Teacher Mom | Mumsnet

JillMW · 30/05/2025 18:11

Camp at the beach for the summer. Swim, surf, belly board, unicycle, juggle, braid hair, collect sea glass, sing, talk, make friends.

JillMW · 30/05/2025 18:12

Camp at the beach for the summer. Swim, surf, belly board, unicycle, juggle, braid hair, collect sea glass, sing, talk, make friends.

Littlejellyuk · 30/05/2025 18:19

How is your daughter OP?

Mememe9898 · 30/05/2025 18:21

How old is she?
Playground, Lake, National trust if you have a yearly membership so save money in the long run and bring a packed lunch as the cafe is very expensive.

Bbq1 · 30/05/2025 18:23

Mememe9898 · 30/05/2025 18:21

How old is she?
Playground, Lake, National trust if you have a yearly membership so save money in the long run and bring a packed lunch as the cafe is very expensive.

She's in the USA

Bbq1 · 30/05/2025 18:24

Bbq1 · 30/05/2025 18:23

She's in the USA

Show quote history

Sorry FROM the US

ColinCaterpillarsNo1Fan · 30/05/2025 18:25

What's your husband doing with his daughter over the summer? Does he not use his annual leave to spend time with his family over the summer? Surely it shouldn't all fall to you to occupy your child?

I used to break up the summer with holiday camps, visit to grandparents, day trips, play dates, sleep overs & down time.

Winter2020 · 30/05/2025 18:26

Can you get an annual pass to somewhere like a Lido, or zoo and go a lot?

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 30/05/2025 18:28

She is very spirited and strong willed.

this is clearly code for “a pain in the arse”. I would spend the summer teaching her how to be bored. Boredom and the ability to create your own entertainment are important
skills. You acknowledge she is spoilt and treats you like her personal assistant. Stop it now! Future you will thank yourself.

Smartiepants79 · 30/05/2025 18:35

How old?
What is near to you?
What input does her father have?
Mine have always had a mix of lazy days at home- pjs till we feel like getting dressed, maybe a bit more tv than usual, baking, crafts, board games, dressing up, putting on shows, just pootling about doing their own things. They used to make a jar of activities and pick stuff out if they wanted to.
The we’d have activity days. Park, cinema, bowling, picnics, visiting friends or family, swimming, splash park, library, shopping……we’d do these once or twice a week depending on costs and budget.

Smartiepants79 · 30/05/2025 18:37

I would also agree that you possibly need to start dealing with her differently.
Would you let the kids you teach speak to you the why she does? Or allow them to behave the way she does? If not, you’ve got a problem.

Littlebassist · 30/05/2025 18:40

Another post said this, but I’ll say it too - let her be bored! It’s not your job to provide entertainment around the clock, I know I was never “entertained” as a child during the holidays, you’ve gotta learn to make your own fun! Plan some things, of course, we’re not living in the Dickensian era, but when you’ve planned a basic itinerary then let her decide how she wants to spend her time. Get crafting, teach her how to cook, or let her experiment in the kitchen if she’s old enough. Let her take care of the pets (if you have any) or practise a musical instrument, or play some games together - see what she wants to play and get involved (no matter how banal it all is!) you do not owe your child entertainment, it doesn’t mean you can’t still have a good time though.

MumChp · 30/05/2025 18:41

KTeachMom · 30/05/2025 13:16

I am from the US. I have one daughter, whom I dedicate my life to, and am home with in the summer because I am a teacher. She is very spirited and strong willed. My husband and I are going through our own issues which leave me over weekends, I’m switching jobs so I am grieving the loss of my old work family since they gave me support at work and through personal struggles. I’m at a loss of what to do daily with my daughter so we do t get into a funk while not spending money everyday on activities. Every summer it seems as it gets worse. She is spoiled and treats me as her personal assistant. What do other moms out there do in similar situations? Wake and shower before the day, get up and relax, follow a schedule still even through kid is school aged, plan activities for certain days, help! I want her to have the best summer while still keeping my mind

Start to say no and lead the way.
You are in charge. Not your daughter.

How old is she? Activities are often linked to age.

boredoflaundry · 30/05/2025 18:42

Let the child be bored!
don’t force continuous activity, or allow screen time.
you don’t need a continuous program of activity. See what happens!

Moneypennywise · 30/05/2025 19:06

I have one daughter, whom I dedicate my life to

And there lies the problem - if your world revolves around her and she sees that, then of course she’s going to take you for granted and treat you like her PA. Start showing her that you have an identity and that she’s just one part of your life, not the centre of the universe.

Original poster

KTeachMom · 30/05/2025 19:29

I have done, and do all of the above. We have a pool, we cook, read, do math, we have a day trip to the amusement park planned later on in the summer, we go to the park, we play at home, we have lazy days, we run errands, we go for walks, we craft, clean.. as I said, all of the above. I don’t want things to get mundane.

I never said she speaks poorly to me, and I am well aware there are things to work on, however I chose to make her the center of the world, which yes, 7 years ago there isn’t a handbook and each child is different, it was never my intention to create a child who needed me 24/7, aside from school days. I do rebel as though it’s my responsibility to entertain her since she doesn’t have siblings and it really is her and I during the summer.

OP posts:

MumChp · 30/05/2025 19:31

KTeachMom · 30/05/2025 19:29

I have done, and do all of the above. We have a pool, we cook, read, do math, we have a day trip to the amusement park planned later on in the summer, we go to the park, we play at home, we have lazy days, we run errands, we go for walks, we craft, clean.. as I said, all of the above. I don’t want things to get mundane.

I never said she speaks poorly to me, and I am well aware there are things to work on, however I chose to make her the center of the world, which yes, 7 years ago there isn’t a handbook and each child is different, it was never my intention to create a child who needed me 24/7, aside from school days. I do rebel as though it’s my responsibility to entertain her since she doesn’t have siblings and it really is her and I during the summer.

Sounds great to me. Isn't she happy or?

Original poster

KTeachMom · 30/05/2025 19:39

It’s like nothing is good enough. Or maybe that’s the pressure I put on myself. She’s always wanting more or when we play or what have you and then I need to do something like make dinner, laundry and can’t play anymore it’s the end of the world then I feel guilty.

OP posts:

Sherararara · 30/05/2025 19:42

So….she’s 7??

DancefloorAcrobatics · 30/05/2025 19:46

@KTeachMom
I assume she's 7 and an only child. I think she needs to mix with other children. Can you arrange the odd play date for her?
And yes to structuring the days/ weeks a bit. Agree on certain things to do together and others to do individually.

When my DC were little, we had reading hour... basically no screens, and a quiet activity like reading, drawing, puzzles or lego / model building. Obviously I am an avid reader and just wanted some peace & quiet to enjoy my latest book!! 😆
Personally I think reading hour is an important life skill for DC to learn. Our world is soo noisy with entertaiment and instant gratification constantly thrown at us. Focusing on one simple activity at your own pace is very calming and relaxing.

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 30/05/2025 19:49

Occupying yourself is a skill. One you haven’t given her the opportunity to develop yet. Take steps to build the way.

” You go set up the train set/ dolls house / Lego / and I’ll be there in 15 minutes “ then start extending the time.

Children need to be given the opportunity to be bored and find ways to entertain themselves. But it’s hard so they don’t want to. Stick to it, future you will thank you for it.

MumChp · 30/05/2025 19:52

KTeachMom · 30/05/2025 19:39

It’s like nothing is good enough. Or maybe that’s the pressure I put on myself. She’s always wanting more or when we play or what have you and then I need to do something like make dinner, laundry and can’t play anymore it’s the end of the world then I feel guilty.

Ask her to help with laundry and dinner. Life isn't only unicorns.
You need to work on your own expertations not hers.

Original poster

KTeachMom · 30/05/2025 19:55

Yes, I do all of that. Thank you for input!

OP posts:

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 30/05/2025 20:16

I don’t want things to get mundane.

you are setting her up for a whole world of problems in later life. In the main, life is mundane a lot of the time. You seem to equate mundane with boring, or not appropriate. It’s neither of those things!

JillMW · 30/05/2025 20:17

Where are all her friends? Being in a pool at home is nothing like as fun as going with your mum, her friends and the friends kids to the local pool or slip and slide. Having a picnic with your mum probably is mundane but with twenty of you who have met on the beach, all ages playing beach volley ball, cricket, rock pooling and eating cheesy chips is great fun.