So, How’s Half Term Going for You?
Image by Mike Baird
If you’re a working mum, or if you run your own business, school holidays can be a bit of a strain. There seem to be two strategies: meticulous planning so the kids have activities every day OR let everyone stay in their pjs and watch TV, go with the flow and catch up later. I use a mixture of both, and try to avoid taking much work on or agreeing to deadlines over the summer.
When I had pre-schoolers it was easier to carry on as normal. Nurseries usually operate 51 weeks a year even if play groups don’t. Small kids who nap don’t stop napping just because it is a school holiday, so I could go on fitting in work as normal. Now, however, I’ve given up. I love days when I can let everyone remain in their pyjamas until they choose to get dressed or we are forced to leave the house for provisions. Equally, I was over the moon when I got the letter home from D’s school about the summer activity camp they are running for the first two and a half weeks of the holiday. That’s a couple of weeks where she will be happily occupied with her friends doing sports and crafts, and I can pretend that her holidays have not quite started yet!
This week we have a mixture of things planned. A few visits from friends, a few days out and a little bit of doing nothing suits us all. We’ve just completed part of some work on the house too, which means that the kids can use the garden again. We filled up the sandpit yesterday and got out the garden toys in the the hope that they will have fun out there.
I’ve made one mistake, though (due to pregnancy brain earlier this year I suspect) and have a book to finish by the first of June, so somewhere in there I have to complete 2 more chapters too. I’ll be writing rapidly every evening to catch up.
My top tips for staying sane over half term:
- Book some activities that will take the kids off your hands: everyone benefits from some time doing their own thing, even you.
- Arrange for some ‘total holiday’ days where there is no pressure for anyone to go anywhere. We all need time to chill.
- Don’t agree to deadlines or extra projects at holiday time if you can possibly avoid it.
- Stock up with a few new games, toys or DVDs to buy yourself a bit of time if you need it.
- Fix up play dates, ideally ones where you know the parents will reciprocate!
What are you doing to keep everyone happy this week?
I made the mistake of having not one but two deadlines for the end of May before I realised that it was half-term that week. I tried to get as much done the week before but this week am working around the children and at various times rather than my normal 8.30am – 4pm. It’s kinda working out. Luckily my children are 12 & 14 so tend to take care of their own amusements for the most part.
You have my sympathies – hope the kids had a good week!
I’ve been writing about this too here: http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2009/05/22/how-to-handle-half-term-when-youre-a-work-at-home-mum/
Half term I didn’t find too bad, but I’m bracing myself for the six week summer holiday. Sometimes you just feel stretched in all directions.
Hi
Luckily I live in Spain so we don’t have half term but the 13 week summer holiday starts in less than 2 weeks – aagh. This will be my third summer so I’m sort of getting used to it but fitting in working and keeping my 8 year old amused is a bit of a headache. Last year I had a work deadline one month into his holiday so the first month I hate to admit he had to amuse himself mostly. One day he left me a note saying he was going to live in his bedroom as he no-one would notice anyway. I was heartbroken but luckily it was near the deadline so I ended up working when he had gone to bed instead. This year thankfully there are no deadlines but work (working from home) still has to get done so yesterday I started making a chart. I’ve talked to him about it and said he will get so much time with me and then his Dad and then a bit of time on his own and then some time all together. So we’re going to make the chart together to agree on which days we will do what. I’m hoping it won’t be too regimented but also think that without a routine nothing will get done and we’ll all be frustrated. We shall see!
Cheers, Chloe
Thanks for the link Joanne – will check those tips out
Chloe – the chart is a great idea. We have a holiday club at d’s school which she’ll go to alternate days for the first couple of weeks – she likes having stuff to do and people to do it with. That just leaves me August to sort out, and some friends are coming fown for most of the month so she’ll have other girls to play with.
We might make a chart like yours so she can see what to do when.
Antonia
I can’t wait untill my little ones are old enough to attend school summer camps untill then though i think i’ll invest in a sandpit myself, hopefully the weather will pick up and it won’t be such a headache. I ‘m glad i am not the only one who likes to mix organised days out and play dates with lazy Pj days.
These are all good tips, especially the play date one, sometimes those are a godsend.