Do all mums like being with their kids 24/7?

[MaxwellCat]

I am a lone parent so my kids are with me all the time. With the summer holidays coming up I'm not going to lie I'm kind of dreading 24/7 for 6 weeks alone with no break. We don't live in an area where kids play out so they need constant entertaining and if they don't they get bored they will argue and wind each other up. I'm exhausted on weekends never mind 6 weeks, don't get me wrong I like being with my children but 6 weeks non stop without a break I'm dreading it. When I speak to other parents all I get is how much they love it and how they are looking forward to it so am I just an awful parent not enjoying being with my children 24/7? Do all mums like being with their kids every minute of the day? I must admit it seems to only be women I see saying this.

Gosh not sure this response is that helpful tbh !

It depends a lot on the age of the child! I do love being with DS in the holidays, BUT he’s 6 now so sorts out his own toilet, clothes, bath, teeth brushing, etc. I only have one, so no bickering. He goes to bed at 8pm, so I have downtime to myself in the evening. He gets up at 8:30 in the holidays, so we all get a lie in.

If I had two or three younger kids I’d be spending more of the holidays at work.

I'm looking forward to having my DD1 with me all summer as she's in reception so this is the first year she's been in school. I'm a sahm and we have a younger DD2 who is with me all the time, though I'm lucky to have lots of hands-on support from DH. I went through lockdown with DD1 as a sahm so am definitely used to entertaining her for long days! It's hard work but really satisfying.

We're lucky to live in London so there's always loads to do, and easy public transport to get around. I have bucket lists of different types of places to go so we don't get in a rut doing the same things. And we're fortunate to have the budget for entry prices to attractions as well as some free stuff, and are able to pay for tickets to shows and workshops. In many ways I feel lucky to have the option to spend time with them, as lots of parents at school will be putting their dc into camps and I'd definitely miss her if she had to be in summer camps for long days during the week.

Honestly, no, and they wouldn’t want to spend all summer with each other either as a by product of spending all summer with me. I do like the break in routine and when I was working I liked them being able to stay up later so we could do beach or pool after work, but we’re all much happier when they’re off with their own plans and spending time with people their own age- they’re a bit older though- 12&10.

Absolutely not. I'm a much, much better mother for having a job and time away from him. He's been in nursery since 1 and will be going to holidays clubs when he starts school. Children are hard work, it's not fun dealing with tantrums and demands and negotiating behaviour. Of course there are lovely bits, but overall I find it very draining.

Being a SAHM would make me feel utterly trapped and mad, I need time alone and to have something to think about other than boring housework. Regarding upbringing, my mum was a SAHM until I was in secondary school and I never went to any playgroups or any form of childcare until I went to school, so we couldn't be more different.

I have a friend that used to cry the first day back in September, she couldn't cope with them going back.Me I was shoving them through the gates the minute they opened!!

No. Honestly I think the only people who say they do have lots of friends/family to meet up with and/or money for constant activities.

I envisage enjoying things a lot more when they're older and happy to be left to their own devices but then I see all the comments about how hard teens are so we shall see!

I love being with my child 24/7.
after having a few miscarriages he is the gift of my life.
however, not all moms love being with their kid 24/7 and that’s ok.

im still enjoying the first year, my view is I’ll never get this time back, but I’m sure when I see baby thriving at nursery and school I’ll be so happy to see that, that being with them 24/7 won’t be the priority for me. It’ll be to see them happy and independent.

don’t be too tough on yourself, motherhood is hard. Everyone needs a break sometimes in their own way.

No. I don't like being in anyone's company 24/7 so being with my dc is no different. They bicker and fall out and talk nonsense and watch crap. I love them but by the gods I need a break from them every now and then.

Exactly 🙌🏽

God no and I feel guilty for saying that I have 70pc custody and find it very draining. I couldn't do 6 full weeks with no breaks.

Nooo covid was horrendous, there dad had moved to another country the year before so I felt completely isolated

Now he has them for all the big holidays which is a relief as I don't have to wfh around them and he has the summer off as he won't have seen them for 4 months so goes all Disney dad and also has the disposable income to do things with them I couldn't

Meant to say, he didn't see them for over a year once covid hit so I was totally a lone parent. He hasn't paid maintanance since he left the country either

God no! I'm a much better parent for working 4 days a week (work that involves me missing bedtime about two nights in a fortnight).

Can you get any childcare to help?

do all mums like being with their kids 24/7?

Hell No if you mean 24/7 for 365 days!

Love em to bits, love having time off with them, love the summer holidays, but 24/7 365.....think I'd rather disembowel myself with a blunt spoon! To be fair they wouldn't want to be with me for that length of time either!

Also age makes a difference, I dreaded the long summer holidays when they were small, I was one of the few parents who did a little jig on the first day back to school in September...only tears of joy from me!! it's only since they've got older and more independent I love it, and that's precisely because it's not 24/7....I would loath to go back to early primary school and toddler days....NO FUCKING WAY!

The thing is I don't want to be with anyone 24/7. I need time on my own.

I love DD14 but really need space from her sometimes as she is neurodivergent & it’s very likely she has ADHD too so can be very challenging. I miss her being at school as that time was precious for me.

I decided to just embrace it! I know it's not for everyone but now my son doesn't even have a bedroom, he actually goes to sleep in my bed at his bedtime and I join him later. I used to say, 'When you're 5 will you sleep in your own bed?' He used to reply, 'Maybe when I'm 25!' Haha!

He was a great sleeper and had no problems being in his own bed/cot from 1-3 years old. But honestly I'm fine with it, and it's also normal where we live (Thailand) for families to sleep together, even rich ones with several bedrooms. So I'm just going with it! I'm single so have the space in my bed and it means one less room using a/c at night so it also saves me some money!

Circumstances vary so much from family to family. Some will enjoy it, some won't.

DH and I are both teachers, and our DC are 6, 2,2 DC4 is due in Nov. We LOVE the summer holidays, but that's because there are 2 of us so we can each also have time to ourself. We might all go out to an NT place and chat together whole DC run around and exhaust themselves, or put out the paddling pool and invite over some other kids/parents for the afternoon, so we can enjoy company. Some times I'll take all 3 out for a morning/afternoon and DH will take the other, so we can both have time to read/relax/nap/get some work done.

So yes, I love it and I'm really looking forward to it! There's much less stress and much more fun!

BUT obviously it would be totally different if I was a lone parent. I can also see it would be much harder if we didn't have a safe outdoor space. Or if one of them required closer supervision because of additional needs/behaviour issues. Or if finances were so tight that we couldn't afford a day trip now and then.

How you feel is valid, and depends on your circumstances. Don't feel bad if you don't feel the same as others who may have very different circumstances. I know I'm very lucky to be able to enjoy the holidays so much. I also know that it's partly because I work during term time - gives me a break to be something other than a parent and the money for a day trip to the seaside.

Are you insane?! Of course they freakin' don't!

Hell no

Well it seems many on this post do 🫣 I have to admit I have found it more challenging as they got older not less! They were easier to entertain when younger little things could entertain them for hours now they are harder to entertain and days out cost a lot of money… also my 9 and 6 year old argue constantly this is what is driving me over the edge it’s the constant bickering and arguing I don’t know how I can listen to it for 6 weeks at least when they was younger they were cute! I don’t live in an area where kids play out so can’t just chuck them out to play for a break 😅 everything needs organising.

No way! I love him (and might even miss him) but nooooooo!!! 😆