I didn’t have my first holiday until I was 17.
I can count a total of two day trips in the whole of my childhood.
I was raised by a very poor single mother who had zero interest in entertaining me and enriching my life with farm parks, welly walks and craft sessions.
Despite what all the netmums blogs would predict, I turned out OK!
Yet now I live in a lovely little town filled with lovely middle-class people who ALL seem to want to spend each and every day of the holiday doing fantastically fun things (and then bragging about them). Which is great, obviously, but the pressure is unreal. Especially for those who still have to go to work, those who don’t drive, those with tricky children or those who don’t want to spend massive amount of money. The constant guilt in a mother’s mind of “am i doing enough?” certainly heightens over the holidays.
Our half-term has been filled with play dates and park trips. One cinema excursion and one swimming morning. That’s it. I indulged in an organised, overpriced welly walk and my little turderoos did not care for it at all. Money well spent, as always. Before, I would feel massively guilty about the lack of filling their schedules with exciting things but after having a lovely half-term, I now see there is nothing wrong with it at all.
“Mummy, I’m really glad I get to have a break from school. I’m so tired and I miss you,” is what my 5 year old said to me.
Bless his little superhero socks, that boy needs a break. Half-term is for chilling and restoring their tanks, not exhausting them even more.
Kids love parks. Kids love TV. Kids love food. As long as you have these three things – you’re good.
Playground Politics 