AIBU to dread next week - half term?

[claritita]

Any ideas for a calm, bicker-free week for me and my 5 and 7-year-old? Rain and freezing weather conditions means we'll probably be inside all week and I think I might go bonkers! Short of hopping over to the Caribbean, what can we do to stay sane?

I recommend working full time so you never have to deal with a half term!

Xenia ...why am i not surprised....

I have acutally booke 2 days off and the kids are gutted because they cant go to kids club

They will enjoy half term with me!!!!!

well you do xenia, if you don't have childcare for the school hols !!

Ria, 19 quid for a bit of cardboard!!!

they are very good scamp

I do work full time ! Although as a teacher I know I am on shaky ground here

I love the school break!
I do prepare meticulously though and already have 3 visits from friends planned plus 3 days out!

MrsMattie... sorry, I thought it was about what the children would enjoy doing, not us!! That's far easier.... spa, champagne, chocolate... SLEEP!!....

Scampadoodle...About the soft play, they do vary greatly, the one near us is brilliant for older kids too... but there's another one that even the 3 year old has almost outgrown Definitely wont be planning to be out everyday, in fact probably wont really 'plan' it at all... just take it as we fancy.

Lizziemun - you have my sympathy - I just looked to see where you lived... unfortunately too far away to organise a day at ours!! (London!!) Sorry...

Bran - 2 weeks...Feb half term - wow... You sound like a great Mum, will remember the obstacle course!! he was tired enough to sit and watch a dvd for an hour while I went to the gym - does he not mind being left at home alone when you go to the gym??

JUST KIDDING!!!! After the other thread today (about leaving a 9 year old at home) it's just the way it sounded!! LOL

LEM... guess I'm lucky. LO (3) lives in 'Fairy/Barbie/MamaMia land' so as long as you can stand the place looking 'enchanted' meets 'mama mia' she's quite happy to amuse herself for hours - well, so long as the 22 month old doesn't keep 'spoiling everything!!' LOL

RIA -double dose of valium then... was that intentional or just accidental?? Can you change it?? Arghhhhhhhhhh

MuchLessTiredNow - how did you become 'less tired'?? Would love to achieve that too!!!

Ria - that looks great!! Will leave it for a little bit though as the LO will only spend 5 mins scribbling on it then it will be 'done' Probably be good for next Feb half term though when she's a little bit older.

Xenia - lovely honest post!!

StoppinAtTwo - LOL - they WILL enjoy their days with you... they WILL - LOL you can't win can you!

Xenia

I agree. Work full time and send your kids to holiday club.

I'll recommend Butlins on a day pass to anyone, particularly with smaller kids, £20 for 4 people (2 adults, 2 kids I think) but you have the pools, the rides, the entertainment (just rememeber to take a picnic, so you don't pay and arm and a leg for food)

I don't know if yabu - I don't know your childrnd.

I've always loved school holidays with the kids.

Hmm, my favourite bit of holidays is the fact that I have an excuse not to be working (am self employed, so can at least partly squidge work into either side of half term with a bit of judicious panicking).
My real sympathy lies with RiaParkinson and her builders. I would happily take dd and all of her classmates on over the holiday rather than deal with builders!
I'm hoping for slightly warmer weather so that I can recruit some friends for dd and then throw them all out to play in the haybarn .

claritita i remember dreading it when my older ones were yours ages

its fits and starts - some ages are easier so dont feel bad about replies on here

just think about the sigh of relief when it is over!

I can't wait for hols, as no mad morning rush.

I usually play it by ear and ask kid=s what they want to do.

So far suggestions are:

day out to London
Museums in Liverpool and Manchester
Puddle walking
PJ day
Home cinema (close all curtains and watch DVD)
Walk in Forest (dependent on weather)
meet with friends
Borders (do activites twice a day all week for free)
Check local authority website for what's going on, as usually have some subsidised activities
swimming
tent building at home with old blankets and have picnic in it
the zoo (have membership)
playbarns.
Have Cheshire Oaks near us with indoor play park which is free.
the list goes on.

obviiously can't do all these, but if know what's on around us can pick each day

chipping in how can you look where people live etc on this website,still trying tofind my way around

I will confess it here and now that I take my DDs to MacDonalds as a holiday treat.
The cinema is a horrible bus journey away and just the thought of standing at the bus stop in the rain puts me off.
I like the valium when baking. I do find it a constant series of aaaaargh moments.
Where can I get some valium?

stewie great! are you in scotland?

flymetodunoon

forget the valium

get dd to stir the bowl once and do the rest yourself!

if stewie isn't in scotland then I will be most concerned at yet more expenditure on promoting a dying language across the whole of the uk

i am really looking forward to spending time with ds 7 as i ignore him most of the time when im on the computer.

am trying to force myself not to turn it on when we get at home from school.

hes struggling at school so i need to do more sounds and key words with him. so half term wil be spent doing lots of that.

i have booked a day to take him and two friends to sounthend funfair. will buy them a wristband each and let them go on all rides all day.

also have merlin passes so will go london eye and aquarium.

not sure if i'd ever not want it to happen though. if anything he/me can do with the rest.

MrsPurple - just click on their name and there you go There are a lot of people (like me) who haven't filled in their profile pages though. I live in a small village, lots of people MN and am trying to stay anonymous