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Parenting

Abu to be sick of hearing parents whine about school holidays

137 replies

Bekstar · 25/05/2018 09:38

Our kids are about to break up for a weeks school holidays. Me personally I can't wait to spend some proper time with my child. I'm lost when he is at school. Regardless of how well he is behaving I never wish he was back at school.
But what annoys me is the amount of posts on social media lately about how parents are dreading the school holidays, that they can't wait for them to go back etc.
These are your kids, not the teachers, yours, they spend 6 hours a day at school, as it is. But then you begrudge them having a little time to let off steam at home. Personally I had my child because I love kids and although I know school is important for him, I love the holidays and love to spend time with him. Because during school term time I only see him for two hours each night before he is asleep, we don't get much time to do anything and when we do it's normally homework related. Weekends are super busy as it is because it's the only time DS gets to see his grandparents so again we are limited to the time we get to spend together just as a small family. So when school holidays come I'm over the moon, I get to spend quality time with my child. But then I hear parents whine about how there should be less school holidays or that they wish they were back at school, it makes me pity their kids. These are children who have spent every day for weeks on end away from their families, and so what if they are exited and a bit playful because its the holidays. Make the most of it
My mum had 7 of us and still made room for more through the holidays. We always had friends round, cousins stopping etc. Not once did my mum ever complain, she always made sure to spend time with us during school holidays even if it was just over a bit of gardening or playing board games.
Instead of whining about looking after their own children, some parents need to rwalise they brought that child into the world maybe they need to spend some time with them. Don't just leave your child to entertain themselves and then wonder why they fight and squabble or scream and whine. Plan something to do with the that's fun. Enjoy the time with them. They will be back at school before you know it.

OP posts:
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Andthatsthat · 25/05/2018 14:18

@hazeyjane nail on head there!! I am nothing but a glorified referee for most of the school hols!!

Sounds as though OP doesn’t have holiday childcare to source/fund, plenty of annual leave, if working at all, and only one child.

I think I’d quite enjoy the holidays in her position Hmm for most of us it’s a little more complicated than buggering off on a jolly everyday.

That said, I obviously adore my children too, and always look forward to some down time with them. I just can’t abide with the #making memories #missmybabies crew, it’s not really real life is it?

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Turquoisesea · 25/05/2018 14:19

My DCs literally cannot stand each other so the holidays are a nightmare, they are also different genders & ages so want to do totally different things. I work part time including in school holidays so have to arrange childcare. My DS has exams after half term so have to try & make sure he can study whilst also trying to entertain my DD on a limited budget & probably awful weather. My DS also has ASD so doesn’t enjoy the change in routine so I do breathe a sigh of relief when the holidays are over to be honest. Not because I don’t love my children I just find them very difficult when they are together as I spend my entire time trying to stop them fighting with each other!

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Sidge · 25/05/2018 14:21

Oh get stuffed.

I, like OhHolyFuck am a lone parent, have 2 children at home, 1 of whom is disabled and has ASD, no family and work part time year round.

I love the half terms and holidays because I don't have to be up and out of the house 5 days a week by a certain time, just 3 days. I enjoy my kids' company when they're being lovely and not bugging me every minute of every day.

I hate it when I have to sort childcare (which doesn't exist for teenagers with disabilities) and am exhausted by 8 o'clock every night and sometimes just want to have a massive glass of wine and whinge to my mates on Facebook (cos, y'know, I can't actually go out and see them as I'm at work or juggling that parenting lark and apparently leaving a disabled teen at home alone to go to the pub with my friends isn't acceptable...)

You have no idea how other people live, so don't make smug judgments about their lives.

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educatingarti · 25/05/2018 14:24

Parenting is years of relentless hard work. It is draining, sleep depriving and exhausting. It is expensive and can be a cause of massive stress and anxiety.
However, I have some sympathy with the op. I am in touch with many people who have been unable to have children. Some have gone through years of unsuccessful fertility treatment. Others have just never been in the right place health or partner - wise to have children.
They can find it heartbreaking to read posts from friends and relatives complaining about their children, offering as a joke to give them away, moaning about school holidays etc. I think there's a line somewhere where you can be honest about the difficulties but still express positive appreciation about the fact you have children without crossing into sickly #soblessed territory!

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Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 25/05/2018 14:29

Totally agree educatingarti

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ErictheGuineaPig · 25/05/2018 14:30

I also love spending time with my children. I try not to spend a single second away from my beloved loin fruit. That's why I took all the doors off all the rooms so I can follow them everywhere and see their darling faces whenever I want. There's no way I could bear to outsource any part of their care by sending them to school though, how can you stand it op? Just 2 hours spent with him a day? That poor little angel of yours. Does he even remember you're his mum Sad. Each to his own though. I'm sure you're doing your best....

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bumblingbovine49 · 25/05/2018 14:30

I like the holidays when I can be home for them and am always sad when DS goes back to school. I love not having to get up super early to get DS up for school and the fact that time is less tight, that DS seems happier etc BUT

  • DS is an only child so we don't have squabbling - This is often a major problem for families with more than one child and I am sure it would drive me bananas too


  • DH and I work and we share the childcare so it is not all my responsibility. I do still find juggling leave/childcare a bit stressful sometimes. For instance - during most half terms DH and I juggle a few half and full days off each and DS does to some sort of club for one day. This ends up being quite quite stressful workwise so sometimes I am relieved to go back to my normal work routine when school holidays finish as I am sometimes a bit behind with work by then Grin


  • DS has ASD and although he does actually cope well with school and he is doing very well at the moment, we have had some behavioural issues there in the past ( in the distant past we had a lot!) At home we don't have this so it often much more relaxing and when he goes back to school I get a bit anxious about what may happen or what we might have to deal with before the end of the term. This used to be more of a problem when his behaviour at school was much worse but the feeling is still there.


So although on the whole while I personally am usually sad to see the end of the school break, our situation is the reason for this (i.e only child who generally behaves much better at home than at school in a family with two working parents who share the childcare)

I can completely understand why parents in other situations might feel diferently - eg squabling siblings, FT working/lone parents who struggle with childcare or SAH parents who struggle to entertain DC/stop them fighting etc.

So overallI think YABU
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puppymouse · 25/05/2018 14:31

Just starting school this September and part of me is already waving at the gates as I claw back a little bit of time (well, one day) to myself. But I'm lucky as DH is massively hands on and we tag team to allow each other to do other stuff we enjoy. I know that I'll be nagging DD for cuddles and kisses when I have her at home as I do really miss her when she's away from me.

Buuuut... school holidays will be hard core. Even with one. Because she's been at nursery since she was 1. So we've never had to think about what to do to keep her busy all five days, plus the weekend. I am open mouthed with admiration for parents of 2+ kids as it would terrify me. I think your view is a little rose-tinted and you're being goady. You can still love your kids and find them hard work 24/7 when they and you aren't used to it.

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Olivebrach · 25/05/2018 14:32

I agree op. You should want to spend time with your children and not see it as a hassle or inconvenience

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AlfredDaButtler · 25/05/2018 14:33

as siblings play together.

goo.gl/images/HLhh4d

The holidays are hard work, and I only work a couple of days a week. I'm grateful we don't have childcare worries because my mum helps out, and it's quite nice not having to make sure everyone is up and organised every morning. But DS misses school after a week, we don't have loads of spare cash to throw at the situation, we only have one car which DH needs for work, and DD has very different physical needs and abilities compared to DS, so it's not like I can even say "let's all go for a walk/bike ride" to pass the time.

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Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 25/05/2018 14:35

I am open mouthed with admiration for parents of 2+ kids as it would terrify me.
Puppy most of the only children I know are harder work than those with a sibling or two actually as they need more adult input/someone to actively do stuff with whereas those with siblings are able to occupy themselves and each other more usually in the case of my two by fighting and annoying each other, but at least it keeps them busy

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vickibee · 25/05/2018 14:36

school holidays were designed around a different era when kids helped with the harvest etc, they do not really suit modern life in the 21st century and when most mums were stay at home

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Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 25/05/2018 14:39

I wouldn’t want the holidays more spread out and therefore more frequent though tbh, it would be more annoying to not be able to settle into a routine with work/childcare due to having school holidays every 2 minuted.

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SmallBlondeMama · 25/05/2018 14:43

I agree with this post 100%!! I always look forward to holidays with my kids and do feel sorry for those with parents who whine about the holidays.

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QueenOfMyWorld · 25/05/2018 14:46

I don't drive yet unfortunately and dh works full time so entertaining a lively 4 yr old for 6 weeks is v daunting.
I love my ds but I get "mum guilt" a lot even though I try my very best to make days varied and interesting.Having a whinge about school holidays doesn't make you less of a parent

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puppymouse · 25/05/2018 14:46

Haha probably Slightly! I just can't imagine trying to sort two or more out. Esp when they're under 5. Really respect parents who manage this.

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freezerfoodyum · 25/05/2018 14:51

OP clearly just posted to be goady anyway as they seem to have fucked off.

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Kidssendingmenuts · 25/05/2018 14:51

I can't wait for the school holidays! No school runs, quality time with the kids and they both come to work with me and help out! X

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PattiStanger · 25/05/2018 15:00

Person with 1 child and no job loves the school holidays, meanwhile in the real world of siblings and struggle for childcare the rest of us will occasionally have a moan about life's difficulties.

Excuse us OP if we have no head space for worrying about what a hard life you must have

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BackInTime · 25/05/2018 15:01

OP your reality is different from what many people are going through. Half term is perfectly fine but 6 weeks of the summer holidays are a nightmare. I work and have to arrange childcare with family or pay for activities. DCs don’t want to spend the day with family and moan about it, they don’t want to do clubs and moan about that, they don’t want to be at home because they argue and get bored. So I get moaned at for 6 weeks and get incredibly stressed trying to sort it all out. I have no problem spending time with my DC believe me but unfortunately my leave doesn’t match theirs.

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NewDOOFUSfor18 · 25/05/2018 15:02

I'm lost when he's at school
Can I suggest you find something to occupy your time then, he probably doesn't give you a second thought when he's in class. That's a very melodramatic statement to make.

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KittiesInsane · 25/05/2018 15:06

Ah, are you the poster whose DS is a young carer? That's rather a different issue.

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Ylvamoon · 25/05/2018 15:14

OP get a life or a job...
I love my kids and spending time with them. The reality is though, they also need things like clothes and food. My teen likes to go out with his mates it's not cool to hang out with mum / dad every day... That all costs money that I have to earn. So, yes I hate school holidays (to an extent) as I have to disappoint my children and "park" them somewhere in order to provide for them.

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Mossend · 25/05/2018 15:54

What do you do whilst your dc is at school op?

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Singlenotsingle · 25/05/2018 16:05

It's alright when you've only got one. Otherwise, more than that and they fight. Fight over toys, sweets, food, fight over anything at all!

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