Sad we all have to go back to real life

[Whodesignedlifelikethis]

Dh has been lucky this summer and had just over three weeks off (normally has two) I'm fortunate to be off over summer and obviously Dc off school.
Woken up to a quiet house, Dh already gone to work, Dc a bit quiet and just watching tv. We will all be back to work and school by the end of the week.
It hasn't all been perfect, but I've enjoyed the lazy mornings, us all having breakfast in the garden, making plans for the day to do what we like.
Life is so short to spend in the rushed, stressy way we sometimes live, only seeing each other for snatches of time.

I know i'm being totally unrealistic and it's life.
But it's rubbish and I wish we could all spend more time together

It is rubbish, DH worked overseas on and off over a 10 year period and we both had commutes for 20 odd years in the opposite direction to each other. We managed to retire early and I think I have seen him as much this last year as we did over the entire previous decade.

Me too OP. DH has been WFH all summer, DC have been off, this past two weeks we've been on holiday, but today is back to work for me and DH, DS2 is back to school on Thurs and in two weeks' time DS1 will be off to uni. It was our last normal summer with our two DC

I've had a nice summer but I really like September/back to school time. It feels more like a new year than January.

I've been working (PT) so haven't been at home loads but I'm sad it's the back to school time. My eldest is off to uni, then college and school.for the other two. I've loved having them round.

Last day off work for me today. DD is back at school on Thursday. DH has had 2 weeks off and went back to work today, we’ve been on holiday over the summer and had lots of family time. I’m sad summers over but I’m happy to have cooler weather finally.

Nah I’m sorry, I absolutely can’t wait for Friday! I haven’t had complete alone time for months because my eldest finished his GCSEs so has been off since June. I WFH 1-2 days a week and I can’t wait to just have a silent home and be alone.

I totally feel the same. DH works from home and runs his own business so has been able to be flexible with his time. I don’t work so have loved being at home with everyone. Eldest dd has just graduated and has come back home so it’s been really lovely having us all here. I dreading everyone being back on Thursday. Youngest starts high school tomorrow and I feel very wobbly even though I’m being really positive for him.

Been back almost 3 weeks now.

I was a teacher in a secondary school and on the first day back a colleague said to me ‘back to the real world’. I knew there and then that it had to be my last year as a teacher. There had to be something better out there, and there was.

YANBU

I retired at the end of July and it's been really strange. I cannot shake the feeling I am skiving or letting someone down somehow. After 17 years education and 40 years working, it's taken me a MONTH to throw off the stress of simply being allowed to relax.

No wonder people get ill or depressed.

I've spent August with my ds before he goes to uni and it's been lovely.

I know working, having a routine is good for people, and obviously we need to earn a living, and dcs need to be educated, but there should be more time to relax, be together and enjoy the summer.

Those who suggest summer holidays are too long couldn't be more wrong.

What did you do?

We’ve been away for over three weeks now and also don’t want to go back home! It’s been so relaxing.

I’m 50/50. I enjoyed not having to have world war 3 every morning with DS who hates school. I’m frazzled by the 8 weeks they had off too.
DD was back this morning, big smile, excited to see friends, how can two children from the same family be so different. DS has locked himself in his room, so the fight begins. 💪😳

I’ve never had as much time off in my 35 year career so far, except for having 2 babies and they were tough babies and I couldn’t wait to get back to work! Sounds idyllic :)

Both mine are autistic, not looking forward to tomorrow. Ds15 last year as well so he's in a very long summer next year.

Those whose children are grown up and anyone without children will feel a very different feeling from the OP, not that it makes hers any better.

I agree op even though that's not my experience of the school holidays. It's a shame so much of life is set up that we are apart or ships that pass In the night to eachother.

I've got children that have additional needs. Two of them thrive off the school routine and seeing friends so find school holidays difficult. One desperately needs the downtime of the school holidays but also finds the holidays and change of routine really hard. We live in this world where going to school is hard and one can struggle with ebsa. But the school holidays are just as hard 🫠 family time needs to be carefully managed and someone's always unhappy/needs not met. Because of the ebsa I need to be fully flexible and about so my dh has to spend more time at work to earn more because i cant. So we are all just stressed and seeing eachother less. I've often wish we could all live in a center parcs type village and support eachother/other families too.

God me too. Mine has had the best summer of his life post GCSEs. But him partying on Mondays and any night he wishes really needs to stop.

Plus I have a 17 year old DS so between them they eat me out of house and home on a daily basis. I may as well move in to the supermarket…

Everybody needs a routine and I need some peace and quiet.

Im wfh on my own today for the first time since mid July today, schools back, and I am absolutely loving the peace and quiet!

I completely agree. I hate my DS8, primary school. Sadly there is no where else for him to go, but he has been so badly bullied by the teachers, it’s awful.
DS12 is doing much better, but I’m always tired and frazzled by the end of the day, and he isn’t able to regulate himself as easily when he’s at school all day.
I like their clubs and so on, but I really wish the summer holidays started earlier and ended later.
Im already looking forward to 2 weeks in October with no work and the kids having half term, with Halloween at the end.
I hate the school run, it really annoys me; and I hate the early start and need for breakfast stupidly early before school.
ARGH!

You are not being unreasonable at all.

I know it’s awful to say it but I was the happiest, healthiest and most mentally stable during the summer of the covid lockdown. It made me realise that life has been set up in such an appalling way.

I hear you. My 4yo is about to start school 9mo just starting nursery, and I’m back to work from Mat leave in a couple weeks.

I have awful school anxiety and I don’t even go to school.

joys of being a SEN parent

I was on holiday last week so it’s back to work for me today, and back to school for my 5 year old. I think I'm dreading work more than the school run, but I hate both.

I feel this.