Summer vacation is coming again... [Mom of an elementary school boy]

Hello. I'm acane, a freelance mom raising two children (a 2nd grader and a 3-year-old).

It's coming soon, isn't it? That time of year...

Summer vacation, which I looked forward to so much as a child. Now that I'm a parent, it's nothing but terrifying.

I plan to make a strategy for this year as well, based on an article I wrote about a year ago.

For this summer vacation, my son's elementary school will be closed for 38 days, from July 18th to August 24th.

Even just being together all day on weekends can sometimes make me yell in a low, menacing voice, "Hey!!!"
38 days...?

To protect my children (from the threat that is me), I plan to make a plan for the coming summer vacation.

First, let's organize the information.

[Differences from last year]

1. My daughter (3 years old) is going to nursery school
Nursery school is truly a blessing.
Except for the Obon period, I plan to drop her off on weekdays.

2. My mother's poor health
I am currently pregnant with my third child, and the peak of my morning sickness will likely coincide with the start of summer vacation. It is almost impossible to take the children on long trips during the summer break.

3. I have started working
Although it is freelance work where I can relatively decide my own schedule, I want to continue it, even if only in a small way, during the summer vacation.

4. My son can now go to the park by himself
If it's a nearby park (within 5 minutes by bike), I let him go alone with a GPS. On weekday evenings or weekends, when he gets bored, he says, "I'm going out for a bit," and patrols two or three nearby parks to play with friends he finds there.

[Available resources]

1. My husband
Although my expectations for weekdays are zero, if I can survive the one-parent shift on Saturday, he can take over on Sunday.
My husband's annual paid leave usage rate is about 5%, but when I pleaded, "I'm so worried about whether I can survive this summer vacation...!!", he said, "I might be able to take a week off in the last week of summer vacation..."

2. After-school care
I can have him looked after for 500 yen a day for up to 15 days a month as a temporary service.
I am very grateful for this.
However, it seems my son hates after-school care... Last year, it was planned for 3 days a week, but it ended up being once a week. I wonder what will happen this year.

3. My husband's parents' home
It's 40 minutes away by car and an hour by train.
For various reasons, I don't want to rely on them too much.
My son has stayed over alone once. Even though I encouraged him, saying, "Shall we try staying over alone again this year?", he said, "I don't want to be alone." It seems unlikely.

[Trouble points]

1. It's too hot to go outside
Last year, I planned to go out in the morning and relax at home in the afternoon, but it was too hot to handle!!!
I thought I was going to burn up.
Therefore, it's difficult for my son to go to the park alone during the day.
If he were to go, maybe for an hour in the evening?

2. What will my son do while I'm working on weekdays?
Based on last year's experience, going to after-school care every day is probably impossible. Even if he goes, it'll be twice a week.
On the other hand, I want to continue working, even if only a little.
However, I'm worried about him getting addicted to YouTube.
He's not the type to play by himself, so if he can't watch YouTube and can't go outside, it's inevitable that he'll say, "Mom! I'm bored!!" or "Do this for me, do that for me!"
I'm in trouble.

[Strategy to survive summer vacation]

Based on the above, I will try to think of a strategy for summer vacation.

1. After-school care twice a week
For example, Tuesdays and Thursdays. If it's only twice a week, maybe he'll go?

2. Spend the morning doing something together, and in the afternoon, let him watch YouTube so I can work
Maybe I should just give up on working for half the day.

3. Decide on visiting my parents' home or going out based on how I'm feeling
Every year during Obon, I would visit my parents' home for about a week, but this year, since I'm not yet in my stable period, I won't push myself.
I want to go out with everyone, but I'll get through it with the mindset of not planning ahead and just going if we can.

I had an AI create a schedule based on the above.

Summary

Summer vacation is coming again this year.
My goal for this year's summer vacation is,
"To not lose my cool and end up scolding my son like crazy!"

Every parent wishes, "I want to give my child lots of fun memories during summer vacation!" but this yearI'm giving up on that!!

Instead, I want to spend our time in a relaxed way so that I don't leave him with the memory of "Mom was always in a bad mood and exploding every single day."

We have to make three meals a day, and summer vacation is truly tough, but let's all do our best together!