I, too, insist on the big days out, and yet I often end up stressed and upset by them. For example, I wanted to do a beach day on Fri. So we got the car all loaded up (my husband's car, because I can't drive either! I'm so glad it's not just me!!) and we drove to the beach with the kids arguing in the back. We got there, and instead of the seaside resort with arcades and ice cream that I was envisioning, it was literally just a beach in the middle of nowhere, that we had to walk twenty minutes to get to. I was livid (my husband had taken over the planning, and I thought we had the same vision). I rallied for the kids and put on a good show of being "oh my god so excited by the sand!" but I was so upset. It was windy and I wanted a cup of tea and I was miserable.
My boys have been in holiday club (half days, but only because the younger of the two can't do full days there yet) 4 days a week the past two weeks, and will for 4 days next week too. We don't have anyone that can/will help us either. You have to do what you have to do.
They'll remember that you tried, and that you kept trying. That's what matters most of all. (I hope.)
Aw man, I relate to so much of this. 😂 the not driving thing is an actual ball ache when it’s hot. I can hear people’s air con in their cars and I do wonder how much of my day being a hard one does actually have to do with the transportation of the children, that said, I am making no effort to change it and they do love the travelling on bus/train part of the day, it just really limits where we can go. For that reason actually I have avoided the beach, because the ones near public transport are always unbearably busy. And man do I miss it. I grew up by the sea and I hate that they don’t have that.
I really appreciate you saying they will remember I tried, I hope they do 😂 I will tell myself that anyway. I also worry this time of year I am giving in so much and saying yes so much they become spoil little brats, but it’s fine right, cause we don’t get harrassed by the ice cream van much in winter 🤞🏻I just want an easy Summer 😂
It’s so tricky! I’m not quite there yet but also assumed that the school summer camps would be more popular so that’s food for thought.
The only thing I can offer is, like most things in parenting, you can’t win. If he was at home with you or with family for longer stretches he’d likely be bored.
Over 30 years ago I had to go to the council run camps held at the local leisure centres and I didn’t love them and my mum knew this, but there wasn’t any other choice as she was working and we had limited family support. However, I didn’t hate them either - they were just long days with people I didn’t really know. But I can also remember endless days at home only punctuated by watching the episode of Neighbours shown at both lunchtime and in the early evening! The grass is always greener.
Ahh yeah I feel this. My son has been in holiday camp most of the time and I kept planning to take him to a museum or to a dinosaur thing but then work gets busy or I look at the price of the dinosaur thing (seriously the one in Battersea power station is a fortune!). He loves it but I do have moments of sweaty guilt about it.
PS. Also a parent who doesn't drive! I have a very practical family car sitting outside my house that I can't use. I said I would change that this year but so far failing.
Ah Kylie, I know the feeling. My older son left his childminder in July (long story that I am tempted to write about) and I've been sending him to holiday club at a local school. I do feel a bit guilty, especially as at 4 and not even in reception yet he's one of the youngest and keeps coming home with stories of other kids telling him to go away. But it's cheap as chips and has saved our skins with me returning to work after mat leave in the middle of August. He's very high energy and I simply couldn't have him home all day getting bored. The holiday club is something of a pressure valve!
Oh, Kylie. Kylie, Kylie, Kylie. We are the same 😂
I, too, insist on the big days out, and yet I often end up stressed and upset by them. For example, I wanted to do a beach day on Fri. So we got the car all loaded up (my husband's car, because I can't drive either! I'm so glad it's not just me!!) and we drove to the beach with the kids arguing in the back. We got there, and instead of the seaside resort with arcades and ice cream that I was envisioning, it was literally just a beach in the middle of nowhere, that we had to walk twenty minutes to get to. I was livid (my husband had taken over the planning, and I thought we had the same vision). I rallied for the kids and put on a good show of being "oh my god so excited by the sand!" but I was so upset. It was windy and I wanted a cup of tea and I was miserable.
My boys have been in holiday club (half days, but only because the younger of the two can't do full days there yet) 4 days a week the past two weeks, and will for 4 days next week too. We don't have anyone that can/will help us either. You have to do what you have to do.
They'll remember that you tried, and that you kept trying. That's what matters most of all. (I hope.)
Aw man, I relate to so much of this. 😂 the not driving thing is an actual ball ache when it’s hot. I can hear people’s air con in their cars and I do wonder how much of my day being a hard one does actually have to do with the transportation of the children, that said, I am making no effort to change it and they do love the travelling on bus/train part of the day, it just really limits where we can go. For that reason actually I have avoided the beach, because the ones near public transport are always unbearably busy. And man do I miss it. I grew up by the sea and I hate that they don’t have that.
I really appreciate you saying they will remember I tried, I hope they do 😂 I will tell myself that anyway. I also worry this time of year I am giving in so much and saying yes so much they become spoil little brats, but it’s fine right, cause we don’t get harrassed by the ice cream van much in winter 🤞🏻I just want an easy Summer 😂
Anything goes in the summer, we eat so much sugar right now 😂
#surviving 😂
It’s so tricky! I’m not quite there yet but also assumed that the school summer camps would be more popular so that’s food for thought.
The only thing I can offer is, like most things in parenting, you can’t win. If he was at home with you or with family for longer stretches he’d likely be bored.
Over 30 years ago I had to go to the council run camps held at the local leisure centres and I didn’t love them and my mum knew this, but there wasn’t any other choice as she was working and we had limited family support. However, I didn’t hate them either - they were just long days with people I didn’t really know. But I can also remember endless days at home only punctuated by watching the episode of Neighbours shown at both lunchtime and in the early evening! The grass is always greener.
Best of luck for the remainder of the holidays.
Such a good point, Karen. You really can’t win. We always find something to feel guilty about and kids always find something to complain about.
I remember days punctuated with Neighbours and so so much TV 😂
Nostalgic 😇
Ahh yeah I feel this. My son has been in holiday camp most of the time and I kept planning to take him to a museum or to a dinosaur thing but then work gets busy or I look at the price of the dinosaur thing (seriously the one in Battersea power station is a fortune!). He loves it but I do have moments of sweaty guilt about it.
Thanks for reading, Dominique.
PS. Also a parent who doesn't drive! I have a very practical family car sitting outside my house that I can't use. I said I would change that this year but so far failing.
Ah Kylie, I know the feeling. My older son left his childminder in July (long story that I am tempted to write about) and I've been sending him to holiday club at a local school. I do feel a bit guilty, especially as at 4 and not even in reception yet he's one of the youngest and keeps coming home with stories of other kids telling him to go away. But it's cheap as chips and has saved our skins with me returning to work after mat leave in the middle of August. He's very high energy and I simply couldn't have him home all day getting bored. The holiday club is something of a pressure valve!