Today I was discussing with others, the statements my mother use to say to myself and my siblings when we were kids on school holidays. You know the statements like, ‘can’t wait for you kids to go back to school’ and ‘I am so sick of you kids’, etc, etc. I was not at all feeling sorry for myself, but I was pondering why I had made the very conscious choice to never say these statements to my own kids, as I have always remembered how they did hurt, after hearing them a million times.

So there I was, lost in my own thoughts on the matter, when someone stated that those kind of statements were never said to them as a kid, while on school holidays, as their mother was always at work.

As a kid, I don’t recall ever really thinking too much about whether others kids had their Mum with them during school holidays. I just remember, that my Mum was always with us kids on school holidays and when she had to go to work, we went with her. As a Mum myself now, I am very aware that many Mums have to work over school holidays while their kids either stay home with their Dad, or go to Day Care, or other family members or friends etc.

Hearing this other Mum’s words today, really rang hard in my heart…my Mum never said things like that, as she worked while we had school holidays. Man I am shocked at times, at how something I already am aware of and know about only really ever hits me hard when it comes from a stranger, someone I barely know.

I may not say certain things to my kids during school holidays, although I most definitely may feel it, due to not wanting to hurt them as I felt hurt as a kid. But I am OK and I am sure if I ever did say something to my kids and didn’t mean it, I am sure they will be OK too. My concern for my own selfish impact seems so insignificant in comparison. I feel very fortunate to always, always be with my kids during all of their school holidays and what is the impact on kids whose mothers are never with them on school holidays. Clearly they survive too, but do they grow up to be stronger people, harder people, strive to achieve the complete opposite to how they raise their own kids, or do they just breathe and see things for what they really are?

…to the mothers who work over school holidays and miss spending time with their kids during this time, that so many of us at times may seem to take for granted, I truly believe that as much as today it may upset your child not to be with you, your child will never forget the sacrifice that you made for them in your way, each and every day…

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