FED UP with the summer holiday

[emeraldsapphirepearl]

And we’re only a week in.

I remember th days so well, you spend the year from Jan to July counting down the days to when they finish and you can catch your breath, only to start a new countdown to when they go back.

But take my word for it, it’s only a few years and passes quickly. And it IS okay for them to be bored and left to their own devices in the garden or the bedroom or let loose on the dining table with craft kits and activities from Hobbycraft or similar. In fact, it's important for personal growth that boredom and self sufficiency is something they learn to deal with.

Failing that you can take out subscriptions to many streaming services and cancel at the end of the summer - it won’t kill them to veg in front of the telly some days.

husband needs to book himself a hot desk somewhere if he usually works from home. He can't expect the children to stay mute for six weeks.

In an ideal world I’d probably stay in for the morning and do an activity in the afternoon, as they seem to concentrate and play better in the morning. I do this with the three year old in TT and it works well. We have a regular class at 130 on a Wednesday and her swimming lesson is at 11 on a Thursday. I know a lot of people seem to prefer the out in the morning in for the afternoon routine though. As it is I do feel like we need to be out for most of the day: I’m undecided whether it’s more exhausting or not than being in!

He doesn’t, it’s just having him there changes everything, even the children are more difficult with him around even if he isn’t physically there.

Haha I wouldn't go that far. It's replaced my student loan repayments now it's paid back. Still exhausted but really helps having a safe place for kids to swim all morning and wear themselves out.

Mine wouldn’t be able to swim independently (the five year old can but I still need to be on it IYSWIM.)

Is your husband taking any time off over summer?

He hasn’t planned any. He was off last week when we were on holiday but I wouldn’t have thought he’ll take any more.

Oh totally. I can't relax but it breaks up the time and it's good knowing it's time well spent. The 3 year old is a maniac water baby who will bob about for hours.

I do it your way: in for the morning, out after lunch.

We stretch breakfast out. I dick about making pancakes or porridge or something rather than just cereal while my kid is at the table doing an activity book. Then the two of us listen to Yoto Daily while we eat, then do one of those YouTube drawing tutorials followed by some play-doh or a craft to keep us at the table even longer. Then he plays while I take a loooooooong shower. Then I’ll join him for a bit of painful playing together (half hour maximum!!) before we have lunch and head out. Sometimes we take a packed lunch out.

We spend the entire afternoon out and don’t come home until dinner time. That way the dinner-bath-bed routine is quick and painless as he’s well tired out.

I’ve got 3 DC aged 8, 4, and 2, and I’m a teacher so I’m with them every school holidays. I understand what you mean about keeping them entertained but honestly, I still prefer this than having to wake up at the crack of dawn and teaching all day while shipping them all off to their respective childcare arrangements. I love my teaching career but the stress of managing students and my employer/parents and also being a good mum for my kids is extremely overwhelming most of the time.

Speaking of summer holidays, my biggest struggle this summer has been the disparity between the 8-year-old and 2-year-old. Having one in nappies, who still naps, can’t swim or do things independently vs the other who can read, is a strong swimmer, and has very different energy needs, has been a huge challenge. I’ve done my best but I do feel that the 8-year-old has made the most compromises.

3 and 5 is tricky. I imagine it’s endless playgrounds, trips to the swimming pool, and trying to organise play dates (if anyone is actually around and not off on holidays!).

Working at home is great if your circumstances are conducive, but it's not very practical when there are young children around.

Local park constantly, get a trampoline if you have space and make them go out to burn energy on that, don’t be afraid to give them iPads - they won’t die, get some Lego out and let them make a mess because they’re kids… Crafts, baking, check out local museums/art galleries. Many cinemas do preschooler friendly screenings now. I don’t know, some imagination?

I have accepted that I can’t take all three of my kids swimming on my own this summer. It’s impossible to ensure that I’ve got your eye on them all, and stay within close enough proximity. I can’t even manage only the 4 year old and 2 year old at the same time, because the 4 year old is still in arm floaties and swims too far away from me too quickly.

My DH also works from home several days a week, and I’ve managed to sneak out for an hour to take the older two swimming while the toddler naps. But that’s only possible if I’m certain the nap will be consistent and long enough. Otherwise I wait until the weekend when DH is around. I’m sad about it but I figure that next summer will be easier to manage.

Do NOT get a trampoline 😫

Send DH to a cafe with good internet connection if you can afford to

Why? We were mulling it over after an amazing day spent with family who have a huge trampoline in their garden. It was glorious and our kid loved it 😬

We’ve had a trampoline for the best part of three years and they just aren’t that fussed about it. I find generally anything that’s at home quickly loses its appeal. If a friend comes over the trampoline miraculously becomes the most fun thing ever but otherwise it is roundly ignored!

Solidarity!

OP, if your DH WFH makes it more difficult, tell him to go to the office. Then just get loads of people over. That's what I used to do and I was a SAHM to 3 right the way through. Go to people's houses and get friends over. Just try to roll with the mess and invest in some stuff for the garden - like a den or a sandpit or paddling pool or whatever you can fit. Don't they like baking or making dough? Or special milkshakes? Do they still do Mr Frosty? Could they plant some things - or just give them some spades and a jar etc and tell them to look for worms? Or easels and do a paint the cat (or whatever) competition. Do they like singing? Make a video or a 'movie' with them about whatever they like.

This. I try all I can to avoid having my kids at home while DH wfh.

I loved the school holidays. Granted I only have one, and I worked 3 days a week. It was also before WFH nonsense.
We played in the garden, had picnics, met friends, went to the beach, did library and museum visits, went to the park, but we also had days when we did very little as I think kids need to learn to entertain themselves too, just play by themselves.
My bff and I always wanted term time jobs, which sadly never happened.

Understandable

Also OP, I hear you. I have four under six. All our regular groups stop over the summer which means we lose the structure to our weeks.

My ones who are at nursery are there all year round so they’re still going but they’re fuming about it as my school aged ones are on holiday and they’re not.

Having a plan for the day helps. The worst days are the ones where I think oh we will just chill and see how we feel. Always a disaster.

Going out with them is absolutely long and exhausting. But preferable to the alternative of staying in going insane while they destroy the house.

I remember in heatwaves, at that age when we'd spent the weeks's Big Day Out budget, I'd take them to the largest Tesco Extra or similar as it was beautifully cool. Ice creams and I'd get them to choose some picnic stuff..

A trip to the swimming pool always cheered them up and wore them out.

Lunch outside as its always better in the open air. Bikes/trikes round the park.

A cheap paddingling pool, A tent - could even fill with those ball pen balls.
Water gun fights.

There was an appliance shop near us that always had big cardboard boxes, which they love to play in at that age.

Also, if raining (unlikely) but also its probably air conditioned.. if there are any garden centres that have aquariums.. that was always popular.

And by that time they were ready to veg out in front of a children's program, which gave me a chance to breath for a bit.

Audio books if driving.

Extra long bath times with Audio books and toys

They didn't have the patience to do baking or cooking at that age unfortunately, but if you could get them decorating biscuits or similar

Chalk drawings on a paved area.

I'm sure there will be some other suggestions.