A WOMAN has revealed she hates the school holidays and feels like a maid under house arrest.
The mother of three explained that she cannot bear the “daily battle” of letting her children use iPads and finds it “very difficult” to prepare them for a day out.
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Sharing her struggles, the anonymous mother explained that she feels like she’s done a “day’s work” just to get her kids out of the house.
Opening up about her situation, the stressed-out mother took to social media to share her feelings with others.
Posting on Reddit, on Thread am_i_being_unreasonable under the username @moofart, the anonymous woman explained her hatred for the six-week vacation.
She titled her post ‘Hate the school summer holidays?’ and admitted: “I really wish I hadn’t done it, but I find it very difficult. I have three sons.”
The exhausted mother confirmed that her children are two, seven and ten years old, adding: “Going anywhere involves an hour of struggling to put on your shoes, wash your face and get dressed.
“I feel like I did a day’s work just to get them out of the house.
“There’s a daily battle over whether they want iPads to watch teenagers on YouTube talking about Minecraft.”
The mother explained: “I’ve been trying to take them to the park for fresh air and no one wants to.
“I’m just a snack and a maid.
“I feel like I’m under house arrest.”
Reddit users flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the mother’s situation, and many voted in a poll to reveal how they felt about her emotional post.
While 59% voted “You are not being irrational”, the remaining 41% voted “You are NOT being irrational”.
How to Survive Six Weeks of Summer School Holidays
IF you’re struggling with the six week summer break, you’ve come to the right place…
FIGHTING BOREDOM: Despite the hours of activities and playtime, if your kids are already complaining that there’s nothing to do, early childhood education expert Liat Hughes Joshi says, “Don’t feel like you need to organize every second of your vacation. Children benefit from boredom and learn to have fun.
“Boredom can trigger creative and imaginative play, but children need to be encouraged to get used to not being told how to pass the time.
“Overcome the urges of boredom. Counterattack with comments like, ‘What do you think you could do?’ and maybe have a list of ‘I’m bored’ activity ideas on your fridge.”
SCREEN OVERLOAD: It’s tempting during the holidays to rely on a digital babysitter, but don’t let them gape all summer in front of a screen.
Liat says, “It’s unfair to expect older children to diminish power, but it’s important to establish some ground rules.
“Establish family technology rules together. If you are often distracted by your phone, follow the rules too. Perhaps tell children that they are not allowed any screen time until they have done set tasks, some exercise, or a board game.
“Are there times when you would like to ban screens altogether? Maybe during dinner or when they have friends over to visit.
“Technology is a battleground for parents, but limits need to be set. Stand your ground and be prepared to be unpopular.”
VERY TOGETHER: You love your kids, but being with them 24/7 can be exhausting. Don’t feel guilty if you need a little downtime.
Liat says, “If you’re juggling work and household chores on top of keeping your kids busy, it’s normal to start feeling overwhelmed or tired and in need of some peace.
“If you don’t have the money to pay or don’t want to send your kids to full-day camps, look for free workshops for kids so you can keep working or take a break for a few hours.
“Seeking a quiet period every now and then doesn’t make you a bad parent – in fact, it will probably make you more positive and enthusiastic when you are with the kids.”
SCHEDULING CONFLICT: Schedules may go out the window during the holidays, but late nights and early mornings can mean tired and unhappy kids.
Dr Tamara Bugembe, pediatrician and founder of Helperbees.co.uk says: “Children get moody, test limits and become defiant when routines are broken.
“Following some sort of routine while on vacation is a good idea.
“We release hormones at different times of the day and when regular meal and sleep times are disrupted, it causes mood spikes and dips.
“Vacation is for fun, but going to bed early once or twice a week will make everyone happier.”
EXCESS ENERGY: Make sure kids get outdoors to tire them out – and make them healthier and happier.
Dr Bugembe says: “Sunlight also increases vital vitamin D levels, which helps improve bone strength and energy levels in children. Our levels are low in the winter, so let the kids fill up in warmer weather.
“Letting them run around in shorts and a t-shirt is the best way to recharge. Make sure they’re wearing sunscreen, go out and have fun.
“Encourage them to try healthy habits like cycling and walking. We hope they get hooked and want to carry them when the weather gets colder.”
REDDIT USER REACTION
One person said: “We banned YouTube completely. They have not been able to regulate its use. I did this about a year ago. They have much more interest in other things now and better behavior. Worth trying?”
Another added: “I’m sorry you feel this way. Do you have anything set aside that will give you some time to yourself? If you could schedule something per week that you look forward to, that might help.
I feel your pain. I can’t wait for them to go back to school!
Reddit user
“If weather permits, different playgrounds and picnic areas are useful. Sometimes, let them have whatever toys they want at home and don’t worry about the condition of the house. Easier said than done, I know. Find other friends too.”
While a third user, another mother of three, commented: “I feel your pain. I actually think it’s harder with more kids than with hands. I can’t wait for them to go back to school!”
Tips for staying organized during summer vacation
IF you’re not sure how to stay organized during the summer holidays, you’ve come to the right place.
Fabulous senior writer Sarah Bull shared her top tips…
FOOD: One thing I find difficult is keeping up with my kids’ constant snack requests.
Even though they have a break at school and then lunch, their search for food during school holidays seems to be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To make things easier, I decided to bring baskets of snacks for them.
They each have a certain amount of food (the same so there are no arguments) and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Not only does this make my life easier, it also teaches them to spread things out – and maybe see if the “hunger signs” are actually hunger or thirst.
ACTIVITIES: It can be hard to keep your kids entertained – and six weeks can seem like a long time.
One thing to take advantage of is having an outdoor space. If you have a garden, you can put bicycles or scooters in it, or even a trampoline.
This keeps them entertained and also ensures that they get some form of physical activity every day.
If you don’t have space for a playground or other activities, why not give the children a bucket of chalk and ask them to draw on the paving slabs?
Or another thing I did was give the children a ‘magic solution’ that I needed to paint on the wall (it was just water and washing up liquid) to protect it. They spent a good hour doing this!
CLOTHES: One thing I’ve used since my now six-year-old daughter started school is to use clothes drawers for her and my 10-year-old son.
On Sunday I put all my clothes, underwear, socks, etc. in the corresponding drawer for the week.
It’s usually uniform, but I still use the drawers during the holidays too.
It just makes things easier, more organized and less stressful – for all of us.
Following the response from Reddit users, the anonymous woman later wrote: “Thank you so much for your advice everyone.
“I just took them to the park and I felt so much better.
Free summer vacation activities
You don’t need to spend a penny to keep your kids entertained this summer…
Museums – Some museums offer free entry to some exhibitions and also organize events for children.
Parks – Go to your local park to enjoy the playgrounds, game areas, courts and splash pads. Some even have trails for kids to enjoy.
Beach – It doesn’t need to be sunny to enjoy the beach, you can swim in natural pools, fish for crabs, build sand castles or stroll along the promontory.
Library – If the weather is bad, go indoors and borrow books, audiobooks, DVDs.
Cooking – Make your own mini cake or Come Dine With Me challenge.
Play dates – Invite friends for a convivial afternoon.
Board games – Enjoy a little sibling rivalry with rounds of Monopoly or stretch your brain with Scrabble.
“Yes, I would love to ban YouTube too. I think I’m avoiding this a bit as I know there will be meltdowns!
“Yes, it’s a good idea to plan at some point. I could occasionally escape at night.
“I find it’s always easier when the weather is better as I can throw them in the garden!”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
