A SINGLE mum has divided opinion after revealing she’s imposing a daily one-hour “silence period” on her family holiday in Menorca.
Posting on Mumsnet, she admitted the scheme is “brutal” but said she shushes her kids whenever they try to talk during the quiet time.
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The mum, whose kids are nine and six-and-a-half, revealed: “I’m on my own with them. We are having a lovely time. But my goodness – the talking.
“It does not stop. And they constantly need my validation – watching them jump in the pool / dive / throw a beach ball etc etc etc.
“It gets to the end of the day and I’ve been imposing a silent one hour after we get back from the beach.
“And I take it seriously and brutal! If they attempt to talk to me, about anything – I cut them off with a shush.
“An outsider looking in – it would certainly seem appalling.
“The child trying to engage with mother, the mother not even allowing them to finish their first word without telling them to shush.
“But I just feel it’s never ending otherwise. Anyone else relate and so similar? Or am I taking it a step too far?!”
She added: “It’s relentless. They are so sweet and loving and well behaved.
“But the talking and the need for me to acknowledge every. Bloody. Thing. Makes me internally scream. They’re 9 and 6.5”.
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And the plan has divided parents, with some labelling it “way too harsh”.
One mum replied: “I get it’s tough. Find something to distract them, a film, books, iPad etc. While you have some peace but not ordered silence.
“Silent time not ok, that is too harsh.”
While a second said: “I can totally related but an hour is way too long IMO (in my opinion), twenty minutes to entertain themselves away from me while I have a cup of tea is enough in our house”.
And a third woman added: “A whole hour for little ones seems quite harsh. What if they want to tell you they have a pain? Or ask for a drink? Or are feeling upset by something they are thinking about?
“What are they doing for the hour they are quiet??”
Silent time not ok, that is too harsh
Concerned mum
Another mum said: “Wow. Mine is the same but I can’t imagine ordering her to be silent for an hour.
“Going against the grain here but to me YABU (you are being unreasonable).”
And another mum asked: “Would you want not being allowed to talk as a big part of their memories from holidays?”
But other parents thought it was an excellent idea.
One mum said: “I do this every afternoon with my 4 and 5 year old. Good for everyone.”
While a second mum shared: “Every day on holiday since they were tiny we have had a quiet hour when they read or sleep. Still do it now as teens. I’m not even single”.
Another mum revealed: “I paid my two £1 each to be silent on a 20 minute car journey while we were on holiday because of the endless yapping. It was glorious.”
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