The problem is my kids don't want to spend time with me! They'd rather be hanging out with their friends (all of whom are on vacation out of town) and, as tweens, they have been to brookside garden, the trains, and every museum in town millions of times. While I'd love to go to the Baltimore Aquarium for the day with them, they don't want to go because it's "boring." Being home with tweens is a loooooong break that requires lots of creativity to bond with them without going nuts; I'm not up for a Suite Life With Zack And Cody marathon every day but I suck it up to connect with them on their level. Any other ideas? There are not a lot of movies out that are particularly appropriate for them, we've ridden bikes outside in the freezing cold, baked, and now i'm out of tricks!

Let's see, winter break is two weeks, spring week is one week and summer break is eight weeks. This starts from PS3 all the way through college (which are longer).

My 3yo was diagnosed with autism and speech delay. We're on waiting lists for therapists in the area that accept our insurance. Since she's been in school, we've seen tremendous improvement in her abilities. For that alone, I feel that her support specialists deserve time off with their families. At the same time, however, I was worried, because two weeks is a long time to go without therapy.

It's not their fault. It's more of a healthcare system issue. I only bring it up, because the break has an affect that "spend time with your kids" can't solve.

Anonymous wrote:Way to long to spend time with your own kids??? Seriously!!! I feel sorry for your children.

Can't see beyond your small little world? I feel sorry for your family!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not long enough!!!!
-a teacher

+1! A parent who doesn't want to return to the commute. I'd rather keep them home.

I don't understand this response at all. Why aren't you homeschooling if you feel this way?

I think it's perfect. In Korea visiting family. The flight is 14 hours so everyone can get adjusted unlike coming for spring break

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Way to long to spend time with your own kids??? Seriously!!! I feel sorry for your children.

You're mean. I think it's too long, but not because I dislike spending time with my kids. I just happen to hate winter and don't have the money to travel this year. So, I end up burning leave without doing the fun things we would rather spend time doing. Now, if spring or summer break were lengthened, I'd be quite happy.

Not either poster, but here's a suggestion:
Take them to Brookside Gardens or USBG to see the lights. Enjoy your kids.

Anonymous wrote:Not long enough!!!!
-a teacher

+1! A parent who doesn't want to return to the commute. I'd rather keep them home.

I agree. I wish it was shorter and maybe longer in the spring.

Anonymous wrote:Way to long to spend time with your own kids??? Seriously!!! I feel sorry for your children.

You're mean. I think it's too long, but not because I dislike spending time with my kids. I just happen to hate winter and don't have the money to travel this year. So, I end up burning leave without doing the fun things we would rather spend time doing. Now, if spring or summer break were lengthened, I'd be quite happy.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's too long and it has nothing to do with childcare. It hard for some kids to get back in the rhythm of school after a two week break. So its basically its a three week break from learning since the kids spend the entire first week back re-remembering their school schedule and routine, getting back up to speed on what they were learning and have now forgot, etc.

Agreed, too long from a learning perspective.

I think it's too long and it has nothing to do with childcare. It hard for some kids to get back in the rhythm of school after a two week break. So its basically its a three week break from learning since the kids spend the entire first week back re-remembering their school schedule and routine, getting back up to speed on what they were learning and have now forgot, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on your situation. If you don't have to work, a 2week break is great! If you can't get much time off, it is tough to keep kids safe and positively busy. Many people work throughout the holidays and don't have much of a choice. I worked yesterday on Christmas - hospitals, fire, police etc stay open and need to be staffed!

Absolutely! If I didn't have to work at all these 2 weeks I'd be over the moon and we'd be having fun (or at least chilling out) the whole time. Playdates, some museum adventures... but some of us need to work and then no, paying a sitter or scrambling (even if you scrambled ahead of time) for childcare is a challenge. 2 weeks feels *really* long in those situations. Long and expensive!

Anonymous wrote:I hate school breaks. I don't get work breaks, and my budget is so slim that paying for child care is a total bitch. And school breaks don't mean I get to spend any extra time with dd at all.

Yeah, to the jerk above who said "I feel sorry for your kid", I wanted to post something like this, because so many on DCUM are so used to their own privileges allowing them to stay home when they feel like it, they don't understand that for some it doesn't mean much more time home with our kids beyond Christmas and maybe the 2 days after (today and tomorrow) for people with rotten work schedules and un-flexible bosses.

I think it depends on your situation. If you don't have to work, a 2week break is great! If you can't get much time off, it is tough to keep kids safe and positively busy. Many people work throughout the holidays and don't have much of a choice. I worked yesterday on Christmas - hospitals, fire, police etc stay open and need to be staffed!