Aaargh! 2010 summer holiday setback/dilemma

[sitdownpleasegeorge]

Pants, bum, poo ! I could weep.

I am a meticulous planner of school holiday childcare and have just been reliably informed by a friend that a marvellous outdoorsy type holiday playscheme, that we have both used for several summers now, isn't catering for my youngest's age group this year due to administration delays in re-registering under a new name.

I was relying on this for 2 1/2 weeks of the 2010 summer holidays and now have to re-plan. DH will be all stroppy as he very reluctantly agreed to us booking our family trip abroad round the dates that this holiday camp always operates because I pleaded the children's case that they enjoy it so much.

Oldest will still want to attend but youngest will be very upset (I seriously anticipate tears over it).

Soooooo not looking forward to the hassle of one at one location and the youngest somewhere else, it'll involve a lot of late starts and early finishes to my working days this summer thereby irritating my employers/childless work colleagues and I'll have to make up the time somehow.

(This is without any doubt the best summer holiday childcare scheme run locally)

I'm a forward thinking planner, how did this crappy situation befall me? Woe is me etc etc etc. Can you tell how upset I am ?

What should I do..... should I let the oldest still go even if it causes friction between them or should I register my disappointment with the new organisers by finding (highly likely to be inferior)alternatives for both of them this year until they can both attend again next year.

Have to go to a meeting now and just know I won't be 100% focussed because of this. I'm cursing friend for bad news delivery but at least I know sooner rather than later.

Well DH will need to grow up a bit, I think. Sorry to be harsh but he is lucky to have a forward planning working wife like you, who thought things all the way through to the end, tried to make the best arrangements for your family and is now shouldering all the responsibility of finding a Plan B. Perhaps he could not add to your woes by behaving like a third child? (All said with a wink and a smile I promise - my DH can be a bit like that too - they are supposed to be on OUR team!)

I have to say that I probably wouldn't put older child in. It seems to me that you get the worst of all worlds then. You have one child being sent off unhappy and employer stress. I know that if they are both at some less fun camp you may have 2 complaining kids but they will get used to it, rather than having morning drama from one for the duration and work stress too.

It is also reasonable for them to understand the realities of your work. You have a start time, just like they do at school and you cannot be in two (or 3) places at once. Families are a team and they have to pull together, especially in the holidays.

Is there any chance your friend is wrong? Can you check with organisers before you get too tied up in knots trying to sort it? Give yourself a pat on the back for being a planner too - if this is right there will be plenty of people who will leave it all to the last minute and then have a real panic!

i wouldn't deprive the oldest just because the youngest is unlucky this time round (though I would look carefully at the logistics of having two in different places). As far as the youngest's disappointment is concerned, I am sorry but I would just say ' i can't do the impossible.' Things happen that disappoint children over which you have no control. It's just part of their growing up and of yours and their life.

I would phone the camp organisers before deciding anything, to make sure that it is correct what your friend told you, and ask them if they know of any other camp for younger child.
About your husband being stropy. well I think he should be old enough to deal with it, and if not, make it his responsability to find holday camps for your children next time. I am sure he would be more than happy not to have the responsability, and for you to worry about all the organising.

Thanks for the opinions.

Have phoned camp organisers and it is true.

Still undecided as to whether to send oldest and endure extra stress and hassle, it will mean working Saturday mornings to keep up wth my workload (due to the lost hours trailing to a second playscheme for the youngest and leaving early to do 2 separate location pick-ups).

DH leaves the house early and doesn't get home until late so we can't split the drop offs and pick-ups.

Am madly 'phoning round to get details of other summer holiday schemes. I'll be an expert on local summer holiday childcare options by the end of this week !

I wouldn't try to send oldest. It sounds like all the extra stress re flying around to 2 different drop off points then having to work Saturdays to make up will be just too much. Could well result in a very stressed and grumpy mum which is awful for everyone.

Tell your DCs it is just not possible this year. They will deal with it. They do need to realise that the world does not revolve around them.

Have decided not to send oldest this year and to send them both to a different scheme for a week and a half. Dh and I will each book a few more days of leave from work at separate times to cover the other week.