Teenagers and school holidays

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi

Just wanting to sound out a few opinions.

Up until now I have worked at home a lot during the school holidays so I am around for the kids. From the end of this month my job is changing and I am going to need to be in the office for 4 hours every morning. I wont be able to be home until 1.30pm.

My kids are 13 and 14, so old enough to be left alone, but it just feels a bit unfair leaving them every day, especially during the long summer holidays. No-one in my immediate circle of friends and family leaves their kids like this.

It got me thinking that there must be loads of families who are in the same situation. What do you do when your kids get too old for childcare?

My hubby runs his own business so can be flexible with his hours, be he cant work from home either. He could possibly start later and finish later but that would be all.

Am I making a fuss over nothing? At the moment the kids say they dont mind being on their own but I have a feeling this might change when the reality of it sinks in.

daisiegg

Can't speak from a parents' perspective but thinking back to when I was a teenager...I loved being home alone during the school holidays! I remember being about 13 and having to have a childminder as my siblings were younger and I HATED it. As soon as I was left by myself I loved it. I didn't want my mum around telling me what to do and waking me up early!

When we were left home alone as teenagers during the holidays, my mum used to write us a note with a couple of chores she wanted done during the day, each day. She also often used to leave a bit of money and instructions to go to the shops for something - I know now this was just to get us out the house and make sure we were not still in our pyjamas at 4pm! She would phone at her morning break and again at lunchtime. Often I'd prepare the dinner, or at least start a few bits for her to finish it when she got in. I really liked being home alone in the holidays and enjoyed the independence, space and alone time. I think my mum probably felt guilty but I didn't mind at all - I liked it!

whodathunkit

They probably won't even be up by the time you're back!

balletshoes

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Hi

Just wanting to sound out a few opinions.

Up until now I have worked at home a lot during the school holidays so I am around for the kids. From the end of this month my job is changing and I am going to need to be in the office for 4 hours every morning. I wont be able to be home until 1.30pm.

My kids are 13 and 14, so old enough to be left alone, but it just feels a bit unfair leaving them every day, especially during the long summer holidays. No-one in my immediate circle of friends and family leaves their kids like this.

It got me thinking that there must be loads of families who are in the same situation. What do you do when your kids get too old for childcare?

My hubby runs his own business so can be flexible with his hours, be he cant work from home either. He could possibly start later and finish later but that would be all.

Am I making a fuss over nothing? At the moment the kids say they dont mind being on their own but I have a feeling this might change when the reality of it sinks in.

you and your husband will be able to take some annual leave during the Summer and Easter school holidays though, won't you? So its not like the kids are going to be left alone every morning for 6 weeks?

I wouldn't worry about it if the kids are happy enough and you trust them .

YORKSHIRELASS

Thank you. The other thing I should have said is that we live in a tiny rural village - so no shops to walk to or public transport to get anywhere. However, hubby could drop them off places on his way to work.

The 14 year old is very outdoorsy, he would get on his bike and cycle to meet friends or meet me at work, or maybe take the dog for a walk. The youngest however will just be glued to his xbox the whole time I fear!

I am only a 15 minute drive away so could soon be home if there was an emergency. And yes I will hopefully get a fortnight off in the summer so that cuts it down a bit.

Good idea about leaving them some chores to do, more tips like this please!

daisiegg

Oh I only just realised you would be home at 1.30pm...they will be fine! Like someone else said they will barely be up when you get home

Person_one

Do the council or any local community/hobby/non-profit groups run projects in the school holidays? They can be good for filling a week or two in the longer 6 week holidays.

YORKSHIRELASS

Person_one wrote: »

Do the council or any local community/hobby/non-profit groups run projects in the school holidays? They can be good for filling a week or two in the longer 6 week holidays.

This is something I need to look into. I know the local leisure centre run activities, I have used this for childcare before, but I am not sure of the cut off age.

Hubby has just said there will be some days when he could take one of them to work with him - this may not be popular but is actually not a daft idea - especially if they get to earn some spending money.

And I think there is a bus into the town where I work one morning a week so this might be something to investigate.

I kind of feel that if I have some options for things that they could do it gives them a choice. I suppose my worry is that they will get fed up and bored at home then just argue the whole time.

balletshoes

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

This is something I need to look into. I know the local leisure centre run activities, I have used this for childcare before, but I am not sure of the cut off age.

Hubby has just said there will be some days when he could take one of them to work with him - this may not be popular but is actually not a daft idea - especially if they get to earn some spending money.

And I think there is a bus into the town where I work one morning a week so this might be something to investigate.

I kind of feel that if I have some options for things that they could do it gives them a choice. I suppose my worry is that they will get fed up and bored at home then just argue the whole time.

yes i agree - give them options and get them to make a bit of a plan for the week too, so they have some ideas of what to do with themselves, just to get out of the house.

lostinrates

The other thing to look in to might be what opportunities there might be to do activities over them long break. Generally I think kids probably benefit from some wind down and let loose time (I'm not a parent so that's a totally unqualified opinion) but in the long break breaking it up with a course on something they might either be interested in developing or might not otherwise have a go at might be worth considering? DH used to do things like music camps and academic ones for example. Other friends of mine did ones in various sports they liked, or just organised things as suggested...socially or voluntarily.

newgirly

I started work a few months ago and this half term was the first one I have left the kids alone, mine are older at 13/13/16 but I still feel bad. So I have spent the last few days going into work at 4am so I can be home at lunchtime! The first day I came home to find one of my 13 yr old boys washing up :eek: it might just be the making of them so try not to feel too bad

I should add that I won't be doing this long term it's too exhausting