Does anyone else struggle with these long BH weekends?

[Februaryschild2023]

Feel guilty, but am really dreading the next month of bank holiday weekends. Have a 4 year old in nursery usually, and a 12 week old, and the weekends are already a bit of a slog but the thought of all these 3 day marathons is horrifying!

Is it just me, is anyone else feeling like this? We do the usual roster of activities, but fuck me, the days can feel long at the moment

I hear you.

I used to feel like that when mine were small but now they're older and we can have a laugh together (or they can hide in their rooms) it's not so difficult and I look forward to them.

I hear you. My working days are often easier than “days off”

Oh I used to dread them when I was a single mum and my daughter was little! Often felt like I’d “done” everything I could think of by 10.30am on the Saturday… regular friends would be doing family stuff, it was tough but the time always passes! Good luck

I remember them well. My husband used to work most weekends and every bank holiday. It was a long 3 days....

How many are there? Is it just 2? Or is there another one? (Please nooo)

I hear you! Add in the school strikes and it’s a nightmare…

I love it because my dh is around to share the load. Do you have any help?

No but It really bring it depends on your family dynamic and work etc any break from work and the stress of work / childcare / school runs and trying to fit everything else in is time to look forward to for me!

I remember that well! Mine are 10 & 12 now and it's a dream! It's not forever OP!

This weekend isn’t too bad because everything is running as normal so the kids activities are still on. But next Saturday everything is cancelled “so people can watch the coronation”. Which basically means I have to entertain them myself 😩

Yup. Less so now he's 4, but it's still a slog. Work is much easier.

4 day "weekend" this time (when you add in Tuesdays strike) and then another long weekend next weekend and then the holidays at the end of the month.

Exhausted as it is at the moment and as a single mum it's killing me. Love the kids dearly, but bed time isn't soon enough at the moment 😅

I agree! Esp because DH words shifts so I often do weekend days and BHs alone.

I'm loving this one..... My son is at his dad's

I get what you're saying for sure, but luckily the weather looks OK this weekend! I'm fully intending to use tactics like "dd go find the biggest daisy" (so I can zone out on my phone while you peer at every one)

There's this funny bit in the book/film About A Boy where he talks about breaking the day into half-hour units to fill the time. I so do this in my head when I'm alone with dd for the day!

Get her to "help" me pair the socks - half a unit
Play in the playground - two units
"Help" me make dinner - one unit
Eat dinner - one unit
And so on. If I'm lucky I'll get a quarter of a unit out of dd finding the biggest daisy or best pebble or something

Yeah, it’s a bit much if you’ve young children. Especially if you’ve paid for that Bank Holiday nursery day; thanks Charles! It does get better as they get older.

Yeah I get you, although my DD is only 18months and although testing at times due to age she's going through quite a lovely phase so I'm pleased not to be working this bank holiday (I work in a job that does require bank holiday working I've just not be rostered on this month) and I'm looking forward to spending time with her. Usually she's in nursery 4 long days a week and I work 34hrs. Having said that there have been weekends or Wednesday's (my set day off) that have nearly pushed me over the edge so I completely understand...... I may be eating my words come Monday evening/end of this month I'll let u know 🤣

Units is a good idea thanks, I'll try that!

Sadly it's pretty rainy up north this weekend 😭

I am hating them. Everyone keeps saying if I’m looking forward to a break. A break?!! It’s anything but. My job, where I am on my feet all day is the break. Three whole days where I have to think of even more meals than the usual weekend is hard. Looking after a 14 month old that of course has developed gastro yesterday and is still spectacularly projectile vomiting today is hell. Dreading the one next week too.

No, I love them. 5yo, 3yo, 1yo here. Soooo much easier chilling at home than trying to wrangle them all out of the house by 7.20am, go to work all day and then pick them up at 5pm-ish to be screamed at while I hurry the dinner/bath/bed routine because they are all hangry and tired. These bank holiday weekends are bliss by comparison!

Completely hear you. I have a 5 and a 1 year old. Also I find that there is a lot of pressure to have amazing happy family times when really it is hard and tiring 🙈. Luckily this time we have family staying for one night and have planned a family day out for the Monday which will probably end with fighting and will be exhausting it’s always a bit of a relief to go back to work!

Everyone keeps saying if I’m looking forward to a break. A break?!! It’s anything but.
It’s not a break when you have kids to look after. You never get a holiday either - it’s just the same shit in a different location. I used to love days off and weekends - I looked forward to them - now I dread them.

Yep I hate it. My 11 year old is autistic and loves routine so he'll be extra agitated on Monday and for the whole week, only for it to happen again next week then he's got his year 6 SATs to cause untold stress.
8 year old wants to bake CONSTANTLY when we're at home which is lovely but the mess! And the cost of ingredients!
4 year old whines to watch cartoons so I try to keep him distracted in the garden but the forecast is looking shit for this week.
Not to mention trying to do all my work on Friday (I don't work Tuesday so Monday is always my 'get organised' day) means I'm already knackered.
DH has gone away for the weekend with his friends, my sister has gone on holiday and my parents are 'busy with the garden'.
Ugh.

Very difficult as a single parent when others are having family time and " making memories " for social media