Are school holidays really hard work or is it just me?!!!

[schoolhol]

I feel so frazzled this week and it's only half way through the holidays.
Im finding it super hard work and really difficult trying to keep everyone fed, happy and entertained.

I have a 5 month baby and a 5 year old, 5 month old is awake several times a night so i'm very tired generally and my threshold and patience are quite low. Also have an energetic dog who needs walking at least once a day or else he gets really whiney and fidgety.

This is the first school holiday I've done solo as my husband was either off work or WFH for the previous ones. This week he is out of the house from 7am-6pm every day.
I had got into a pretty good routine with managing baby naps, dog walking, food shopping, making dinner, laundry etc etc around the school runs, but it all feels very chaotic this week.
I'm trying to find a balance between letting 5 year old relax with screens in her pjs (what she would like to do), but also do a couple of fun days out/get fresh air & activities....but even getting out for a dog walk seems a palaver !! The constant asking for drinks and snacks whilst i'm trying to clean up mess or feed the baby is driving me crazy and then i feel guilty for losing my temper.
Although I did a rough meal plan we've ran out of food so need to do another food shop, with 2 kids in tow. I don't mind getting my 5 year old the odd mc donalds meal, but can't afford any proper meals out as on maternity pay.
I also am fairly new to the area so don't have that many friends to meet up with, have arranged a couple of meet up with school friends but feel stress/anxious trying to think of things to do every day.
How do people manage with multiple kids? plus 6 weeks of it in the summer ??!!
What are your survival tips for making it easier and less stressful?
We couldn't afford to go away this time, but planning a few days away in May holiday and will have a week with family in August, other then that will be at home.
Please let me know how you do it, does it get easier?!

It gets easier. Weirdly I’m actually enjoying them, which didn’t think I would be,
I’m a lone parent (they don’t see their father) to 4 and it’s nice to have a break from the school run 😅 the 6 weeks are hard though 😳 as I find they really drag! We never go away so we just do days out.

I have a nearly 3 year old and a nearly 6 year old and some days are easier than others. The key for me is to have plans every day, not necessarily huge, just go to the library and costa, plant some seeds and go to the park.

I’ve not been feeling great this week so parts of it have been tricky and I forgot to allow the oldest to have a couple of decompression days at the start.

Just allow extra tv and gaming for sanity, broken up with short outings [park, library, etc]. You don’t need to be active all day every day, chance to chill out. Be kind to yourself.

Thanks for tips......good to know it gets easier.....I like the idea of just doing a small outing each day even if it's just to coffee shop or library.
Have seen a few mum memes complaining about the school holidays driving them up the wall so it must be common !

I find them hard work 🙈 I have an almost 5 year old & 2 year old. This is our first year of school holidays! My DDs are usually the best of friends but chuck them together for days on end & it’s just a constant battle of toy sharing 🥴 plus the noise is something else. Once they are in bed, I just sit & enjoy complete silence for 10 minutes 😂 I know it’ll get easier, we are at prime toddlerhood with DD2 and that’s just exhausting in itself without a 5 year old thrown in! You are also at a very exhausting part of parenting in an entirely different way!

DD1 really thrives on routine & the holidays have thrown her a bit each time. Bit like above PP, I’ve tried to have things planned each day.. library, walk, softplay, park, baking, a movie afternoon with popcorn etc! Next week, it’s back to nursery for DD2 & holiday club for DD1.. so trying to enjoy the time with them. Some days are easier than others!

Can you see if your school offers any holiday activities my school offered 1 week out of 2 for the holidays just gone.

Play scheme? I can see you said your on mat leave. Maybe a ballpool once a week

I try and think that God it isn't lock down again...at least l know when holidays are over!!
In all seriousness though OP l used to feel like this but not dd is older she is less needy than she was then

They're really really hard work

Mine are 11 and 14 and it's still exhausting. They constantly demand food, bicker, make a mess etc

I'm counting down the days till school is back.

I try to make up snacks/lunches the night before, I let my almost 4 year old (asd) watch more tv than normal, we spend a lot of time in the garden as almost 2 year old hates walking and the buggy at the moment, really quick easy dinners, a couple of hot/cold drink bottles for me, and I keep telling myself nursery reopens in just over a week!

Online shopping for food. Saves one job

Can your dh take the dog out first thing 20 mins before he leaves? So at least dog is calmer in the morning before you get out.

They do get easier I promise, they can be long, tiring and frustrating and when mine were small I used to dread them and crave them in a weirdly equal amount. I wasn’t on social media when they were very small and I feel thankful for that as it often makes you feel bad and lacking and like you are failing. I also didn’t know any/many other parents and all groups shutting down makes it harder.

Been a while for me but I remember just getter put for a walk to the park, feed the birds , collect things from the park , take a packed lunch etc. Come home and make art from the collected natural things (Google Andy Goldsworthy art) , have a snack, watch some TV before dinner etc. Keep it simple. DD1 at a top uni doing well on this early life.

Ditto @Goldijobsandthe3bears about social media. Mine are now 21 & 18 so was never an issue. Go with your gut. Talk lots, listen lots, let them explore .

Also allow yourself to feel those feelings, scream into a pillow and carry on 😂

oh phew, yes I was thinking social media doesn't help with expectations we put in ourselves !

I think as long as you do something in the day, some days in the holidays DD was dumped in front of a TV / DVD, its when DH was on nights and he had to sleep during the day. Often she would do something else at her own accord like play with her dolls or draw when she got bored of the TV (I do think you need to let them to entertain themselves as they get older outside of screens). But at some point he would take her for a walk, play a board game, game of cards etc.

If I was off or he wasnt on nights, we would so stuff like play dates, play some sports in our garden, go for a long walk somewhere, the museum etc. We would have a 'treat day', where DD could do movies / soft play / ice skating and MCds / subway for lunch. We were lucky in that we could afford it but it was something to break up the week.

It absolutely is hard work, even without a little one in the mix.

Have you made a list of potential outings, I made one when mine were small and still refer to it. It had free/paid and indoor and outdoor activities. I followed the local mummy blogger who says where the good parks are so would even make an outing out of visiting a new one.

For the summer perhaps try to create a bit of a routine. Out in the morning, movie during nap time, a home activity or garden then independent play or something?

We used to get up ‘late’ and read books in bed in the morning.
Do something everyday - the park, the library. Have a picnic in the garden or on the floor of the lounge. Mine used to like going to the local Mall for a walk round.
How about a bus ride?
I used to do a lot of play dates.

I used to do alternate days out. So one lazy day, and then a day out to the library or park or town.
On home days I’d chuck a sheet between two chairs and make a den, or bake some little cakes.
Leave drinks and snacks where she can get them, ration them through the day as you have time.

Sympathies OP!

Re: the constant asking for snacks... I have a big drinks dispenser (cost £20 in the range) which I fill daily and let the kids help themselves whenever they're thirsty. In the holidays when they were all under 10 I used to make up 'snack boxes'. Every child has a little tray with their name on and I'd fill it with fruit, a couple of biscuits, yoghurt pot etc and explain they could help themselves during the day. And when it's gone, it's gone! It worked really well and in encourages a bit of independence as well.

My two girls are 10 and 12 now and I love the holidays. They play out with their friends most days and are pretty independent with lunch making and clearing up.
I remember it being really hard at that age. I love lists, so I made a list of everything we could do indoors and outdoors and aimed to do one thing everyday. If we didn't get to do it then no harm done.
I also focused on sleep and let go of my concern about too much TV.
I also had a mantra constantly running through my head which somehow made things seem less daunting " this too shall pass"

I think it’s tough with those ages, don’t beat yourself up. It does get better.

I think being into a routine helps. So try and get ready for the same time every morning and it just becomes second nature rather than a struggle. I find the earlier everyone is ready the easier everything else becomes. Have quick snacks available. You don't need to prepare small meals every time your 5 year old wants a snack. Hand them a banana or an apple.

Yup, I’m a teacher and struggle with the holidays now I have a 3&5 year old!!! Never ending whinging/hungry/entertaining/cleaning/washing hellllllllll

When they are young its hard, and you have an age gap of a baby/toddler and a school age one, lots of needs to juggle. I find from when they are 7/8 upwards its much easier, esp when they can play out with friends and you only need to be home to keep an eye on them and provide snacks. Now mine are older I look forward to them as a nice break from school runs/homework/clubs etc. When they were small I planned an out of the house activity (even just park or library etc) each day to burn some energy and get some fresh air. TV days were tempting but LONG.