Summer break with the kids - good fun or endurance contest?

[Earlybird]

How are your kids are behaving during the summer holidays? How are you managing the lack of routine/structure, increased freedom, and so much "family time" without the enforced breaks of school ? Are you pleasantly surprised and generally enjoying the time, or gritting your teeth in frustration/anger far too often?

I normally love the holidays but dh has been working from home and driving us all mad - wakes up the kids before 8 and tells them to get on with something, moans at me for not being a laundry queen etc.... he's gone away tonight until Friday for work so we can have some fun now! (Guilt emoticon)

There were 9 weeks to fill. Not sure which week we're now in. I can take about 2 off work so had one off with them and then we've next week too so the rest if hard to fix up. It seems to be going okay. I quite like having them around when I'm working at home.

This week I had my first week without children for an entire week in 22 years. Is that a record because the older 3 children (all now over 18 (just)) stayed out on the first trip with the younger 7 year olds (plus they have a kid's club to use so they've not got them all day)). I just felt I needed a week off and any normal family the father (we divorced 3 years ago) might actually have his children for a week but that's something he doesn't do, holidays, time with the children etc.

I've had a nice week with them, it was great once I lowered my standards and expectations. We've been to the park, a farm, the cinema (didn't go well with both of them but was ok when I just took ds!), my sisters and have done some mooching around at home and some being out, going to the shops, watching films at home, it's been nice. And just as I've got used to it I've got to go back to work again, oh well. I've got another week of the summer holidays off in a couple of weeks time.

I have had a reasonably easy time regarding being with ds2 - he is easy, undemanding company and does not constantly want my attention - very good at playing by himself or rounding up children to play with in parks.

Puttting ds1 into the equation is trouble - those hormones are kicking in big time and added to his chatty, affectionate and attention-liking character I now have lazy, argumentative and moody. He can and does wind ds2 up in 5 seconds flat.

As long as I just do stuff with ds2, no probs - with both sons - hard, hard work.

Tbh, I hardly aken them anywhere as a duo since the holidays began. Ds 1 just doesn't want to come out with us when asked.

Biggest problem is feeling I am growing away from ds1. dh prefers looking after ds1 as being 12, he is more independant. I have tried to talk this through (and ds1 wants me to spend more alone time with him) but its not happening so far.

I have had a reasonably easy time regarding being with ds2 - he is easy, undemanding company and does not constantly want my attention - very good at playing by himself or rounding up children to play with in parks.

Puttting ds1 into the equation is trouble - those hormones are kicking in big time and added to his chatty, affectionate and attention-liking character I now have lazy, argumentative and moody. He can and does wind ds2 up in 5 seconds flat.

As long as I just do stuff with ds2, no probs - with both sons - hard, hard work.

Tbh, I hardly aken them anywhere as a duo since the holidays began. Ds 1 just doesn't want to come out with us when asked.

Biggest problem is feeling I am growing away from ds1. dh prefers looking after ds1 as being 12, he is more independant. I have tried to talk this through (and ds1 wants me to spend more alone time with him) but its not happening so far.

I have had a reasonably easy time regarding being with ds2 - he is easy, undemanding company and does not constantly want my attention - very good at playing by himself or rounding up children to play with in parks.

Puttting ds1 into the equation is trouble - those hormones are kicking in big time and added to his chatty, affectionate and attention-liking character I now have lazy, argumentative and moody. He can and does wind ds2 up in 5 seconds flat.

As long as I just do stuff with ds2, no probs - with both sons - hard, hard work.

Tbh, I hardly aken them anywhere as a duo since the holidays began. Ds 1 just doesn't want to come out with us when asked.

Biggest problem is feeling I am growing away from ds1. dh prefers looking after ds1 as being 12, he is more independant. I have tried to talk this through (and ds1 wants me to spend more alone time with him) but its not happening so far.

I have had a reasonably easy time regarding being with ds2 - he is easy, undemanding company and does not constantly want my attention - very good at playing by himself or rounding up children to play with in parks.

Puttting ds1 into the equation is trouble - those hormones are kicking in big time and added to his chatty, affectionate and attention-liking character I now have lazy, argumentative and moody. He can and does wind ds2 up in 5 seconds flat.

As long as I just do stuff with ds2, no probs - with both sons - hard, hard work.

Tbh, I hardly aken them anywhere as a duo since the holidays began. Ds 1 just doesn't want to come out with us when asked.

Biggest problem is feeling I am growing away from ds1. dh prefers looking after ds1 as being 12, he is more independant. I have tried to talk this through (and ds1 wants me to spend more alone time with him) but its not happening so far.