AIBU to find it annoying when parents moan about the summer holidays?

[mirrorballbabe]

I really love hanging out with my children every day during the holidays, and sometimes feel like I can't wait until term ends so we can spend proper time together. I try and organise activities every day and make sure everyone is having fun; I've heard lots of mums here complaining about how long they are, but I'm not sure why? Feels like quite a negative way to talk about the sunny months and spending time with your own children? Even the mums at the school gates have been complaining about Easter recently and I can't relate or understand why they see it as such a challenge.

I enjoy spending time with my children and I'm lucky that my work allows me to spend quite a good amount of time with them. However, 6 weeks is too long in my opinion. The last couple of weeks drag. We've no money left and the kids desperately need routine back in their lives.
I wish summer hols were 4 weeks band May and October half terms were 2 weeks instead of 1. 1 week is too short.

I work 3 days a week, so the issue won't arise, but...

As much as I love my DS, spending all day every day with him for 6 weeks would be too much. Mummy! Mummy! Mummy! Me! Me! Me! Now! Now! NOW! Absolutely no way.

Its nothing personal - the other 4 year olds are at least as bad. I totally understand why many SAHMs are happy when September rolls around.

There will be some mum's with MH issues (who obviously love their children dearly) yet find the task of days-out, and indeed, days in entertaining DC for 6 weeks a huge struggle.
I live with anxiety and some days are a real battle. I find organising trips out etc a real test. I organise lots and we do have fun but my anxiety levels soar as I feel so much pressure to make sure my two have a great summer. It's relentless.

I HATE the summer holidays.
Everything’s so expensive so have to plan carefully with what we can afford to do.
I have a child with SN and she hates change In routine.
So for the first week it’s all screaming and crying because she can’t handle it.
Then soon as she settles in her new routine it’s already time to start school again. It’s an absolute nightmare.
Getting lots of days out sorted for my 4 year old. Also for my 14 year old. Then my dd with sn. Most days I have to do it alone as dh has to work. Ds 18 so does his own thing but still have to make some time for him too.
A 6 week holiday is just too much for me and my circumstances. I would love to enjoy the holidays more. But soon as I start to think what lies ahead I want to cry.
We managed to book one week away this year so I’m hoping this will give me the boost I need to finish the holidays without breaking down.

When the kids were young, I found summer holidays truly hideous, utterly tedious and the chores mind numbingly relentless.

Now that they're older, they can carry a conversation and genuinely make me laugh. I actually enjoy their company and am (mildly) sad when they go back to school.

I would avoid confessing at what a joyous time I've had with my teenager to certain mums as it may come across as a bit braggy, unempathetic and quite frankly, unbelievable.

Children should only be enjoyed via social media, on special occasions and appropriate public holidays, whilst simultaneously complaining about some secondary child raising issues (which apparently didn’t exist before making the decision to have children) ... like bills and ft jobs.

That's the first time I've heard bills and jobs referred to as 'secondary child raising issues'. But perhaps your peculiar spelling conceals a mind like a razor, HattieRabbit, and this is all an elaborate joke...

I would avoid confessing at what a joyous time I've had with my teenager to certain mums as it may come across as a bit braggy, unempathetic and quite frankly, unbelievable.

Mine is about to turn seven, and I'd be thrilled to hear someone enjoying their teenager, to be honest, swim. It would be a nice change from all the people, notably my MIL, who keep telling me that I should enjoy this bit, because it's all downhill from here.

My children are much nicer to each other when they don't have to spend all day together.

If you can't relate OP, keep it to your freaking self.

I'm currently pregnant and I already can't wait til the twins are out and in day care, so I can catch a break

But honestly, kids are demanding, they fight, they are destructive, they put themselves in dangerous situations, they get tantrums in supermarkets etc etc. Kids are hard work, I have only babysat kids as I'm pregnant with our firsts, but hell even I know it's going to be tough as fuck being a mum.

Let's stop mummy shaming the women who do complain, we don't know their situation. Their kids may be hyperactive little devils

@piano

Entirely tongue in cheek - I promise 😊

I'm a lowly school worker so don't work the holidays (yay), don't have extra work to do over the holidays (yay) but get a pitiful salary (boo). So although I love being with my children up to a point, we don't have the money for activities every day. And before you tell me that lots of things are free, yes I know. But the kids don't always want to spend their time in parks and museums, much as I love a museum. So they're under my feet a lot and it can get very tense, especially with DD1's issues. So while I'm not necessarily complaining about the holidays I can understand why people do.

I feel so much pressure to make sure my two have a great summer

That's a very good point. What is this pressure?! I just used to hang out in the summer holidays - sometimes going out, a lot of the time staying in. Fondly remember watching Robinson Crusoe and then Daktari every morning. Read a lot.

Now with my own children there's the eternal cry, "What are we dooooooing todaaaaay?" When they were little it was easy: a trip out, an ice cream. If the day was really bad I'd have to play (yawn!!!) .

I read on here people planning summers jam-packed with trips to theme parks etc and feel exhausted for them.

As usual I blame social media. It's in your face that everyone seems to be having this magical, wonderful time and if you're not racing round facilitating 24-hour happiness you are a Big Failure.

Narrator voice: ...and the OP left, never to return.

I realised when I saw your sensible, and admirably self-controlled, response on the 'I'm going to have a baby who can only be born within a 2/3 month window' thread, Hattie.

Agree with the social media influence adding to the pressures of parenting.

I guess we can't all spend 12 weeks a year being #blessed #mamabear or #makingmemories though!

Because some of us are trying to hold down a job or run a business!

I’d bloody love to up sticks to a cabin in the woods a la Nordic countries and swim and bbq for long hot days.

The reality is a hodge podge of childcare and days off work followed by insane “catching up” which feels like one running full pelt to stand still while failing to provide the magical summer “off”. Usually in the pissing rain and cold.

I dread the summer holidays because it will be 6 weeks of trying to fit in work around 4 children whilst entertaining them on a very limited budget and feeling like I'm letting them down and ruining their childhoods because I can't afford to take them anywhere exciting. And I'm fairly lucky because I work from home. For a lot of people, the stress of trying to find and afford childcare (so that they can go to work to feed, house and clothe their children) kind of sucks the joy out of the "sunny months". It's lovely you get to enjoy the holidays with your children but we don't all have the same circumstances as you.

Malope I read that in the voice of Morgan Freeman

People know kids need looking after when they have them.. I'm with OP

Yes you are.

Both of mine have ASD and they hate each other's guts. Ds2 is like a very noisy 5'3 8 stone toddler and very difficult to take anywhere, safely. 6 weeks of trying to keep them entertained and from each other's throats is bloody torture.

I dread the summer holidays because it will be 6 weeks of trying to fit in work around 4 children whilst entertaining them on a very limited budget and feeling like I'm letting them down and ruining their childhoods because I can't afford to take them anywhere exciting. And I'm fairly lucky because I work from home. For a lot of people, the stress of trying to find and afford childcare (so that they can go to work to feed, house and clothe their children) kind of sucks the joy out of the "sunny months". It's lovely you get to enjoy the holidays with your children but we don't all have the same circumstances as you.

Then why on Earth have FOUR children?! It's not compulsory

And I certainly didn't have them expecting quite this level of challenging.

Am not sure the OP knows how threads work. She appears to have started three in her short time here but not returned to any of them

instituute Wtf what an arsy thing to say.