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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

Does anyone else feel like they waste their holidays?

27 replies

SheerWill · 16/02/2015 14:14

Just that really.

I'm so exhausted from working every hour during term time, including my break and lunch times, that by the holidays I feel like I've been hit by a truck and really just don't feel motivated to do anything. Feel really sorry for ds (5) as I can't be much fun. My fb feed is full of people doing exciting things, while I just want to sit and do nothing while trying to not eat every biscuit in the house.

Please reassure me in not alone. I've arranged for him to have a sleep over round a friends so hopefully I'll feel less rubbish when he gets back. I'm still in pyjamas!! Confused

OP posts:
StrawberryDaiquiriPlease · 16/02/2015 14:18

In the Christmas holidays I was really impressed with DS who when I, in a similarly zombified state was trying to have a morning lie in, actually set up car races writing start and finish on bits of paper. Boredom equals creativity. Dont worry. Give him some paper to draw or some cars or something... :)

TheDailyWail · 16/02/2015 14:20

I think your children need some down time too. So don't feel guilty at all!

ChampagneTastes · 16/02/2015 14:20

I hear you. I'm potty training my DS but otherwise, we're doing nothing this half term.

KinkyDorito · 16/02/2015 19:23

Yes, alternate feeling totally knackered with working to try and get on top of massive pile before I go back next week.

Half term is never a holiday.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 16/02/2015 20:31

I make myself do things, even if it's just going out for lunch or the cinema or something. Otherwise, I feel worse when I go back to work.

KateBeckett · 16/02/2015 20:50

Yes! I don't have kids yet but feel like I just waste half terms - can never get the motivation to get through my work at the start so spend it on the sofa wasting time and feeling guilty about not getting enough work done...

pearlgirl · 16/02/2015 21:36

I've deliberately come away with 3 of the dc so that I am not at home trying to juggle all the stuff I should be doing at home and all the school stuff I need to do - it somehow always feels like a battle and then the older cd just want to do nothing and I am nagging them to do stuff - so I booked 4 nights away in an effort to escape some of it.

LuvMyBoyz · 17/02/2015 00:04

Yes...totally wasting it. Slouched in front of the TV eating for England. Can't shake myself out of it. Don't know why.

petalpower · 17/02/2015 07:34

Trying to get a balance between catching up with home stuff, family time and school work (not sure I'm managing it though ...)

Datahub · 17/02/2015 07:39

There's this thing of people going away at half term. WTAF is that about? Who started it. I'm having a nice time tootling around here cleaning out the fridge with the boys seeing their mates. Kind of resting.

Luciferbox · 17/02/2015 07:44

Snap! My house is a tip and I'm attempting to clear it and do many runs to the charity shops. I've already sent off one car load to the tip so although its not fun or exciting I'll feel better. Or so I keep telling myself.

Springcleanish · 17/02/2015 07:50

Yep, same here, completely exhausted both physically and mentally. Trying to pick myself up today to begin the marking, I know that will take three days minimum, and then I'll be getting ready for work again. The jobs I promised I'd do in the house won't get a look in. Not so much a holiday as a pitstop. Looking forward to Easter though.

thobblywighs · 17/02/2015 07:55

I like the idea of viewing half term as a pit stop! So far I have done school work, had a smear, opticians app and a filling. My poor children have had to be creative and organise themselves. Not doing any work now until Friday when I will go to school and get sorted for next half term. (Inspection looms) It's not a holiday I'm the proper sense but it is a week where I don't have to get dressed until I want to. I like the idea of going away but DH struggles to get time off in the school holidays, other than 2 weeks in the summer so may end up taking them on my own. Looking forward to Easter!!

KinkyDorito · 17/02/2015 08:02

The jobs I promised I'd do in the house won't get a look in yep, same here. Too much work, although I might find myself doing some chores as a work-avoidance tactic later in the week. Never does cleaning the oven become so appealing as when faced with two folders of controlled assessments to grade...

Also, like thobbly, I get all the appointments done. We're all to the dentist and had the car MOT-d yesterday.

Half term is the chance to catch up everything you've piled around you saying 'I'll do it in the holiday'. Easter is better - brighter, longer and a chance to actually go and do some stuff with the kids.

petalpower · 17/02/2015 08:41

Are you me KinkyDorito? I had the car MOT-d yesterday and am going to the dentist today too!

KinkyDorito · 17/02/2015 09:22

Spooky! Us teachers like to get the appointments out of the way without juggling the day-to-day craziness of work. I don't think I could pull off an MOT on a school day without having a small breakdown.

Inasimilarboat · 17/02/2015 09:58

Same! This week comprises of dentist appointments, house viewings, car MOT, post office visits, hair dressers, nails done and doctors visit. All the things I don't have time to do during term time!

Datahub · 17/02/2015 10:35

thats what you are SUPPOSED to do on days off.. tootle

thobblywighs · 17/02/2015 12:45

I guess it just seems so manic because all of the appointments are condensed into a few days, unlike DH who can take days off here and there to get his done.

KinkyDorito · 17/02/2015 12:57

data along with several hours of work each day? If it was just appointments, it would be no bother.

I've been working since 7.30am today, having lunch now, then will be working this afternoon into the evening. Had a 30 minute break to go to hairdresser for a quick cut. Have just had to book DS back into childcare for Thursday as I know I won't get it all done today and will need to go into work so I can access photocopying and resources. So, for 5 days 'off' I will have worked at least 3 by the time I get to the weekend and will have physically been in work for 2 of those. I do have some minor responsibility on top of 22 contact hours of teaching each week - don't want to give the impression I'm just teaching as I'm not, but, like many people with lesser TLRs, we get the work but no additional time to do it - think that's quite common in teaching. Half term is just a chance to get on top of all of it before the GCSE/A Level rush really starts.

Roll on Easter.

FabulousFudge · 17/02/2015 14:03

I'm quite happy with my half term duvet days. I don't see it as wasting my week at all, but much needed recuperation. I try to get the right balance between chilling, fun and getting jobs done at home and for school. A week soon goes though!

I have had my hair cut and my car is in for an MOT tomorrow. I have done a bit of housework (but still loads to do) and a bit of schoolwork. I've been to the cinema and had coffee and cake with friends.

The lady in the supermarket just laughed at me for buying Easter eggs! I told her I need to get ahead of myself in the holidays. I've got my Mother's Day gift and card sorted now too. She asked if I did my Christmas shopping in October (and I pretended that I didn't!)

Being a teacher is so full on and hard work - both physically and mentally. If you want to spend your half term on the sofa, do not feel guilty about it!

penny13610 · 17/02/2015 14:08

Totally wasted having flu, got through Thurs and Fri on paracetamol and have been curled up on sofa ever since Sad

Nonie241419 · 18/02/2015 11:44

Definitely. I'm always ill at the start of any holiday, as I'm generally at breaking point by then. This time, it was a stomach bug which wiped me out from Saturday evening - Tuesday, and I'm still a bit delicate. I have done some work (entering stories from my class into R2's 500 words comp), but not touched my pile of marking yet. And I've only taken the DC out once.

Fourarmsv2 · 18/02/2015 15:41

We've joined a gym to make ourselves take time out with the kids. It means we can just grab the bags and go swimming at a moments notice without checking timetables and birthday party bookings.

Now they've passed their swimming tests they can go in by themselves so at a push I can mark whilst they play.

They've spent hours playing out too which has been lovely. We've finished a few house jobs, school jobs start tomorrow!

phlebasconsidered · 18/02/2015 18:06

I am the opposite. I feel so guilty about being a teacher mum in term time, particularly this sats hell induced term, that I go overboard. I know I will be working booster sessions over Easter so so far this half term I have hosted two sleepovers, a day long cooking play date, and done a country park visit. I have two more playdates and dentists / shoe shopping / hospital appt to fit in.

I have three pages of notes I will spend Sun / Mon dealing with and a big box of work. I am .75 so have a day's grace at least that for once is not taken up by inset.

I also need to plan for an observation so that will be a very late night. This year I am not exam marking to give myself space.