Editorial: Forecast is for cabin fever

Weather plays a huge part in school holiday happiness. Photo/File

Opinion

The forecast for the first week of the school holidays is misery.

Poor parents.

Fortunately for me I'm travelling south - head first into a storm and leaving my wife the majority of the brood with whom to weather the cabin-fever front.

Ironically, school holidays are when we parents appreciate school teachers the most.

How cynical is that?

With the school window closed we struggle to cope with the notion of "fulltime" mum and dad.

From birth until they're 5 years of age we accept they're constant companions, but after that we seem to feel rather shafted.

Yesterday we asked readers how they best entertain their kids on rainy days.

Responses ranged from Lego, movies, puddle jumping, blanket fort and baking. All nice suggestions.

The bigger question, though, is why it's our job to entertain them in the first place. Quality time with kids by all means - but quality time needn't mean full time.

That's why my pick of the bunch from yesterday's responses was the one that read: "Let them amuse themselves, imagination goes a long way".

Spot on.

And let's be honest, parents don't have all the answers anyway. Sometimes it's better to be a spectator than referee.

Or better put, resort to "jazz" parenting - set a few parameters then just go with the flow.

So for all parents fearing that we're neglecting our kids by not being joined at the hip 24/7 these holidays, remember the adage that the two enduring bequests we can gift children are not only roots but wings.