Feeling stressed and it's summer!

[Bakingwithmyboys]

Probably just need a bit of a rant.

I have 2 boys of my own, age 4 and 8 who generally need a bit of entertaining but can amuse themselves for a bit.

My classroom is no where near ready. I've spent 4 days in so far and now need to wait til after the "deep clean) so I can put furniture in the right place. I moved classroom so there's been a fair bit of sorting to do.

The planning I've been asked to do is just taking forever. Problem is, I've moved year group, not taught this year group for a long time and the planning has been changed so I don't really know it. However, the year lead and deputy went through the planning and left loads of notes but because I wasnt part of that conversation, I'm having to work out what those notes mean before I do anything. And it's English planning which I haven't done in a few years due to having an intervention maths group to plan for. (We have quite big teams so planning is split).

I've spent every evening planning so far this week plus a few other evenings here and there and don't really feel like I have got anywhere.

I'm also going back full time in September. I've been 0.6 though was 0.7 this last academic year.

It just all feels a bit shit and like I can't enjoy my summer properly.

I know primary is different, but it's the summer- it's not reasonable to be working this hard. If you feel you must then I'd say one more day to go in and sort out your classroom, then no more days in school before the first day back.

I'd also suggest putting a time limit on how much you'll plan each week, and stick to it- if you don't get it all done, what's the worst that will happen?

You're not being paid to do extra work in the summer holidays, so don't do it!

I agree with the above poster. Don't do too much as this is your opportunity to relax. If you must work - get up really early and do a couple of hours before your kids are up. That way you can relax and enjoy the rest of the day knowing that you've done a bit.

You need to prioritise having a few weeks where you completely switch off from work, or you will go back feeling tired and resentful.

In your position I would do nothing more for the next couple of weeks, and then arrange for a couple of days’ childcare at the end of August to go in and blitz everything.

Perhaps I've just been going about it in a bitty way.

Trying to work around my boys means days with them and evenings working but I didn't work every evening at the start.

You're right, I need a break. No more until after I get back from our long weekend away.

I just wish I knew why it felt so much this year. And as for anything not done- how do people actually live by this? If the planning is not done then it's not just my class let down but 3 others as well and then I'm in the shit.

I understand, I put my dc into a summer club fir 1 day and treated it as a work day, arrived at school at 9am and worked to 4pm. Got lots done,a bit more to do and then I'm not happy to do any more in summer

I agree with using childcare. I know it costs money (unless you have very generous family!!) but I've found it so much less stressful to book in 2/3/4 days of childcare and know those are my working days then try to sort it in the evening. Otherwise you will feel like you've had no break and the slog to Christmas is just crap. I appreciate it's not cheap and I do still have to work some evenings but I found both me and the kids responded better to marking out a couple of proper work days.