Juggling the Summer Holidays

  

Being a parent means wearing 100 different hats at any given time but during the summer holidays when your little free spirits can truly be free, additional stress and pressures start to pile on.  

  

My daughter turns 6 next week so I am navigating my second school summer holiday and as much as I am organised and ready for her six weeks off, the emotional rollercoaster has started.  

  

I have known since January who is looking after my daughter on each day of the holiday, whether it be me, my mum, her dad or the adventure club. I have had flexible working approved so I can get her to and from adventure club, so if she is nervous I’m there for her. I have her swimming bag packed for her lesson and her leotard ready for gymnastics. I have her birthday and party planned, the design for her cake is sketched out in my head and her nut-free shop-bought cake is waiting to go to adventure club. Activities are planned, camping is booked, the dog's haircut is booked and his dogsitter is ready for when we’re away. The bike tyres are pumped, the roller skates are ready, the tie-dye projects and the sewing machine are all prepped and I still feel unprepared.  

  

Six weeks feels like such a long time to keep a 5/6-year-old entertained and full of the joy I want her to experience. I’m waiting for her to say I’m bored or I don’t want to. It will come, and I must accept that's okay. I am working throughout the holidays with a few long weekends and the last week off. Unfortunately, I can’t be with her the whole time and I know she doesn't like it. I feel guilty for that, and her watching TV and her not being constantly thrilled. I know she will want new toys and ice cream every time she sees them, I know she will want to go everywhere and I can't do it all.   

  

What I can do is my best. I can make sure we make the most of the time we have together. Some days that might look like Crealey and some days that might be going to the park or watching a movie and as long as we’re together that’s the important bit.   

  

So, I’ll forget about other families posting their amazing holidays on social media and focus on the small person colouring in front of me. Days spent reading and drawing are enough, days spent riding a bike in a park are enough, and days spent playing in the woods or at the beach are enough.   

  

I will keep reminding myself that I am enough on the days I am not with my daughter and that I don’t need to feel guilty for working because she is having a great time and on days we are together, we will make the most of it. Whatever that looks like.   

  

Let's just hope the sunshine makes an appearance at some point... 

Lizzy Porter
Digital Marketing Executive

Written August 2024

⬅️ Back to Blogs