31weeks, utterly exhausted, how will I cope over summer holidays!

[EllebellyBeeblebrox]

Evening all, sorry just need a bit of a moan tonight. Dcs are 6 and 9 and now finally in bed after massive overtired emotional meltdowns from them both. 31weeks with unplanned number 3, house is a shit tip from rearranging rooms etc and finishing school, I'm trying to handover my caseload at work (have summer holidays off apart from a few days here and there) but will go back for a week in September. Work has been awful last month or two, stressful and emotionally draining. I've got a pounding headache and awful spd and I'm just so exhausted. I'm worried how I'm going to cope with the 6weeks holidays, with two dcs who wake me every morning demanding to know "what are we doing today???" before I've even had a chance to boil the kettle, and torturing each other each time my back is turned.
I know I'm so lucky to have the holidays with them, so I feel like the worst mother for moaning, Im just afraid I'll lose my marbles before the first week is over

Do you have anyone else you can send them to for a playdate? I feel your pain!

Ok. First day: it’s PJ and junk food and TV day! Yaaaay! Give yourself a chance to rest and reclaim some parts of your house. Then plan from there. But cut yourself some slack and do what’s easiest, everyone will survive!

And yes, call in every favour you can.

Pay for some clubs. Round here they are all day for 12 quid.
Play date exchanges
Write a list of activities and have it in the kitchen for quick ideas.
Get up and out early to burn off their energy and less hot. When you get in, they watch a film and you chill.
They can tidy their rooms.

Ooh good ideas, Thankyou. Money is a bit tight but have booked them into a sports camp thing for a few days. Getting out in the morning is a good plan too, strangely I'm much better earlier in the day, by mid afternoon I'm dead on my feet! I want them to have a fun summer, not be bored because I'm fat and tired and falling asleep on the sofa.

hi op you've already had some great suggestions....I would just add paddling pool in the back garden on days you want to stay in but still have fun,picnics,bootfairs (couple of pounds for kids to spend) free walks,some garden centres have family fun days etc I feel your pain although I'm only 20wks pregnant but have 7yr old,5yr old and 2yr old so feel exhausted some days! just enjoy and rest when you can! 😊

Set them a budget and let them have a go at cooking? Good for teamwork, they can spend some time deciding what to make-I’d let them pick a dessert and a main, they can go shopping for the stuff, make and serve?
It’ll need some tidying up and supervision but means dinner is cooked and they get a fun ‘grown up’ challenge.
Even if it’s a packet mix pizza dough and they top themselves once it’s mixed or whatever it should pass a day easily and can be repeated a few times!

Also unsure if it’s out of budget but all the trampoline park type places around us are doing unlimited summer passes for like £20-25. May be a worthwhile investment for some worn out kids...

Have you got a partner who can help? Or friends/family members?
Your other children should be old enough to entertain themselves for a short while to let you rest