Who wants to join me for a school holiday fly thread?

[carrotsandcelery]

I am hoping to develop a new routine for the school holidays which gets me through the basics, encourages the dcs to do a bit, and leaves me plenty time to mumsnet play with the dcs.

Anyone who would like to join me please sign in below.

Ideas how to achieve this are also gratefully appreciated.

at carrots.

No school-aged DC but find my summer/holiday "routine" different than term time (don't know why that is -- maybe lack of activities as many run term time only).

Consider me in. I want to get back to Toddler helping me clear up toys at the end of the day.

Hi Scout - I want to get the dcs into helping me get the jobs done too so we can get on with our day. Dd is pretty good tbh but ds needs educated. I think things do change for all parents during the hols, even if their dcs aren't school age. Lots of groups stop and lots of parks etc are busier.

What are you thinking about as a routine Scout?

My daily jobs are:

Dishwasher - load and unload
Washing machine - load and unload
Hang washing
Clean worktops
Ironing
Hoovering
Swishing bathrooms
Feed dogs
Feed guinea pigs
Feed rabbits

I am trying to figure out how to share these jobs out.

Dd can do them all except maybe cleaning the worktops (they are granite so need to be polished so it is not just a wipe over job).

I want it to be fair though so I need to share jobs out amongst the three of us.

What do you think a 7 yo could do effectively?

Not ironing or swishing bathrooms I don't think, or feeding the dogs as one takes daily meds.

How often do the animals get fed? If the dogs are fed 2x a day can DS do the non-med feeding?

Good idea Scout. We have moved to giving Twilight her meds in the morning so will just do a kibble feed at night which ds could do no problem. He can feed the guinea pigs too but I don't know if he could reach the rabbits' bowl (and they can be a bit "eager" so I will leave that one for dd).

Would you move jobs around or stick to the same jobs for the same person every day?

This week it is just ds and me so I was thinking of:

Me:

worktops
ironing
feeding dogs in morning
swishing bathrooms
feed rabbits

Ds:

feed guinea pigs
evening kibble feed of dogs
hoovering?

Together:
load and unload dw
load and unload wm
hang washing

Does that seem fair?

We will also have to cook every day which I thought we could do together most of the time and walk the dogs which we have to do together even if he makes a huge fuss about it.

What are toddlers jobs going to be?

Well, my goal is to reclaim my kitchen by the end of the week, especially the table. If that gets accomplished Toddler's going to move from his high chair (which he really doesn't need but I've been using for ease/convenience) to the proper table. If that happens I want to have Toddler start taking his plate/bowl/cup to the sink (even though he can't put the things in, I want him to start carrying them over to me to put in).

So I'm thinking:
plate/bowl/cup to the sink
cleaning up toys at end of day (or at least trains/tracks and I'll do everything else since it seems to mostly be trains around)
stacking his books by his bed (some go to bed with him he reads before he sleeps but the rest are on the floor by his bed)
help me sweep/hold dustpan

He already:
puts his toothbrush away
puts recycling in the bin outside (he usually carries one or two things for me while I take the rest out and then he stretches to put his items away)
directs me where to hang his artwork
helps put washing in machine when asked (usually), though machine on the blink again

I've been trying to get him to wipe his table but he's gone fun about the cloth or if there's a wet spot/spill on his tray and won't do it himself. He likes to dry himself but can't quite reach to hang his towel up (same with swim gear). He will put things in the bin (usually) when asked. We're getting no where fast with him wanting/trying to dress/undress himself but he will tell me which tee-shirt he'd prefer if given a choice.

Looking at your list there Carrots i'd say feeding the rabbits and guinea pigs is do-able for a 7 year old, and i'd add keeping their room tidy to the list for them too. On a sunny day in the garden maybe a bit of weeding too.

i dont have the answers but will loiter on and off and hopefully get some tips!

school uniforms are in the machine and a vegan banana oat loaf in the oven
promise nothing else for today but at least its a start again

might return later depending how day pans out

I keep replying and losing my posts when Mumsnet goes offline.

Ds and I have had a traumatic trip to the supermarket. It started well: he wrote the list; had his £2 of his own money to spend; walked dogs and then took them for a romp in the park while ds played. All was going well. Then he decided that he wanted something that cost nearly £5 and he only had £2. Normally that would be mild disappointment - today it was a full scale melt down of epic proportions. Then, of course, one of the nicest teachers at his school came along.

He blubbed round the whole supermarket, refused to look at his carefully written list, whined, etc. You can imagine the joy.

By the time we got to the checkout he was as white as a sheet and looking really miserable.

He did load the stuff onto the conveyor belt though and he did carry stuff in from the car and he did help to hang the wet washing though.

I don't know if he is just exhausted or if something is working on him

Oh Carrots, sorry your supermarket trip turned out the way it did.

Mine have just made sushi, smoked salmon in place of any raw fish.

OH gets them to empty DW (I confess I don't do this as it nearly always ends in some kind of conflict), I tell them split it, one does top half and the other the bottom.

They can help construct lunch, sandwich, wraps, salad etc. older ones can chop ingredients. Washing up after lunch. Helping with a meal plan, writing shopping list accordingly.

Dog feeding and walking, plus a bit of grooming.

I'm thinking of doing a "chores chart" swish and swipe bathroom, although not the toilet. Help sort laundry, they each take their underwear to put away. Round up clothes hangers when the ironing gets done. Make their beds, and strip them on laundry day. Watering plants if needed. I can't think of anything else right now.

Adora sounds like you and I are trying to figure out the same things. I am noticing more and more little things that ds could do as we go along.

I will try again with the supermarket thing. He did well with the meal plan and shopping list. I think he was coming down with something as he is under the weather today and it was an exceptionally spectacular meltdown. I am sure lots of mums had their judgy pants hoiked at a child that age screaming for a toy. It is never that simple when you are on the other side though is it

He did everything else without a fuss, although I did the guinea pigs after the rabbits last night as I had forgotten, and has tidied his bath toys this morning at the first request so hopefully we are in for a better day.

I have a wash on already. All of dh's clothes from yesterday have had to go in the wash. His dmum is a smoker and we are not so we are really aware of the smoke on them. He has also chucked his dressing gown in the wash. I agree it was manky a bit stale, but he chooses his moments, when I have a pile of holiday washing and 3 huge beach towels to process and no washing line or tumble dryer

Anyway... he did empty the dw which was a nice surprise for ds and me when we went to do it this morning

Good idea on the dog grooming. He can groom pup. I wouldn't let him touch Twilight as she is a bit grumpy about it (lots of lumps and bumps under her major fluff and I think it hurts if you get them the wrong way) so you have to keep your wits about you and whip your hand out of the way fast if she snaps. She only has nubs for teeth now but I am not keen to put them to the test

Are we putting lists here or doing a different thread for that?

Yes, Scout this was supposed to be a lists thread really, to compliment the chat thread, but I can't shut up.

Ta Das:
had a MASSIVE in my new MASSIVE mug
put on wm
folded dry laundry and put away (with ds)
tidied bathroom toys (ds on his own)

That's it so far

I should really get washed and dressed.

Bookmarking for when the hols start!

Hi all, I'll join but not sure how much listing I will do. We still have just under 2 weeks till the DC are off school but I will need to start to think about getting ready for holidays/packing etc.

Hi foad. I am in Scotland so realise our holidays start earlier than everyone elses.

Hi Cats, where are you going for your hols? I still took too much with me last week, even though I took much less than usual.

Ta Das:
washed and dressed - finally
located magazine with pattern in it that I wanted
uploaded some photos
generally slobbing around

Have sent you a pm carrots

Sorry Cats I wasn't thinking. It sounds lovely. Thank you

I must go and do some washing and washing up --I would rather just sit here playing though--

give me a boot someone!!

Slippered foot winging your way Cats. If you are quick I will miss and feel a right wally

am i too late to see carrots making a wally of herself?

ive had a nap

feeling a bit more awake now

ive managed to put out the bins/recycling
trundles round co op try tempt dd2 with some treats
school and nursery run
had intend to make a cake but co op had a reduced jam sponge and that lept into my basket too!!!

i have a nasty case procratination
i shall collect ds then goto to flylady site for inspiration!

We now have pet gerbils visiting us for a few weeks and had a long chat with my friend and her kids while they were here. I have also had a long chat with a good friend on the phone. Achievements on the home front = zero. Happiness however = +100

in my book thats what counts carrots

ive discovered we are in the kitchen zone.....

ive discovered i CBA to do a mission today

i have an oerwhelming urge for some wine gums so i may have to trundle up to the top of the road and acquire a tube!

ds loves his new teacher

i rally should go and cook dcs some dinner