. What generally keeps me sain is making lots of plans in advance, if possible with other people. Even a trip to the park is more fun if you go with another family and the kids play together.

My kids are teenagers now...I've always found the school holidays an endurance course... absolutely exhausting. I've always been absolutely thrilled when they go back to school

My teens aren't a problem, it's the 6yo and 8yo. It's been a tough couple of weeks, there's daily meltdowns with the 6yo. Roll on next week when school is back!!!

So I'm not a terrible mum?

If you are, then I think we all are! I don't know anyone who hasn't struggled with the holidays especially this long post-Christmas slog.

Heck no. Not terrible at all. I feel the same. Mine are 11 and 6 and youngest has ASD & delays. I think it takes longer where there's a child like this in the mix, for weekends & hols to feel like a break again. We have had some good fun and a nice rest but I am ready for them to go back now. Its too much. Starting to remind me of lockdown when they were 3 and 8. Gah!

I have always found the holidays with my own three difficult (and often a bit boring). Mostly because of the age gap - 3, 13, 16 currently.
I'd like to say I look forward to when they go back to school, but I'm a bloody primary teacher!! 😆

It’s really hard when they’re so little. It gets a lot easier as they get older.

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I love the bones of them, they are beautiful amazing boys but this week has been rough for me. One goes back to nursery Monday and the other to school on Tuesday so I'll see how it goes afterwards/how I feel etc

Thanks for all the replies so far

also at a guess some parents get their children longer with the holidays so they can fully understand the behaviours etc combined with instead when they are at school, they may only see a percentage of the behaviours as then the school helps with the other behaviours etc ?

Their behaviour is fine?

Yes I really struggle with it, there's an age gap between mine and it's tough entertaining them both together. I feel under pressure to be out doing something everyday and end up spending a fortune and stressing myself out.

I'll be really glad when term starts again and no idea how I'll get through the summer holidays.

Children get very used to their routines (and so do parents) so they find it difficult when things change during the holiday. You definitely aren't alone, I've heard it every holiday year after year, from neighbors to shop employees.
I home educated at that age so term time and holidays were all the same so it's generally more flexible and relaxed, with different activities due to the seasons and weather.

You're not a bad mum.

This is exactly why teachers need the holidays

Oh god yes. In general I find that working is much easier than childcare!! Obviously my girl is my favourite thing in the world, but since having her I’ve discovered how much I love Mondays 😂

I always find school holidays more tiring, I'm a sahm with a toddler and it's much easier when my older child is in school. In the other school holidays there are more drop off activities for my older dc like day camps and workshops to keep them busy. During the Christmas break I've taken them to lots of Christmassy activities but I've had to go along too, so I don't get a breaks. I do feel relieved that we have a ton of indoor activities in easy reach (as we're in London) as the rain and cold has been dreary. Plus there's all the Christmas organising on top. Eldest DC went back on Thursday but it's been hectic catching up with all the jobs I've had to put off until they were back in school.