Holidays

My children have reached an age where they are happy entertaining themselves. I treasure the rare occasion when they ask to do something with me. I used to dread the holidays as I would be the sole entertainer for endless days without a break. These days my children are happy to be on their own and I miss the time spent with me. On a normal day, my little one will be on one of his many games, the girls will be in their bedrooms either reading or listening to music or “doing homework”. I do still take them out for walks, or visiting friends or any outdoors activities. Those activities are more for my sanity than there. I need to be active and outdoors as I am cooked up inside during term time as I work in an office.

Take this Easter, having spent 2 days at their grandparents with my husband, the children have decided that fresh air was overrated and have been staying indoors ever since. Tomorrow we are all going to see some friends who happen to have a 13 foot trampoline. I can’t wait. I want to go bouncing. Then at the week-end I am planning on a walk in the dales.

My children are normally very active but they seem to slow down during holidays. I suppose they are catching up on sleep and recharging their batteries.

When they were little I used to plan activities for every day so we would be out most of the time. They were easier to control and entertain. Now they are going through the “Kevin” phase. I only hope that does not last too long.

Update: since I wrote this post we have had quite a few days where I thought my girls would never get out of bed.

What is it with teenage girls? They go to bed by 9pm and do not come out of bed before 10.30am. How much sleep do they need? Child 3 and I are the early risers in the family. We are up at the latest by 6.30am every day, even in the holidays. I think the girls must have taken after their dad. He is the type of man who could happily stay in bed until he is hungry. He is not a morning person.

I have also noticed that if I plan an activity, all the children will be ready on time. If I do not they think it is ok to lounge around all day in their pyjamas. They are not completely inactive as they jump on the mini trampoline, play on the wii fit, and wii sports resort, go up and down the stairs but on the dull and cold day like today they prefer to have indoor’s activities.

I so wish we had a garden and lived in the countryside. Children always seem to be more active in those settings.

I suppose spring cleaning is an activity they could all join in. lol