Anyone else struggling with young kids in this 2 week holiday?

[Mintiie]

I have a newly turned 5 year old DS and a nearly 2 year old DD.

DD is okay, but obviously comes with the physical side of a young toddler, e.g. nappies, wanting to walk everywhere but gets tired so you need a pushchair, still having a nap etc.

DS is driving me crazy however. He is and always has been what people describe as strong willed. He has what a suspect is PDA but when I read about it I always decide he's not that bad, but he's extremely difficult to parent. Wont do what he's told, whines, moans, puts off going to the toilet, winds up his sister, acts naughty, pushes boundaries and just generally gives
me and DH a hard time of parenting.

Anyone else struggling over Christmas and fancy making me feel better by having a fellow moan?

Also just the mess...The Christmas gifts that you hoped would keep them busy on THEIR OWN for just 10 minutes but they haven't been looked at.
The fact that you still need to keep on top of the washing, and fit in visitors who think your kids are little angels and they have rose tinted glasses on so you can't complain about how shit it is for fear you'll sound ungrateful or like you don't like your own kids!!

Yep, I only have one kid and god it's hard to pass the time! Our usual classes are all closed and there's 5 more days till nursery reopens. I am nostalgic for how this time of year used to be - days of relaxation, lie ins, pubs...
I'm told it gets better.

We've only had a few visitors though which has meant I haven't needed to tidy or entertain much!

Mine are now 10 and 7 and this is the first Xmas in a while that hasn't had me at breaking point! A couple of years running we did the post Xmas break at bluestone which helped, getting out of the house and having activities really helped. It is stressful having to do Xmas and pack at the same time but not staring at the same four walls for the full 10 days really helped.

Solidarity! It gets better!

Lots of time outside.

Lots of time helping hem play with their new toys, building up to being able to leave him for a short time to play himself.

He needs some support and a chance to be independent and resilient.

We get out a lot, and we do really try and encourage Independant play with DS, It's just he'd always rather play with us, every single damn time.

I guess this is just what it's like having kids. It just feels really hard work, especially around Christmas!

I'm still reeling from the fact that we pay nursery for all year rather than term time. It's ment to be just bank hols off but I realised fair last minute they close for 2.5 over Xmas. (We started in Jan)

My child is 3 and SEN and really thrives with the routine of nursery. She is so done with activities I'm giving, rejecting everything and lashing out and trashing the house.

Can't wait for new year!

Yes the nursery thing annoys me too. You pay the same every month yet is December they close nearly half of it! I guess it's to do with staff holiday and still having to pay them etc but it's not great for parents.

I have had another difficult day with DS. He likes to say shut up a lot at the moment. It's like his instant reaction to being told off. He's very impulsive, he'll shout really loudly all of a sudden. I know he's bored, he needs the structure of school etc but god I am finding it hard with all this time off, DD is being very good but it's still like running a nursery.
Don't think DH and I have managed to speak to each other all day..

The Christmas school holidays actually tend to be the easiest for me - because DH's parents visit from overseas, and DH books time off work to spend with them and the family, so I have more adults to help out. And we always have plenty to entertain us as the dcs like all the theatre and other Christmassy events.
But DH's parents have left this weekend, DH will be back at work tomorrow, and I still have 5 more weekdays of school/nursery holidays when I'll be on my own with 2 young dcs. I find it really hard work looking after them on my own as they get into all sorts of scraps, or sometimes they just ignore each other and then I'm left playing with one and having to leave the other to their own devices. I'll definitely be out of the house in the morning every day as I've found we all need to get out to burn off energy.