Why the school holidays feel so hard!
1
The school holidays are here again and if you are anything like me, they have come as a shock to the system. Here’s why I think the school holidays feel so hard!
1) Having to think of amazingly Pinterest and Instagram-worthy activities
This was fine in the summer when we could go swimming, out for a picnic or just about anywhere with grass. But now it’s October and It’s freezing, the choices are limited.
2) The endless meal preparation and tidying up
”What do you mean you are hungry AGAIN?!”
3) Kids arguing over EVERY SINGLE LITTLE
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THING
Just because they are bored everything is a competition.
4) The absolutely ZERO time out until they are in bed
Instead, you are left fantasizing about ’popping’ to the shop by yourself.
5) No adult interaction all day long
Unless you are at the soft play center, even then your conversation is most likely to be interrupted whilst you go and rescue your 3-year-old from the top of the tube slide!
The fact is,we as a human race, were not supposed to do all of this by ourselves.
Our ancestors lived in tribes and they had a lot of
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help around when it came to looking after children. Even our grandparents lived in the era when extended family lived next door and children could go out to play by themselves.
People who live in tribes in today’s world, do not tend to suffer from anxiety or depression. They have lots of positive interaction with other tribe’s people and they are never alone.
We, on the other hand,may be in quite the opposite position.
Being at home constantly with children is like being in a pressure cooker. The tension builds and builds and we have to stop
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it from exploding.
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others, to feel like we are the only ones finding it stressful and that all the other mothers have this nailed. But that does not help one bit.
So what can you do if there is no help?
Sometimes there just is nobody and no support. But if you start to look within yourself for answers you will be surprised how much of a difference it can make.
Start by asking yourself this question when you are feeling overwhelmed:
”What one small thing can I do today to make
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5
things better?”
The answer this school holiday for me is:
I need structure to my days!
I need every day to have a beginning, a middle and an end. To have a purpose and a plan. That’s what helps me to feel good and happy and like I’ve succeeded each day.
You probably need something totally different to me. You might need to be outside more or to see more adults. Whatever it is, find a way to make it happen. You deserve to be looked after too!
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Josie Louise Brocksom - 25 Oct 16
The school holidays are here again and if you are anything like me, they have come as a shock to the system. Here’s why I think the school holidays feel so hard!
1) Having to think of amazingly Pinterest and Instagram-worthy activities
This was fine in the summer when we could go swimming, out for a picnic or just about anywhere with grass. But now it’s October and It’s freezing, the choices are limited.
2) The endless meal preparation and tidying up
“What do you mean you are hungry AGAIN?!”
3) Kids arguing over EVERY SINGLE LITTLE THING
Just because they are bored everything is a competition.
4) The absolutely ZERO time out until they are in bed
Instead, you are left fantasizing about ‘popping’ to the shop by yourself.
5) No adult interaction all day long
Unless you are at the soft play center, even then your conversation is most likely to be interrupted whilst you go and rescue your 3-year-old from the top of the tube slide!
The fact is,we as a human race, were not supposed to do all of this by ourselves.
Our ancestors lived in tribes and they had a lot of help around when it came to looking after children. Even our grandparents lived in the era when extended family lived next door and children could go out to play by themselves.
People who live in tribes in today’s world, do not tend to suffer from anxiety or depression. They have lots of positive interaction with other tribe’s people and they are never alone.
We, on the other hand,may be in quite the opposite position.
Being at home constantly with children is like being in a pressure cooker. The tension builds and builds and we have to stop it from exploding.
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others, to feel like we are the only ones finding it stressful and that all the other mothers have this nailed. But that does not help one bit.
So what can you do if there is no help?
Sometimes there just is nobody and no support. But if you start to look within yourself for answers you will be surprised how much of a difference it can make.
Start by asking yourself this question when you are feeling overwhelmed:
“What one small thing can I do today to make things better?”
The answer this school holiday for me is:
I need structure to my days!
I need every day to have a beginning, a middle and an end. To have a purpose and a plan. That’s what helps me to feel good and happy and like I’ve succeeded each day.
You probably need something totally different to me. You might need to be outside more or to see more adults. Whatever it is, find a way to make it happen. You deserve to be looked after too!
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Josie Louise Brocksom. I live in Salisbury Wiltshire, I'm a mummy to two awesome boys aged 4 and 6 and step mummy to two gorgeous girls aged 10 and 13. I'm a Hypnotherapist and Coach specialising in women's emotional health and well-being. I love people watching, talking about the joys of parenting and trying to find the funny side of any situation.
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