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

Every September I have visions of Disney mornings

I will get up early the teens will wake when called

A slower breakfast with perfect boiled eggs and conversation on the Today radio topic
and a nice ease into the day
feeling good
no one rushing

that has actually happened in 13 years of schooling (and counting) exactly - nonce!

it’s the hope that kills ya!

The reality
“come on you are going to be late”
”I know”
”no point knowing move now”
”give me a second”
”there are no more seconds move here eat this breakfast bar on way”

”I need a new ruler”
”and you mention it now”

I work in a school and I love the summer holidays but I like getting back to work as well. Like someone up the thread said, it feels more like a new year than January does for me.

Like now for instance we are going into big town to get whatever they need - not much bags, shoes - easy

thought I would get them up earlier to readjust bedtimes

1 hr 2 minutes so far of “I know”

I've worked through the whole summer holidays, as has my husband, save for the 1 week we went away (in the UK). My teens have worked too. I am still feeling the September blues. Needing to have uniforms washed and ready (although only 1 left in school now) rather than being able to take it a bit easier on the laundry. All the hobbies and sports starting back in earnest - sure we've had pre season training, a couple of friendlies and a scout camp over the summer, but it's nothing compared to the regular nightly hobbies and sports, the taxiing around, the remembering of kits and instruments and so on. As a school governor, there's that back in the mix now (although yes I still had some emails and arranging meetings etc in summer hols), as well as other voluntary responsibilities picking back up. Work also picks up a pace as people who took more leave over the summer return and reply, more meetings, events, conferences etc and yes - it's all life and we can't live in the summer the whole time but even as someone who had a very work heavy summer and didn't go away, it was still delicious to go on long dog walks in the evening without having to worry about the weather or dropping kids to sports pitches, or spending evenings after tea reading rather than attending meetings. Bring back the summer!

Lots of sympathy ... I had one like that and mine are twins. Very stressful.

On the plus side, once she left school she thrived and now has a great job, despite missing a lot of school.

I am also gutted the holidays are over. Gives me the ‘there has to be more to life than this’ feeling but unless I win the lottery I need to work. Maybe I should actually buy a ticket for tonight….

DD1 likes to hit me with the ‘Can I have a packed lunch?’ at 8:30am. ‘But you pinky promised I could last week!’

Totally agree OP life shouldn’t be like this, we’ve got it all wrong 😒 I think you’ve just got to find the nice bits in the everyday and appreciate those even lovelier bits when you can ☺️

I've worked through as normal, so I don't really feel the loss, as I don't have young children anymore, but I remember those days! It's like we're suddenly plunged into autumn, even if the weather is still OK.

The only thing I would say is, I'm really surprised that (some) schools have a staggered return after summer. What's that about? My sister (London) says her kids (13 and 15) go back for a few hours on the first day back, and then this gradually increases over the week. We went back on the first day after summer, and had to just get on with it! No one gave a crap if we were upset about it!

I think i would like to change jobs but don't think i could earn enough doing anything else that wasn't so pressured as my job. At least i'm finding it very stressful & feel there should be more to life.

When the kids were little (6 and 9) the summer holidays were long and so hard. The kids got fed up with each other and bored and I’d be exhausted with work. By the end of the summer I’d be counting down the days. Now they are older it’s just lovely and I’ll miss it. Just putting that out there in case there are parents of younger children feeling a bit shit on reading all of this…

It’s our first summer holiday and I’ve enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. We did a mix of seeing family, time off, clubs and it’s worked well. Like you OP, I’ve loved the slower and calmer pace. I’m not looking forward to the early starts at all!! I’m sure this will be very different with 2 at home, but this year has been lovely.

Just wanted to say how lovely reading about a family who get on so well. I know that doesn’t solve your issue but it’s a wonderful change to all the dysfunctional set ups out there (obviously it’s distorted by the fact that people tend to post when they have a problem and so many happy people won’t start threads!).

SAHM here, I hate the kids going back to school.

Sorry - ive had them off for TWO MONTHS - i need them to go back. 😂

Me too. Its has been lovely being more relaxed, but i am looking forward to having some structure to our days/ weeks again.

I’m glad the brats are back to school so I can go out and about without crowds everywhere. I hate school holidays

I’m usually ready to get back into the routine again but I’m back at work today (from home with dc still in bed - restarting my laptop for updates as I mumsnet). I loved just hanging with my dc. We didn’t even go away this year, we did great day trips and sorted life admin, but I loved it. I generally enjoy my job but feels like we’re back on the daily trudge until Christmas now. Dc are teens so summer holidays are running out so maybe that’s changed my perspective.

You were one once yourself, you know…

My “brats” aren’t back at school for another week so you probably best stay home a bit longer 🙄

It’s been a funny summer here as my kids are both older. DH and I had our first 2 week holiday without them which was lovely but not restful in any way as we were travelling every other day (but we didn’t fall out so that’s a bonus). DS went on his first holiday with his mates ave came back alive and DD went travelling for a month. DD is back to uni for her final year this week and DS is moving abroad for a gap year job so from November we are on our own which is by turns filling me with both joy and horror. I’m proud the kids are getting on with their lives but also suddenly feeling a bit old.

No children here but DH and I have both been off for two weeks and it’s been lovely!

Both back at work today but it’s actually quite nice to get back into routine - and as a dog walker it’s been especially nice to see all the dogs again!

Totally agree. Some retired people #notallretirees are a case in point. Aimless. Bored. No focus. I don't think it's the amount of free time they have. It's that when you work, your free time becomes a lot more valuable. When it's all you have, it's just how life is. Bit like Christmas everyday (if you like Christmas). Or living in a fab place abroad where you've holidayed having the shine taken off when you live there (been there, done that. Disappointing!).

Thanks, will do 😀