To be fed up of summer holidays

Prettybow · 2025-08-20T11:40:04+00:00

I have young DC aged 1 and 4 so we book all our holidays in term time and off peak because elderly DC is still in preschool and I am on maternity leave. His preschool is term time only and I am finding myself really fed up of this long summer holidays as we already had our holiday in June. I am just so tired of constantly having to find activities to keep them busy and along with that I am just generally feeling quite exhausted and fed up with all these night waking to breastfeed baby. Elder DC is also going through a phase of throwing lots of tantrums and crying over very minor things making me so emotionally exhausted. DH is working as consultant so he hasn't booked any time off in Aug. Is anyone else just fed up of summer holidays at this point.

Original poster

Prettybow · 20/08/2025 13:01

Bump

OP posts:

Comedycook · 20/08/2025 13:02

My DC are older but yanbu...it can be a long slog... hang in there!

SwirlingSea · 20/08/2025 13:06

Sorry you feel like that. It can be a struggle at that age. My dc are older and we love the summer holidays and wish they were longer.
Hopefully the years to come will be different.

Original poster

Prettybow · 20/08/2025 13:10

I meant older DC not elderly, gosh autocorrect

OP posts:

CompSc4542 · 20/08/2025 13:13

Tell me about it, just 3 weeks till schools open!!

Moonnstars · 20/08/2025 13:15

I am with you! Though to be honest in hindsight it was easier when they were younger.
Now all they want to do is spend time on screens and a lot of the free activities people suggest they don't want to do/are too old for.
So if anyone can helpfully suggest activities for 10-11 year olds I would appreciate that!

SwirlingSea · 20/08/2025 13:27

@Moonnstarsat that age, I just tell them too much screen time is ruining their focus and to choose one activity for exercise and one for focus each day.
Give them a choice of a walk, a game of frisbee, a swim, a bike ride, a day/half a day out, or anything else they like.
For their brain and focus, it’s things like a board game, following a recipe, watching a film or documentary, reading, learning something.

Allswellthatendswelll · 20/08/2025 13:30

Yep- doesn't help that the weather has turned and its suddenly freezing. I have similar situation as we had our holidays in June and July. DS 4 and baby DD 4 months.
What has helped is dramatically reducing my expectations. No big trips as I can't face them solo. We do one thing a day and try and be out the house for a morning. We probably watch a bit too much tv but I am trying to keep a lid on it. Then just letting DS play at home with random toys from charity shops and doing playdates has really helped.
Do you have grandparents you could impose upon?
I'm not going to lie it's not been my easiest summer but I've kind of learnt kids need less stimulation then we think.

justbloodyshattered · 20/08/2025 13:32

I’m finding it hard. I’ve got four year old DS with me all the time and his two year old sister most of the time (she does two days a week in nursery which I’m grateful for.) I’m really tired and I just want a day slobbing around!

Original poster

Prettybow · 20/08/2025 13:34

Allswellthatendswelll · 20/08/2025 13:30

Yep- doesn't help that the weather has turned and its suddenly freezing. I have similar situation as we had our holidays in June and July. DS 4 and baby DD 4 months.
What has helped is dramatically reducing my expectations. No big trips as I can't face them solo. We do one thing a day and try and be out the house for a morning. We probably watch a bit too much tv but I am trying to keep a lid on it. Then just letting DS play at home with random toys from charity shops and doing playdates has really helped.
Do you have grandparents you could impose upon?
I'm not going to lie it's not been my easiest summer but I've kind of learnt kids need less stimulation then we think.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I want to take them out in the morning but baby goes for a nap shortly after breakfast unfortunately so DS is stuck at home and the weather's been bit crap where I am. I love them to bits and know this time won't come back but I am just so tired.

OP posts:

SoUncertain · 20/08/2025 13:37

The past three years I was self employed and took on all the holiday childcare for my preschooler. Now I've started a new job, and DH and I are dividing the holidays between us. It's a revelation! It's much better when you aren't doing the whole six weeks as a solid block with no support. Definitely discuss your DH taking on some of the holiday childcare next time.

MumbleJumble123 · 20/08/2025 13:41

I have kids a similar age (1&3) and it’s relentless- especially because the 1 year old has just started walking and she’s into everything (she also shrieks if she’s left in the playpen for even a second).
The one thing I have found helpful is going for walks. The one year old is happy in the pushchair as long as we’re moving and my 3 year old is happy looking at things as long as he can dress like a superhero and chat whilst we’re walking. It’s not exactly relaxing but it is better than being at home!

My son also likes a trip to the library/charity shop for a new toy, art supplies or book. He’ll play by himself for a lot longer if there’s something new.

I think this is the hardest year though. Next year when our babies are 2 they’ll be a lot easier to entertain, able to communicate and can actually get involved in activities rather than just wobbling around causing mayhem and whinging! (I definitely found 1-2 the hardest with DS so I’m hoping DD will start to get easier when she turns two)

Moonnstars · 20/08/2025 13:43

SwirlingSea · 20/08/2025 13:27

@Moonnstarsat that age, I just tell them too much screen time is ruining their focus and to choose one activity for exercise and one for focus each day.
Give them a choice of a walk, a game of frisbee, a swim, a bike ride, a day/half a day out, or anything else they like.
For their brain and focus, it’s things like a board game, following a recipe, watching a film or documentary, reading, learning something.

Thanks we do generally do this. I think we are at that point where it is groundhog day. They read every evening. We try to get out the house at least once a day.
We have done craft, we have baked, we have played board games.
We are done!

SwirlingSea · 20/08/2025 13:43

@Prettybowhow about aiming to do something out every other day instead of every day?
Things that worked well with 4 yr old while dc2 naps were stickers, cutting shapes, books, water play in the kitchen, helping to clean by giving a cloth and wiping cupboards with some vinegar (very useful!) and helping to wash dishes with step at the sink.
Local parks for a bit of a runaround.

WhatNoRaisins · 20/08/2025 13:47

If your 1 year old can't nap on the go then it's really hard to keep the older one happy.

Allswellthatendswelll · 20/08/2025 13:48

Prettybow · 20/08/2025 13:34

Thanks for sharing your experience. I want to take them out in the morning but baby goes for a nap shortly after breakfast unfortunately so DS is stuck at home and the weather's been bit crap where I am. I love them to bits and know this time won't come back but I am just so tired.

Show quote history

Can you get out in the afternoons? Honestly I would go mad if I couldn't get out the house. Do you have friends who could come over to play?

bumblebramble · 20/08/2025 13:52

Prettybow · 20/08/2025 13:10

I meant older DC not elderly, gosh autocorrect

I was picturing a preschooler with a flat cap and a walking stick 😂

My survival strategy for that age and stage was to get outdoors everyday we possibly could. Invest in some rain gear and wellies (if you buy and sell it second hand it only costs pennies when all is said and done) and crucially a peaked cap to keep sun/rain/wind out of their eyes. Get everyone dressed every day regardless (no pyjama days) so that going out didn’t feel insurmountable.

If you can swing it, try and shape the routines to get an afternoon siesta, and earlier mornings and evenings. We fenced off a play area in our living room and I used to nap in there with them in the afternoons.

Could your dh to take over in the evenings, and do dinner and bath time? My friend did this and she would clean and tidy upstairs with her headphones in during dinner, and clean up dinner downstairs while he put the dc to bed. Then they both had grown ups dinner.

justbloodyshattered · 20/08/2025 14:15

MumbleJumble123 · 20/08/2025 13:41

I have kids a similar age (1&3) and it’s relentless- especially because the 1 year old has just started walking and she’s into everything (she also shrieks if she’s left in the playpen for even a second).
The one thing I have found helpful is going for walks. The one year old is happy in the pushchair as long as we’re moving and my 3 year old is happy looking at things as long as he can dress like a superhero and chat whilst we’re walking. It’s not exactly relaxing but it is better than being at home!

My son also likes a trip to the library/charity shop for a new toy, art supplies or book. He’ll play by himself for a lot longer if there’s something new.

I think this is the hardest year though. Next year when our babies are 2 they’ll be a lot easier to entertain, able to communicate and can actually get involved in activities rather than just wobbling around causing mayhem and whinging! (I definitely found 1-2 the hardest with DS so I’m hoping DD will start to get easier when she turns two)

I was you last year and it nearly killed me. If it helps, this year has been a lot easier. It’s still tiring but that’s mostly because DH has been crazy busy at work so I’m doing it all alone! But it’s manageable. Last year I felt like a wrung out flannel all of the time!