To feel exhausted after only 3 of the 6 week holiday

[DoubleEspressoForMe]

I see so many negative posts about parents struggling through the school holidays, so a bit reticent about posting this. But I am really struggling trying to balance a busy period in a full time job and juggling school holiday care. The nearly 7 week holiday came on the back of a number of successive weeks of inset days, sports days, reading days books days etc etc and 2 inset days at the beginning of the next term. I'm absolutely shattered filling the days with activities and work, and the evenings with more work and house work. I’m just looking tohear from other people who are in the same boat. I'd like to clarify I dont hate looking after my child. I'm actually just struggling to juggle the whole lot.

Yes, I’m considering booking a day off once the kids go back to school just to recover to be honest. It’s fine when I’m off work but trying to work while juggling the different routines of holiday clubs, family helping, the heat and all the food that seems to be consumed is a lot

Hi OP, no words of advice sadly but I 100% relate to this. It’s hard and I’m struggling, but just trying to take it a week at a time. Also struggling with the guilt of not being with my daughter everyday to do fun summer activities, but trying to make the most of my annual leave days and weekends. It’s the mental load I’m finding the most difficult, planning everything etc. Hope you are able to find some joy in the next few weeks and not too much stress x

Get proper childcare in place so you are organised and it stops the stress.

Yep I feel you. I've got a 4 year old and a small baby. Very guilty for not enjoying every minute but a bit frazzled.

I've got 4 year old in club for half the day today for the first time and he's going to do some more half days. Also using the kindness of grandparents!

Think you need formal
Childcare as much as this is expensive it seems very tricky for you to work and provide childcare. Is the father doing the same?

Urgh not looking forward to my future of this.

YANBU to feel exhausted by it, it's hard, you feel guilty, but what can you do? The amount of holiday that someone working gets vs. the number of days that DC are on school holidays is vastly unequal and the cost of holiday clubs and entertainment is ruinous. The long summer holiday was designed for DC to help with the harvest, which is hardly relevant now with many families needing both DPs to work FT to make ends meet. I don't think it will ever change, but I'm sure this inequality is contributing to families deciding not to have DC or to have fewer DC. Who the hell can afford it and manage to juggle it nowadays? The wealthy and those supported by the state - for everyone in the middle it's really hard.

Trying to juggle a full time job at the same time must be very difficult. I’m on mat leave with three of them at home with me and still struggling a lot, I can’t imagine it next year when I’ll be back working.

My plan next year is to use a mix of annual leave, holiday clubs, childcare in place for work days.

Just take it one week at a time, we’re half way through OP! I feel very guilty I’m not getting out and about enough with mine but with a 5 year old, a 2 year old who epitomises the terrible twos and a newborn sometimes it’s just too much taking them all out by myself. Try to take the pressure off and make some activities very low input, so movie night with popcorn, setting up a game outside for them in the garden so they’re getting fresh air - it depends on the age of the children but definitely cut yourself some slack, you’ve got a lot on your plate.

@oustedbymymate I'm not working at the same time. I have childcare in place for the first three days of the week and am trying to cram a lot of my work into those days. I then am taking leave on the Thursday and Friday. The issue is that I have a heck of a lot on at work, so I'm ending up catching up most days in the evening after bedtime just to keep up, despite taking leave. I'm a single Mum, so any more childcare on top of this is not feasible.