Parent's Corner -SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - WHY DO THEY CALL THEM HOLIDAYS?!

Connect & Grow Magazine: Issue 18 - February- March 2025

No, seriously. Who was in charge of naming this? Because last time I checked, a holiday involved relaxation. Feet up, cocktail in hand (or at least a lukewarm coffee you didn’t have to microwave three times). Maybe even a nap in the sun, uninterrupted by small humans demanding snacks or justice in the great sibling war of "WHO TOUCHED WHO FIRST."

You know what wasn’t relaxing? The last seven weeks of snack prep, snack refusal, and high-stakes snack negotiations. The never-ending debates over screen time, the Olympic-level refereeing of fights over absolutely nothing, and the constant, soul-piercing chorus of:

"Mum. Mum? Mum. MUMMMMMMMMMM!"

But guess what? We. Made. It.

WE BLOODY SURVIVED.

And now, cue the angelic choir - SCHOOL. IS. BACK. BABY.

Take a deep breath. Do you hear that? That glorious sound? That’s the sound of nobody asking you for a snack. No one has "accidentally" broken a sibling’s spirit or their LEGO creation in the last five minutes. The iPads are (finally) out of your hands. Even the dog looks at you like, "Thank God, now I can finally get my 14 hours of sleep in peace."

Now, let’s talk about YOU. Yes, you! The person who just survived weeks of being the activities director, snack provider, emotional support animal, and human jungle gym.

What’s the one small thing you can do today that’s just for you? And before you say, "Catch up on laundry," I swear I will personally intervene. No. Pick something that actually recharges you.

Maybe it’s sitting in your actually clean house and just… existing. Maybe it’s drinking a coffee that’s still hot, like the goddess of luxury you are. Maybe it’s sitting in the car, blasting rap music with lyrics you’d never let your kids hear. (Just me?)

Or hey, maybe you genuinely loved every second of the holidays and wouldn’t change a thing. If that’s you -first of all, who are you and what is your secret?! Second, can you bottle up that patience and send some my way?

But whether you thrived or barely survived today is about you.

So celebrate however the hell you want. Nap. Read. Stare at a wall in blissful silence. Or just work without interruption, knowing your kids are where they need to be and someone else is answering their endless questions.

Because you earned this.

Now go forth and revel in the sweet, sweet silence of nobody asking for anything.

YouMatterMama

Written by

Julie Mundy

You can connect with Julie here:

www.youmattermama.com.au

#YouMatterMama

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change