Summer Holidays – Week 1
Alexa, play Holiday by Madonna. 🎶
It’s been one week since the start of the holidays, and by 2pm on DAY ONE, yes, you read that right, DAY ONE, after the umpteenth snack request, I found myself spiralling into some deep philosophical pondering:
“Why is it called ‘school summer holidays’ anyway?”
“Could it be because it’s actually for the school and not for us parents?”
“What is the true essence of the school summer holidays? Is this even about the students?!”
My mind was doing Olympic-level mental gymnastics at this point. Because honestly, who are we kidding? This is not a holiday for parents. It’s a hostage situation with snacks.
👋🏽 But before I descend further into this existential hole, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Alice Adams, mum to a fabulous 5-year-old girl and 4-year-old twin boys (yes, twins… send help). I’ll be your tour guide for the KIRO Summer Blog Takeover, where I’ll be sharing my tales of survival, sanity-saving tips, and hilarious holiday hiccups along the way.
Let’s get into it.
Prepared? I Thought I Was…
As a proud Type-A personality, I was ready. I’d done my Costco run like the ultimate project manager I am, cape optional, confidence mandatory. I stood in the snack aisle, not as a regular mom—oh no—but as a woman on a mission. I was not going to be that parent doing a desperate corner shop run for granola bars at 8pm. Not today, Satan 🤨
My trolley looked like it was curated by a food-insecure squirrel preparing for winter. And I was proud.
But alas—nobody warned me that this heroic Costco run would be the first of many. Half the snacks—yes, HALF—were gone before Friday. And here I am, one week in, typing out a fresh Costco list. I wasn’t as prepared for this as I thought 😣
Week 1: ✅
Pantry: ❌
Costco: See you soon.
Operation: Chill Week
I told myself I’d use the first week to just breathe. No school runs. No wrestling kids into shoes at 7:55am. No dinner debates at 5:45pm. Just a soft launch into the chaos of summer. I dared to believe—just maybe—this was my holiday too.
I opened the garden doors like some sort of whimsical play fairy and encouraged “new” activities (i.e., I dragged dusty old toys from the garage and crossed my fingers). I needed a strategy—something that would burn energy fast. Enter: The Trampoline.
Big Toy Purchase = Big Hope
I had done the research. Bouncing on a trampoline for 10–15 minutes is the calorie-burning equivalent of 30+ minutes of running. (Do with that info what you will). I was sold.
This trampoline was going to be my summer MVP. My outdoor engagement magnet. My tired-kid generator. Once they were on it, I imagined them bouncing for hours, building strong legs and even stronger afternoon naps. A girl can dream 😂.
My husband clicked Order, and I imagined the glorious 12 ft structure as a centrepiece in our garden—a shrine to maternal genius, visible from the living room couch and conveniently located next to my coffee table. Bliss.
Week 1: ✅
Costco run: Done (and nearly depleted)
Big Toy: On the way
Hope: Still intact
One Big Activity a Week: The Zoo 🐘
I also decided that every week we’d do one big activity.
For Week 1, we went all in: The Zoo—a 2.5-hour drive away.
Now listen. This trip came for my soul. I left part of myself in that lion enclosure. BUT, it was 100% worth it. The kids were at that perfect age—curious, energetic, and genuinely hyped to see every single animal. They followed the zoo map like tiny adventurers, marched their tiny legs across miles of terrain, and yes—still asked for snacks every 10 minutes—but they were happy 🥰.
Was it pricey? Absolutely.
- £115 for 5 entry tickets – ✅
- £45 for food – ✅
- £75 in petrol – ✅
Total: £235
Emotional Damage: Mild
Regrets: None
And then—after I survived the journey home, still managed bath time, and finally tucked them into bed—one of the twins whispered words that hit me right in the feels:
“Mummy, this is the best summer ever.”
And the other echoed, “Me too!”
My whole exhausted heart melted into a puddle of “aww.”
I’m tired.
My pantry’s on life support.
There’s a 12 ft trampoline still in the box.
I’m £235 lighter.
But you know what? I’m content.
Bring on Week 2 💪🏻.
Till then, fellow Summer-Holiday Survivors—stay hydrated, stay stocked, and stay alive.
xoxo
Alice
