To be really dreading half term

[icecreaminspain]

I know I’m going to get a load of YABU, I cherished every moment with mine type replies but I am.

I just really don’t enjoy parenting my two together and so holidays obviously force this situation, Christmas nearly killed me. I don’t need anyone telling me I’m horrible - jus interested if I’m alone in this!

I think when one’s school age and one is pre school that’s a really hard age gap, especially in the winter when the weather’s horrid.

The best thing we did around that age was the “lollipop stick jar” - write down lots of rainy day activities on lollipop sticks, when you’re bored but overwhelmed by trying to think of what to do you just pull one out, I found it helpful when I’d run out of steam.

So for example the stick might say “Build the tallest lego tower” or “draw a picture of your sister” etc, nothing super complicated or that needs a lot of set up.

I also included some “Do your maths workbook” and “Tidy your toys away” kind of jobs

I think it's harder when they are young. I only have 1 child but when he was younger, he needed a lot of entertaining which was hard.

I used to do things like walk to the library in the next village as they had a children's room with colouring and toys alongside the books. So that used to kill a whole morning.

Swimming is good and generally not expensive- again takes a good chunk of time and tires them out.

Wrap up warm and go to the park for a bit of fresh air.

Simple and cheap baking e.g. simple fairy cakes or rice Crispin cakes is a good one.

It does get better - my son is 12 now and it's so much easier as he will arrange to meet up with friends in the village and they will amuse themselves for ages.

I am looking forward to half term as I am a teacher so get the week off and I am currently bone drenchingly exhausted.

Will you also be working or on AL?
February half term is the worst. Bad weather, no money, not much on. I sympathise.

My ds has very wisely kept a few of his Christmas gifts to use now - a Lego set, a puzzle, 2 new books, we planned 2 play dates and a lovely day out. That should cover it for us.

I’m not working. Just have to survive it.

I do have a plan for each day, but it’s never hugely enjoyable having them both together (love spending time with each individually.) We’re managing a trip to the theatre, a visit to a trampoline park, doing the national trust trails and probably soft play or something. But it will just be constant noise and mess and demands and overwhelm and stress and noise noise noise. I love them really. But not together

We have half term this week and all our plans are out the window with the sickness bug.

I didn't get that feeling - but by the time DD2 was in school I worked in education so school holidays were my holidays too. It didn't make every holiday easy, but it was still less stressful spending time with my 2 children instead of 30 children belonging to other people.

The rubbish weather is the reason I don't think a week should be taken from summer holidays and added to October or February. So much easier in the summer when you can make a picnic and go to a park.

As well as the National Trust, it's also worth having a look at libraries and local museums. They sometimes have free activities.

Feb half term is brutal. Weather is usually crap. It’s not Halloween or bonfire night coming up like October and it’s not Christmas either.

hated it with my two.
at least by Easter it’s usually a bit warmer.

Ah yes, all the skint families going skiing this February half term 🙄🤣

I feel like I’ve only just managed to catch up on my workload after all the time off for various school related things I had to take in the run up to Christmas. Finally feel on top of things barely at work and BAM - back to square one with a load of holiday juggling again 😅 I feel frazzled.

This one is bloody brutal due to the crappy weather and still financially recovering from Christmas costs! That's always how I find the February half term anyway. I've found a few free things to do like an author event at the library (but they often do craft things if your kids are younger/like this like that). I also found a canal trust activity which is free. I try to have something on most days even if it's just an hour. Else we all go a bit doolally. Hope you find some things to keep them occupied - it'll soon be spring 🤞 🌱

I hate Feb half term and I’m working so I’ve prepped my DD that this is a nothing holiday. I have her the choice of staying at home while I work or going to holiday club and she chose staying home! I will take her to Primark on the Sat and that’s it. I don’t have enough AL to take time off in all the holidays.

Reflect on what works and what doesn't.

If you don't like noise go to quieter places. Do things you can manage. Do shorter trips. Don't do the stuff you feel you ought to just because. Do the things that work for the whole family.

(Disabled single parent of autistic children)

(Mine liked eating in the car as a treat, easier than taking a picnic from car to elsewhere and they were strapped in or locked in when older!)

Young kids are hard work. They are still in the multiple questions phase, the need to be watched every moment phase but entertained by cheap/free things.

I do think that there is a real turning point where the holidays go from difficult to easier than term time - for me I think it was probably mid primary years onwards. Those early holidays can be really hard going. Plan in some lower pressure time each day - a film at home with popcorn, a soft play where they can play without you and you can have a coffee, maybe something like a forest school holiday club? It really is ok to have a baseline of everyone safe and fed and anything over that is a bonus.

I’m still waiting for that one; the younger one won’t go into soft play without me and watching a film at home with popcorn <hollow laugh> we’re a bit too young for that!

I just don’t enjoy them when they’re together to be honest. It isn’t a reflection on them, I just find it overwhelming and stressful, no matter where we are or what we’re doing.

I get it op - I often felt the same.

Another thing that really helped me out was trying to find play areas that were fully fenced in - some of them were in really obscure areas and our main park was fully open with a river/weir nearby (so stressful). Or teeny, tiny local museums where it is easy to keep track of them.

I am one of four. My mum hated the holidays! She'd look forward to summer break, but after a week of 4 kids around the house would express how she was looking forward to Sept.

I know plenty of parents who are relieved when their kids go back to school, so you're fairly normal OP!

Home cinema afternoon on your worst day, loads of art ‘projects’, bit of baking, see if any relatives can take them for two hours?

I've only got one and I dread half terms too.... the only reason I'm not dreading this one is because we're currently waiting to check in to fly somewhere hot and sunny where I dont have to cook, clean or care about what time he goes to bed or gets up. Thank fuck.

Would they potter about in Waterstones/similar? Our local Waterstones has a lovely children’s area with activities, etc - that was another good wet weather activity. And meeting with friends as much as possible to share the load.

I would love this but I know my two year old would go bananas (she hates shops!)

Tbh though I’m quite good at finding things to do. It’s just very stressful and not enjoyable. I wish it was, hoping it will be when they’re a bit older.

I dread holidays when we're just at home. I work in education so I always get them off, so for that reason my husband saves his annual leave. I end up spending a whole week or two trying to entertain my 6 year old alone and she always wants to do mind numbing things like go to soft play centres.

I much prefer it when we book weekends or weeks away. At least it's a change of scenery and we're actually spending time as a family.

It is the hardest holiday due to the combination of weather and a lot of touristy places still in their winter shut-down season. There is a lot fewer appealing (and low-cost) things to do than in other holidays.

It is needed though. It's not been a long term, but with the lousy weather the kids at school have gone bonkers and everyone is knackered.

Mine used to love a drive to a motorway service station and a Starbucks coin when she got there while I had a coffee. It used to take up a good bit of time while she was stapped in the car unable to run off and if I timed it right she’d nap on the way home. My friend with older children said she did it regularly. I gave it a shot one day in desperation and never looked back:)

Lone parent here, working circa 50 hours next week, excluding commute.

No child care. Begging, borrowing and stealing various play dates where possible.
My 70+ year old parents are doing two days bless them.

All the ferrying to and from (the very gratefully received) locations whilst keeping my commitments is a horribly complex juggle. My work commitments span over a few cities with different site locations.

I am stressed to the limit with work and childcare limitations generally at the moment, infinitely made worse by no school or wrap round next week.

what I would do for a gloomy, boring week hunkered down with the kids at home.