School holidays through the ages

How have they changed?

Summer rambles with Mildred are on the way

I thought it was about time I took a break from Substack to clear my head and get the duster to remove the cobwebs out of my rabbit 🐇 warren brain. The thought made me realise the schools in my area are returning today after their Easter break. The combination of thoughts, I know a lot of thoughts in this sentence, started me pondering about school holidays. How have my perceptions and feelings changed as I continue my growing old journey?

As a younger child at primary school the Christmas holidays had obvious appeal. There was a BIG build-up at school with nativity plays. You may not believe it, but I did have the starring role of the Virgin Mary at the age of 9. I can still feel and see the shiny blue headdress. Carol concerts and the excitement were building up to Christmas itself at home. Then, after a week or so, calm down.

The Easter holidays were similar, but the build-up wasn't as hectic and frenetic. The promise was the chocolate Easter eggs, and the holidays weren't too long. The half terms were welcome breaks as well.

The summer holidays were altogether different. At the beginning, it was excitement personified, as well as all the things I was going to do—the thought of days of sunshine and freedom running around the garden and playing with friends. But by the middle of the holidays, they became a bit boring. I missed my school friends, and there was a bit of thumb twiddling, pondering what to do. At primary school, we lived a long way from my school, and my friends were all over the area and not easily accessible. Once the end was in sight, there was an anticipation of returning to school, part excitement, part fear. What would my new teacher be like? Then, the cycle all began again.

As a teenager, I loved my holidays. We were living in London. I just took myself off if I had money for the fares or slept as teenagers do. When the children were small, the build-up was exciting again, particularly towards Christmas and Easter, but the boot was on the other foot. I loved making Christmas, Easter and summer holidays special. There was a big but. The juggling of getting everything perfect was very stressful. No, they were never ideal, but I hope my kids looked back with warm feelings. On top of the perfection stress, there was child care to sort out. Having a 9-year age difference, they each needed different things.

There was also the occasional teenage blip. When Sarah was about 12, she rang me at work to ask if she could have some mates round. I agreed, thinking it would be a couple. Our house was terraced; to get out of the garden, you had to come through the house. Sarah heard me enter the front door and appeared in the front room. Straight away, she said, "They are just leaving." I counted 8 of her mates passing through the front room. There was a brief pause; then number nine followed, carrying his dog. I still do not know how 10 of them, plus the dog, fit in our postage stamp garden. In their defence, they left no trace. Even so, as the wicked parent I was, future requests for mates, plural, to come round were refused.

When I was working and travelling, school holidays and my two were adults were my biggest nightmares. The local roads were bliss because all the traffic was on the motorways and major holiday routes. Unfortunately, it's no good if you need to travel to Manchester or Exeter. If I had to go to Scotland or Belfast, I would fly. I could go home in a day. Stansted airport is 20 minutes away, much cheaper and quicker than taking a car or train. The 4 am kick me out of bed routine was usually rewarded with a quiet cup of coffee at the airport. Not during school holidays. Excited children were running everywhere and screaming. Generally just being children on holiday. I was a right grump.

School holidays now are strange. I don't have grandchildren, so they go without much thought. Although, I don't take holidays. I feel that holidays are so much more expensive for families during school holidays. I don't travel long distances. The M25 over the weekends during school holidays is unpredictable and can be a car park. Although, the local roads are much clearer. The other benefit is that now I love seeing groups of children of all ages playing or just walking along and chatting excitedly.

What are you memories of school holidays? How do you view school holidays now?

I will be taking a couple of weeks holiday from Substack. But I will be back on Monday 29th April or there abouts. If you do enjoy my rambling ponders and haven’t already, please do subscribe and share with others.