Why Do Holidays with Kids Feel So Boring?
Are you living in fear of the upcoming school holidays?
Maybe your kid/s hate holiday program at school and will most likely refuse.
The other holiday programs cost a fortune and only go until 3pm (and you work full time).
And for the time you do have off, you probably have a fantasy of skipping through the fields with your family for those glorious two weeks.
But... when I get on coaching calls with my clients in the last few months of the year, they usually say...
"I had this fantasy, but I actually don't love being around my family 24/7."
"Why don't I like playing with my own kids?"
"I feel so guilty that I really do not love every second of being a Mum."
In fact, they feel bored, distracted, annoyed and not present.
So... deep breath.
We've got time now before the holidays kick in.
Let’s get ahead of the holiday season and talk about why you might feel fed up when you’re playing with your kids, and how to get rid of the guilt.
1. You Think You Should Be Doing Something Else
Have you ever set your kids up with all the materials for a joint colouring session, only to find your mind wandering to...
the dishes piling up,
the toys scattered across the floor,
or more likely your phone beside you?
You had high hopes for quality colouring time, but boredom creeps in, and suddenly, you feel you should be doing something more productive.
The great news is, you can stop feeling guilty about this. The reality is that you probably feel this way in many aspects of your life.
When you’re working, you might think you should be with your kids.
When you’re tackling laundry, your mind is racing ahead to dinner prep.
Take a moment to observe how often you feel that tug toward “better” options.
You’ll soon realise it’s not personal – it’s just your brain doing its thing (and you can say 'no thanks' and come back to the moment).
2. You Don’t Remember How to Be Present
Thanks to your devices (and a sprinkle of societal pressure to be the ‘project manager’ of your home), being present can feel impossible.
We often find ourselves reaching for our phones or checking our to do lists repeatedly, rather than ever being in the moment.
A fantastic strategy to regain your presence?
Just look at your kids. Notice their eyelashes, the curve of their cheeks, the way their small hands move. Take a deep breath and mentally capture those moments like photographs. Your to do list can wait, even if just for a few minutes, allowing you to rediscover what presence actually feels like.
3. You Feel Guilty for Not Loving Playtime
This is what I call layering a negative emotion on top of another negative emotion.
Feeling bored often brings up restlessness and a hint of annoyance.
Then, when you tell yourself, “You shouldn’t feel bored. You’re a bad mum for feeling bored,” you add guilt to the mix.
Next time boredom strikes, allow yourself to feel it. Acknowledge what it feels like in your body, notice how you want to react, and let the sensation flow through you. You can release that boredom and move on to whatever you feel next.
Remember: family time CAN be boring!
The sooner you stop making a big deal out of it, the more easily boredom will pass.
As mums, we tend to blow feelings of boredom and guilt out of proportion, but remember, it’s just another emotion that comes and goes in our day-to-day lives.
Here’s to a holiday season filled with joyful and bored moments 😉
