Using holiday clubs whilst I am off work

[theemeraldcandle]

Some background: I work full time in a busy, high pressured job. Mum to four year old twin boys who are going through a very challenging time at the moment, think terrible sleeping, constant fighting, not listening etc. Their Dad sees them every other weekend only, no contact in between. I have some support from family but nobody will have them overnight or out of my house.

Easter half term is approaching, I have some annual leave to use up and will be taking the first week off work.

I use a holiday club during some school holidays and I’ve been offered some dates to put them in on the week I am off work. I’m tempted to book them in 😭 they are so incredibly challenging at the moment. In the house they’re destructive, don’t listen, either play like maniacs or constantly play fighting (which always ends in tears). If I take them out it nearly always ends in tantrums or one of them running off.

I’m totally burnt out from lack of sleep, work stress, lack of doing anything but being Mum and working.

Would I be unreasonable to put them into holiday club even though I’m using annual leave?

As I type, it’s 7:15am, they’ve been up since 5am and also woke at 1am and are currently screaming and rough playing despite me asking them 50,000 times not to

Oh my god do it, why on earth not! Just because you’re off work doesn’t mean you have to be battling with them and struggling, they’ll be different beasts in holiday club and probably good as gold like mine were, enjoy your annual leave!!

Do it do it do it!

Just send them.
Nothing to do with anyone else.

It’s your decision to make as a parent and,as you are finding, it’s sometimes best to keep your decisions to yourself. Everyone will have an opinion and will guilt trip you which is exactly what your mum has done.
Would I do it?
Absolutely! And I did on occasion especially when I had done some back to back sleepovers at work ( should be called something different because you don’t sleep)
it’s a win win.
You get some downtime and they are still in a familiar routine with their friends.

You have to look after yourself before you can be good mums to your boys. Don’t listen to your mum, she isn’t living the life you are living in now. Like many said, you don’t need justify yourself and as a mum, we all support you whatever you decide is best for you and the family, don’t let anyone else to tell you otherwise!

This!
if you can afford to do it I absolutely would and they’d enjoy it too.

Thankyou to everyone on this thread 🥺, I don’t know why but part of me was expecting to be vilified for not wanting to spend every moment of the Easter holidays with my children. I split with my ex DH when they were tiny babies so I’ve never known what it’s like to share the load in terms of childcare… and I’m literally always at work or with the kids and on the every other weekend I don’t have them I’m consumed with housework or just trying to rest!

I have booked them in for a few days whilst I am off, including two half days so they can burn their energies and then hopefully have an enjoyable afternoon with me too. It sounds pathetic but I relax so much more when the house is in order and laundry is up to date that having that time will allow me to just switch off when I’m with them!

and I will be looking into a spa day and massages too!