To be annoyed at 'hope you had a great 1/2 term'

[jacketBandC]

Like most full time working parents I work most of the school holidays.
I've done it for years. I am also a lone parent. I have struggled with it. It is how it is and I get on with it.

Book club - 6 women. 3 work full or nearly full time, 2 work term-time, 1 home educating.
Every sodding school holiday we get a "phew...made it to the end of half term/term...can't wait for some time off" from one of the term-term workers.

My sister who KNOWS my situation was "Oh lucky you getting 2 weeks for 1/2 term".

I've had 2 emails from school today saying they hope I had a lovely 1/2 term.

Actually, I had one day off which was nice. The rest of it was just more juggling than usual, so nothing lovely really.

Lovely post @WombatChocolate I think we could all do with that wisdom sometimes.

Oh get over yourself. No one gives a shit whether you had a good half term or not. It’s just making conversation.

Jesus lighten up op. I work in retail and customers are forever telling me to "have a nice weekend". I work in a shop. We have no weekend. I just smile and nod though because these things are just pleasantries.

Crikey OP, it's not all about you. These are generic sayings/ greetings that most people come out with just to make the day pass.
Don't be looking to take offence where there is none.

I think it is unreasonable to be annoyed at a fairly innocuous question that we all ask.

However, what I DO find annoying is the look of judgement if your answer is anything other than "We had an amazing time, visited five countries, DS learned a new language and DD raised a fortune for charity".

My rather awkward "It was nice, I had to work, we didn't go away" puts an end to the conversation as if I'd told them I'd sent my DCs up chimneys to work.

You are being far too sensitive OP. I had all of half term off. Was it nice? Was it fuck. Kids argued, we all had colds, dog was unwell, went on walks, got covered in mud, went everywhere. But when the teachers say nice half term? I say lovely thanks.

No one actually cares. It’s idle chitchat.

So, nobody is allowed to talk about their personal working circumstances in case it offends you?

I understand your frustration because I also work full-time, study full-time, juggle 3 kids, and 3 dogs, and a poorly husband. I do not resent other people for being happy. I am glad that other people get to enjoy life, I am glad that there is a chance of happiness in this world. Even while I am clinically depressed I would not for 1 second see everything as an attack, insult, or pity party.

I think you’re being far too over-sensitive here. I had one day off during half term but it was still much more chilled than school and the kids loved Halloween.

Wow OP, I can't believe SO MANY people are completely misunderstanding your post, despite it being perfectly clear.

For those who need to go back to school to improve their reading comprehension, OP isn't begrudging anyone else enjoying their half term, just annoyed about people weirdly assuming that working parents automatically spend half term chilling out and spending quality time with their kids.

I think I've probably been guilty of this myself in the past, and your post has made me think.

On the other hand, some working parents do manage to take half term off, or some of it, (obviously not each one, otherwise you'd have no leave left), but it's not completely out of the question that you might have taken more than one day off, so you could just choose to view it as the pleasant enquiry that it is: "did you manage to take any time off this half term?"

And if the answer's no, well then just say: "not really, I was working every day, so it was like a normal week, just with more stress over childcare arrangements. Otherwise people will never stop making those assumptions.

😆

yeah, we got it

i love it when a poster strides in like @Cookiesandcream1989 talking indignant nonsense

As a single working parent I get it. But also - lighten up for goodness sake! It might he inconsiderate but at least they're trying to be cheerful.

*be

You might have got it (I can't be bothered to go and see what you said), but all the people accusing OP of being annoyed at other people for having a nice half term themselves/talking about their own lives absolutely did not understand it 😂Nice try though 😊

again
yes… they do 😆

Lol. Assuming this is a joke. Honestly if serious you'd give the school a laugh anyway!

You do realise that none of these people actually care? It's just small talk!

OP - but isn't it a bit nicer not having to do the school run every day? And your kids got to other fun activities rather than school?

Is that not nice?

Good for you @jacketBandC , for being able to provide for your 2 sons - from a fellow lone parent doing and paying for it all.

The parents at DD's school are all working parents and just relieved to have no school run for a week or 2..
It gets easier -

Honestly, I think it is just that it is a change in routine. So yes, I would ask someone who worked over Christmas if they had a nice Christmas, because they still had Christmas in whatever form it took. Likewise your half term.

AL is all the same. If I take 2 weeks in a row in the summer that leaves me n days for the rest of the year.
If you take 2 days here and there you'll have more mini breaks, but no long break. I don't understand what you're saying.

Again, I am not complaining about people having a nice term, I am annoyed at the assumption I had 1/2 term off (but I get it...I'm being over sensitive...don't all start again).

by one person who forgot you weren’t term time!

Op, it’s just a conversation starter. A bit like did you have a nice weekend first thing on a Monday morning 🙄
Nobody really cares if you had a good half term or weekend.

Fuck me, no one can say anything anymore can they!

Oh god - that irritated the fuck out of me. I have never worked so hard as Imdid during the periods others were sourdough-ing/learning Chinese furlough periods