Sunday 27 October 2013

Half term, in all its wonderfulness.

It's half term. Some of you will be girded for a change in routine; others will wonder what the fuss is about.

When I was at school, life was punctuated by terms, and half terms - there was general agreement that holidays were wonderful and school was dreary, and I'm not going to nitpick that now for of course it's not as simple as all that.

Then I went to university. We didn't have holidays any more; we had vacations - which are much more grown up. But terms were also wonderful, partly because the learning was interesting (at last) and partly because being a student in the late 1960s was just the very best thing to be.

I went to work. Suddenly there were just seasons. Interruptions were confined to Christmas and Easter and a week or so in the summer (taken to fit in with others who had children - which never bothered me. I didn't need to fight my way to Cornwall on the M4 in August, and they did.)

Then I had my own children. Terms were time when I could juggle work and home more easily - but came with their own stresses, like homework. (I was pretty rubbish at homework when I was at school myself; by the time my own children had it I was useless.) I loved school holidays - I'd take as much time off as possible and play. There were never enough time for playing.

The children grew, as children do. Life returned to its seasonal fluctuations; I recognised that winter is not my best time of year and so began to go walkabout when the nights are at their longest. No longer would I notice terms, nor half terms ...

But now I have grandchildren. And this half term, three of them are coming. Some of you know of the six-year old - he is bringing his twin brothers (aged two), and his mum. Where will we all sleep? Have I bought enough tins of beans, sausages, ice creams? Will my neighbours bang on the wall when we make too much noise (that's very unlikely, as I have wonderful neighbours)? Will we lose a child playing hide and seek in the garden (that's quite likely)? Is the river too angry after the storm for us to play in it? Have I sharpened the pencils, got enough rough paper, thought of a story or two?

Oh, how wonderful it will be!

You'll understand if I'm not around for the rest of the week - I have much more important things to do. It is, after all, half term.

14 comments:

  1. I remember half terms - days spent mostly at home doing nothing much. My children didn't have half terms or even terms. They had semesters and days off for festivals. Enjoy yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Miriam - I think semesters are coming in over here, and somehow overlapping the term system, resulting in general muddle!

      Delete
  2. I always looked forward to the school holidays when my children were growing - we had great times, going to children's theatre, visits to friends or to shopping malls... good memories. Sadly my grandchildren do not live nearby; enjoy every magic moment of your special little visitors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry your grandchildren are far away - it's so hard, being a long-distance grandma Do hope you get to see them soon.

      Delete
  3. You make it sound wonderful, Jo. Enjoy every minute! I hated school, and like you, loved university, but that's long, long ago. I am only really aware of school holidays because one daughter teaches in a school. It was holidays last week. I knew because suddenly she was posting things on FB :) The other daughter and I work in both the academic and the commercial education sectors, so we only notice seasons - as you used to do. I would love grandchildren...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do know how lucky I am, Val. Do hope you can borrow some children from time to time!

      Delete
  4. Sounds like it's going to be fun at your house all week! I worked at school for twenty seven years and my life seemed to be governed by terms. I still remember that lovely feeling of a Monday morning on the first day of the holidays. Enjoy your visitors. You sound much more fun than I ever could be! : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet you could let your hair down if you had 2-year old twins jumping on you, Amanda!

      Delete
  5. We understand entirely. Have a lovely week and enjoy them. They grow up so quickly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed they do! These days are precious.

      Delete
  6. Have a lovely week with your lovely grandchildren....I used to love the school holidays when my children were little. Not quite a the grandchildren stage but my son and his girlfriend have bought a puppy which comes over to stay for the day and to have the odd sleepover! That will do until I get my mitts on some grandchildren!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Enjoy your beautiful grandchildren... and I am SURE they will have a wonderful time playing hide and seek in your amazing garden!

    ReplyDelete
  8. When you have no children in the family at school you never know when the school holidays are and to think my life used to be ruled by them. Twin two year olds,double trouble! My grandaughter who's two is much harder work then toddler boy who's three, he is just so easy now that I can explain things to him and he listens. Have a great time with them all, I love six year olds they have a great way of looking at the world. I've not seen my toddlers for over a week as I haven't ben well and I miss them both.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sadly, half-term is over for me tomorrow. Believe it or not, before I resume school, I count the weeks until the next one on my calender !

    ReplyDelete