I knew half-term was coming. I circled it on the calendar weeks ago and thought, “We’ll be fine… I’ve got this.”
But as the week arrived and I realised there would be no grandparents popping by, no cousins to entertain the kids, and no chance to escape for a quiet cuppa—I suddenly felt a bit wobbly.
Because when it’s just you, your partner juggling two jobs, and two very energetic children, half-term isn’t exactly a relaxing break.
It’s a test of patience, stamina, and snack-supply strategy.
Our Half-Term Reality
Let me paint a picture.
I’ve got two boys—one in nursery, the other in school. My husband works evenings till midnight and also squeezes in self-employed morning work when he can. I work flexible mornings too, which sounds ideal on paper, but during half-term? Let’s just say “flexible” becomes “try to answer emails while someone sits on your head.”
No family nearby. No backup. No emergency babysitter.
Just us.
And it’s hard.
The Days Feel Long (and Loud)
By 9am, someone’s already tipped out LEGO, spilled milk, and started an argument over who gets the green cup.
By 11am, I’ve played two rounds of snakes and ladders, broken up a fight over a toy car, and answered ten questions about how volcanoes work—while trying to send one polite work message that doesn’t sound like it was typed by a sleep-deprived robot.
I try to break up the day:
- Morning: indoor chaos (baking, playdough, kitchen dance parties)
- Midday: outdoor time (playground, puddles, scooters, repeat)
- Afternoon: quiet time (lol, what’s that?)
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes someone cries because their sock feels wrong.
No Grandparents = No Breather
I love that we’re raising our kids to be bilingual and rooted in our Transylvanian traditions. But one of the hard parts of living far from home is this:
no one is there to say “Go take a nap, I’ll watch them.”
My mum would if she could. My in-laws too. But they’re countries away, and that gap? It feels especially wide during school breaks.
So we tag-team. I work early while my husband takes the boys out for a bit. Then he disappears into his evening shift, and I take over again—bath, dinner, stories, negotiations at bedtime.
It’s like a relay race with no finish line. And no one’s cleaned the bathroom in a week.
How We Actually Get Through It
Let’s be honest: I don’t have it all together. But here’s what helps us survive weeks like these:
1. Lower the Bar
Screen time? Yes.
Fish fingers three nights in a row? Absolutely.
Crafts that turn into messes? Always.
Half-term isn’t about perfection—it’s about survival with love (and snacks).
2. Divide the Day Into Chunks
Instead of thinking “I have to entertain them for 12 hours,” I break the day into manageable pieces. Morning activity, lunch, TV/rest, outdoor walk, dinner, bedtime. Tick them off like mini goals.
3. Plan One Outing a Day
Even if it’s just a walk to the shop. Getting out resets everyone’s mood. I don’t aim for big adventures—just something to break up the cabin fever.
4. Prep the Night Before
I lay out clothes, snacks, and ideas the night before so mornings run smoother. If I get 30 minutes to work in peace, it’s a win.
5. Celebrate the Small Wins
Everyone dressed before 10? Win.
No one cried during lunch? Win.
I drank a coffee before it went cold? MIRACLE.
There’s Also Magic in the Mess
Yes, it’s exhausting. Yes, I long for help sometimes. But there are moments, between the chaos, that remind me why it’s worth it.
Like when my 6-year-old reads to his little brother in Hungarian, or when they fall asleep holding hands after a big day at the park.
Like when my 3-year-old randomly says “Te vagy a legjobb anya” (“You’re the best mum”) with sticky fingers and chocolate on his face.
Half-term might stretch us, but it also holds space for memories we’ll treasure one day. And until then—I’ll keep showing up, mess and all.
Final Thoughts: To the Mums Doing It All (Without a Break)
If you’re parenting through half-term without grandparents, relatives, or much outside help—I see you.
You’re doing something incredibly hard, and you’re doing it with love, even when your patience is running low.
You might feel like you’re just getting through the day, but your kids? They see safety, fun, and comfort in you.
So here’s to us—the tired, tag-teaming, snack-packing parents.
You’re not alone. And you’re doing amazing.
With love and LEGO underfoot,
Krisztina 💛
