You could take them away on holiday or take them to an adventure playground or a museum or a gallery or any of the usual things that parents should do with children whilst on half term holiday.
I, on the other hand am not going to be doing any of the above for a number of different reasons. Firstly, I’m quite sure there has been some mistake – they have only just gone back to school after an interminably long summer holiday. Secondly, for about the 85th half term in a row I don’t have all three of my children on holiday at the same time. I have three weeks of them off at different times and by the time they go back it will be nearly time for one of them to start their Christmas holiday and thirdly, I am still going to be working.
The two children who are now on holiday will stay in bed until midday. Then they will mooch about in their pyjamas watching “Neighbours” and playing Fifa ’10 until three, then they’ll get dressed and be really indignant that I’ve asked them to do something and say they haven’t got time they simply have to go out and then go out. My third will be at school. When the older two see him all they will say for the entire week is “have you got school tomorrow? Oh. What a shame. We haven’t” and “what are you doing tomorrow? Oh, sorry I forgot. You’ve got school” and so on.
Can’t wait.
So. Here is my list of things to do with my children this half-term:-
Make them tidy up their rooms.
Sort all clothes
Take unwanted clothes to charity shop
Do food shopping
Do washing
Clean car.
Sort garden
Clean house
Organise the last 10 years of photographs
Cook evening meal
The list is endless – and shall no doubt remain so.
I suppose I’d better try and think of something fun to do with them. Do you think if I suggest we do all of the above to music they might consider it to be fun?
No. I didn’t think so.
October 18th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Good plan – mine is similar! However, as an additional activity I am going to make them each fill a plastic bag (delivered through my door by various charities). We will line them up on the pavement on the days stated on the bag, ready for collection. Then we will take time-lapse photographs as they start to decompose, go smelly in the rain and become totally useless. Then send the photos to the charities and hope they feel suitably ashamed. N xxx
October 18th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
You are so right anon – it;s a personal favourite of mine to fill those bags and hope that nobody comes to get them in the meantime everything gets wet and mouldy….Lx
October 19th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Get them to make you perfect soft boiled eggs with soldiers (just been catching up, been away) for your breakfast each morning… Oh, wait, they're teenagers… they sleep late, don't they? Maybe for dinner rather… x
October 19th, 2009 at 2:00 am
How long is your half-term?
For every job done, tell them that they will be rewarded – but don't tell them how.
Job 1: Great – I'll wash all the dirty clothes you found in your rooms.
Job 2: Great – here are bags to put the clothes that you have grown out of in.
etc etc. It won't work, but nor will setting them tasks!
Good luck x