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Parenting

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Original poster

Anyone else exhausted ALREADY entertaining kids in school holidays?!

14 replies

unpaidcleaner · 11/04/2006 20:55

Ok, it's only the end of Day 2 of week 1 of the easter break, but i'm already exhausted. All that energy & the constant constant endless demands for attention. I'm normally a bit tired on a monday night after work but last night i was on the verge of collapse! And to think my colleagues (all childless) think i'm 'on holiday' :o

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octavia · 11/04/2006 21:19

day 2 of week 2 here and he doesn't go back until the 26th! He's quite good fun though, we made a easter cake this afternoon and made some decorations out of that ready roll coloured icing. He said my flowers looked like cornish pasties! cheeky so &so.cinema tomorrow, just me & him, as my mum will look after ds2.It is difficult though as I work some nights and trying to stay awake the next day is really difficult

christie1 · 12/04/2006 10:38

This is not a shot at working moms. I have been one and now am a stay at home. The biggest mistake I see parents making over breaks as they crowd to the museums and other events is, frankly, they try to hard. No one seems to be having any fun, it all seems a bit frantic. I tend to avoid kids places during break time for this reason. If I can offer advice, slow down. Take a couple of days, all stay in your pyjamas and lounge around. You have your tea and let the kids wander around the house and find something to do (without your help). Around noon, get dressed and go for a walk, give them a bag and they can collect rocks/and other stuff. Don't be afraid to tell the kids to back off a little. YOu won't enjoy your week, they will know your don't enjoy the week and no one will have fun. Forget the organized activities, you are a mom, not a cruise director and entitled to slow down and enjoy this week. Otherwise you will running screaming back to work in order to get a "rest". Remember, you already "do" for them by providing a secure financial home life by working. Call this "do nothing" week and just hang out with the kids. If they keep up the demands for attention, don't be afraid to send them to their room until they stop, they will settle down once you relax.

Sherbert37 · 12/04/2006 11:07

Agree with Christie. I did not purposely book up anything (although events did make it into the diary of their own accord...). Makes it more special when we do go out. Went ice skating which was the most fun we had all had in ages! Also caught up on jobs around the house so I can be marginally ahead for the next 10 weeks.

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iota · 12/04/2006 11:09

agree with christie too - we do a bit of lazing ( well quite a lot) a few walks/rides/playground/go to town and one or 2 special outings with friends

compo · 12/04/2006 11:12

Totally agree with Christie. The problem my sister has with her 9 and 11 year olds is the constant 'what are we doing today' and then rowing cos they can't decide btw them what film to see etc.

BettySpaghetti · 12/04/2006 11:13

I had a list of possible things to do like swimming, going to the park and was looking forward to pottering in the garden while they play etc but DD has got an ear infection so instead I've got chronic cabin fever and have been climbing the walls! Typical!

Oh well at least it happened when it did as we're away for the next 2 weekends so it would have been a nightmare if it had happened then.

Original poster

unpaidcleaner · 12/04/2006 11:13

Yes, i get what you mean but we can't afford to do any 'events', the only things we do are museums which are free. we are lucky & have some great free museums & the school holidays is the only opportunity to do them together. so i don't see anything wrong with that! And we do chill around the house (literally!) but any normal kid (or adult) is going to get bored stuck in the house all day, if it's raining all day as it is here, you can't even get out to the park. Before long the TV will come on & then it's zombie time, I hate seeing kids glued to TV for hours!

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misdee · 12/04/2006 11:16

i dont plan anything. good job too as all my dd's have been ill for the holidays and me as well. so am probably taking them to the garden centre after lunch today, so they can play in the play houses and i can price one up for the garden, then look at the plants and animals, then have a drink in the cafe. wil lkill a few hours i'm sure. then maybe tomorrow we will go feed the ducks at the lakes and go to the park.

Original poster

unpaidcleaner · 12/04/2006 11:20

Hooray it's stopped raining, we're going to the park!!!!!!

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clop · 12/04/2006 12:19

First day of the hols was really bad, seemed to involve screaming and tantrums from all 3 (often in chorus). But I was resolved to stick it out & mostly slouch around in pajamas all holiday... think that first day was just winding down. The 2nd day was great, most days since (now also in 2nd week) we have just stayed in and the kids have been very happy.

Helps that I have 3, though, so they can play together, plus we have hosted some playdates with other kids (always easier).

Enid · 12/04/2006 12:26

I stopped work on Friday (mat leave) and since then we have all vegged massively - in fact we have only just all got dressed today!

the girls are having a lovely time. We have a day planned in bristol tomorrow (dh has a day off work) but apart from that and a trip to the cinema, its telly, games, playing in the garden and eating for us

CountessDracula · 12/04/2006 12:32

Well I'm a working mum 4 days a week adn I actively try not to plan stuff but just potter with dd, she gets plenty of stimulation at nursery/with her nanny so we can just chill!

We do do stuff like museums sometimes but I keep to a minimum and only stuff we really want to todo

festiveface · 13/04/2006 16:12

decided to go to the zoo today. After hours sat on a blocked motorway dh turns the car round and takes us home
Row ensues and kids are crying. bloody brilliant.

peaches27 · 13/04/2006 21:37

Yeah. Next time will book the playscheme.

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