Summer holidays as a child are idyllic. Six weeks of uninterrupted, unstructured bliss – no teachers, no homework, no lessons and no early morning starts. But ask any busy working parent and they might view the extended time differently.
Without school routines, the summer period can often be a stressful, logistical nightmare in which parents struggle to juggle the exhaustion of full-time work with full-time childcare. Particularly for those without grandparents or relatives living nearby who can regularly help out, summer clubs, childcare and sports camps are often a no-brainer. But in the UK, they notoriously cost a small fortune, especially if families are sending more than one child.
Alexandra Watson can attest to the ways summer can feel financially ruinous for working parents in Britain. She remembers the struggle of working through the summer and paying over £1,000 a month for childcare in Nantwich, a market town in Cheshire. “It honestly felt like we were working through the summer then watching so much of what we earned disappear straight back into childcare,” she says. “It was awful.”
This all changed 10 years ago when Alexandra, her husband and their daughter Theia, now 12, moved to Jávea, a beach town on the Costa Blanca in Spain. “I first discovered the whole summer club thing during her first summer off school when she was three,” says Alexandra, who runs a history YouTube channel and History Mystery Agency, a children’s history puzzle company. “We started sending her when she was about five so she could keep seeing her little pals and I could actually get some work done.”
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Andrew Tate rented supercars to appear ‘uberwealthy’
Legal representatives for Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have claimed the pair deliberately portray themselves as much wealthier than they are because their “business model depends on online attention”.
Caption: British-US former professional kickboxer and controversial influencer Andrew Tate (L) and his brother Tristan Tate (R) speak to journalists after having been released from detention in Bucharest, Romania on March 12, 2024, after they appeared in a court after Romanian police detained them over UK sex offence charges. A Bucharest court on March 12 granted a request to extradite controversial influencer Andrew Tate to the UK over sex offence charges, but only after the conclusion of legal proceedings in Romania in a separate case. The Bucharest appeals court ruling “orders the execution of the warrant of arrest issued on 19 January 2024” by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but postpones extradition “until the final resolution of the case” in Romania, which could take years. (Photo by Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images)
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Legal proceedings against brothers
The submissions follow British police seeking the Tate brothers’ extradition from the US as part of an investigation into alleged sexual offences, which the brothers deny.
Separately, Andrew Tate is being sued in England by four women over allegations of sexual violence.
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Exclusive
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A closer look at the detail
The brothers’ legal representatives listed a number of items that they have shared pictures of online, but do not actually own.
Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINDOM – APRIL 17: The Bugatti Chiron Sport 110 ANS at Salon Prive London on April 17,2026 held at the Royal Chelsea Hospital in London,England. Many manufactures unveil their newest cars. (Photo by Martyn Lucy/Getty Images)
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This included a superyacht which featured in a promotional video, a $2.1m Aston Martin and five and seven million dollar Bugattis. They added that the valuation of Andrew Tate’s watch collection “is based on a third-party enthusiast publication.”
The charges against the Tates
Caption: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA – MARCH 23: Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate talk to the media outside their residence on March 23, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan had flown to the United States last month from Romania, where they have been charged with rape, having sex with a minor, human trafficking and money laundering, charges which they deny. Their bail conditions stipulated that they had to return to Romania by March 23. (Photo by Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images)
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After the brothers’ arrests in July, the Crown Prosecution Service said it was bringing a further 38 charges against them, in addition to 21 existing charges.
Andrew Tate was charged with seven further counts of rape and three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking among other charges.
Tristan Tate, was charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape and three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Brothers ‘unequivocally’ deny any wrongdoing
The pair have previously “unequivocally” denied wrongdoing, with Andrew Tate describing himself and his brother as “very innocent men”.
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Analysis
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world news
China’s top robots compete at ‘Olympics’
Caption: A humanoid robot pair performs in a dance event during the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing on August 25, 2026. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP via Getty Images)
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More than 2,000 humanoid robots are participating in the second World Humanoid Robot Games which started on Saturday.
China was keen to showcase its rapid progress with the technology and one of its robots, Lightning, beat the human 100m sprint record, clocking a time of 9.32 seconds compared to Usain Bolt’s 9.58 seconds.
The games in pictures
Caption: BEIJING, CHINA – AUGUST 25: Humanoid robots compete in the 100-meter small group event on day 4 of the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games at National Speed Skating Oval on August 25, 2026 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cui Jun/Beijing Youth Daily/VCG via Getty Images)
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Caption: BEIJING, CHINA – AUGUST 25: Humanoid robots compete in a football match on day 4 of the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games at National Speed Skating Oval on August 25, 2026 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Wang Weiwei/VCG via Getty Images)
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Caption: A humanoid robot hits a return in a table tennis match during the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing on August 25, 2026. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP via Getty Images)
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Trepidation from the US
China makes the majority of the world’s humanoid robots, something which the US has made clear it is wary of.
Caption: BEIJING, CHINA – AUGUST 25: Humanoid robots compete in kickboxing event on day 4 of the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games at National Speed Skating Oval on August 25, 2026 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cui Jun/Beijing Youth Daily/VCG via Getty Images)
Photographer: Beijing Youth Daily
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Source: Visual China Group
Last month, the US Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security reasons.
The Pentagon recently added Chinese robot maker Unitree to its list of companies deemed to have ties to the Chinese military.
The future of humanoid robots
Experts say humanoid robots are still mostly used for performances, demonstrations and research and it will take time for mass real-world deployment.
The games are taking place in the National Speed Skating Oval built for the 2022 Winter Olympics and opened the same week as Beijing held the 2026 World Robot Conference.
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Nigella Lawson makes Great British Bake Off debut in trailer
Fans of the Great British Bake Off got a sneak preview of Nigella Lawson making her debut as a new judge on the programme ahead of the new season releasing next month.
Caption: MIAMI BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 26: Nigella Lawson attends a Dinner Hosted By Nigella Lawson – Part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series during 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival Presented By FOOD & WINE at Soho Beach House on February 26, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for SOBEWFF??)
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The Bake Off lineup
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Prue Leith backstage ahead of the Vin + Omi: Dysphoriana show during London Fashion Week September 2025 at Art’otel London on September 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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The TV chef, 66, was recently announced to be taking the place of Dame Prue Leith after nine series on the show.
She will join fellow judge Paul Hollywood, alongside presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.
Caption: WINDSOR, ENGLAND – APRIL 17: Paul Hollywood after being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2024 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Andrew Matthews – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Alison Hammond attends the NTA’s 2025 at The O2 Arena on September 10, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images for the NTA’s)
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Filming is complete on the series, with Lawson saying that she has “loved every minute”.
How did she get here?
Now a household name, Lawson graduated from Oxford and worked as a journalist before becoming a food writer. She won the British Book Award for author of the year in 2001 and then moved into TV.
Caption: EMBARGOED TO 2100 SUNDAY AUGUST 16
Undated handout photo issued by Channel 4 of Nigella Lawson (second right) with fellow judge Paul Hollywood (left) and hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding ahead of the new series of the Channel 4 baking contest, The Great British Bake Off. Issue date: Sunday August 16, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Channel 4/Love Productions/PA Wire
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She began with her Channel 4 show Nigella Bites, before crossing over to ITV and then the BBC.
How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
Gratitude
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Caption: Two adult brothers enjoy a warm embrace in a sunny park. They stand beside a decorative fence surrounded by lush greenery, showcasing a strong bond and happiness in the moment.
Photographer: Beatriz Herrera
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Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Journal
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Caucasian mid adult patient writing a diary while recovering in the hospital ward – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
‘One question is how to achieve such a longevity hack when most of us have relationships that unsettle us,’ says Dr Amir Levine (Photo: Oliver Rossi/Getty)
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
Exercise with people you love (Photographer: Morsa Images/Getty/Digital Vision/Abel Mitj? Varela)
Caption: Group of Happy Asian senior women friends shopping and having lunch at restaurant on summer holiday vacation. Healthy elderly woman enjoy outdoor lifestyle meeting and eating food together.
Photographer: CandyRetriever
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Source: iStockphoto
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Leon Poultney, a writer who specialises in cars, gives his EV recommendations, and the ones that should be avoided.
Renault 5 E-Tech
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
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Mercedes-Benz CLA
A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
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Porsche Macan GTS
It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
Kia EV 9
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
MG IM6
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
BYD Dolphin Surf
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
Leapmotor T03
It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
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The kitchen gadgets and products a food editor swears by, all under £25
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Caption: best kitchen gadgets
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book Attached, explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Caption: Happy woman walking with male partner in vineyard during sunset. Elderly couple are touring in field against sky. They are enjoying during weekend.
Photographer: Morsa Images
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Source: Digital Vision
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Side view of affectionate happy couple sitting in the cozy cafe. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Son’t assume your partner knows how you think (Photo: ljubaphoto/Getty/E+)
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Unhappy married couple facing away from each other in a quiet home, concept of emotional distance, loneliness in relationship and family problems – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Caption: Happy couples talking while walking embraced during spring day in a meadow.
Photographer: skynesher
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+
Candid shot happiness and togetherness Asian mother supporting daughter try to standing and walking first time and positive emotion – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Caption: Financial problems. Worried middle-aged woman holding utility bills, managing monthly household budget, sitting on bed feeling anxious. Cost of living concept
Photographer: MementoJpeg
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
Frustrated lonely shy guy sitting apart of others teenagers – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
What to do
Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
No more orange juice. (Photo via pixaby)
It’s estimated ultra processed foods make up at least half of the average UK diet (Photo: Getty)
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Caption: Gail’s croissant
Image taken from https://gails.com/collections/breakfast/products/croissant
Croissants
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
It is mostly carbohydrate and without protein or fibre, it is digested quickly, leaving you feeling hungry.
Caption: Toasted bread and white background
Photographer: Daniel Tamas Mehes
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Source: iStockphoto
Copyright: Minden jog fenntartva!
Yakitori’s on the menu at the Japanese restaurant – but what exactly is it? (Photo: Reuters)
Sushi
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Sarawak laksa is one of many varieties of this noodle soup (Photo: Tham Kee Chuan/Getty)
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Pizza
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Best pizza in Britain named – and owner reveals the secret to its success (Photo: James Linsell Clark/SWNS)
The Government has announced that the sugar tax will be extended to milkshakes (Photo: Scott Suchman)
Smoothies
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
‘Aged 14, I started what I considered to be my own little business selling confectionary,’ writes Beauty Dhlamini (Photo: Getty)
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
Which yoghurts are the best options? (Unsplash)
Caption: BANGKOK, THAILAND – OCTOBER 17: A “KT Herbalist”, a Kratom cocktail made from Kratom, coffee and siamese herbs is seen at Teens of Thailand, a bar in Bangkok’s Chinatown on October 17, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. In April 2021, the start of Thailand’s third and most deadly wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thai government banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars, crippling the already suffering food and beverage industry. With a lack of government aid and support, some bars have shuttered their doors in hopes of reopening post-lockdown, while others shuttered their doors for good. But six months into Thailand’s most recent lockdown, Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, owner of Teens of Thailand, a gin bar located in a renovated shophouse in Bangkok’s Chinatown, decided that instead of waiting for the government to allow the sale of alcohol again, they would take advantage of Thailand’s recent legalization of Kratom. Kratom is a locally grown herbal drug with mild opioid and stimulant effects and was reclassified from a type-5 narcotic to a legal-to-grow herb in August 2021. While Thailand prepares for a tentative reopening on November 1st, the alcohol ban and curfew are set to continue, leaving business owners questioning if the country can revive its suffering tourism industry. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)
Photographer: Lauren DeCicca
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images AsiaPac
Alcohol
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
Summer clubs are huge in Spain, says Alexandra, and the camps usually run from around 8am to 1pm due to the heat. “The thing is, parents have to work here; there aren’t many holidays and wages are low,” she says. She was immediately struck by just how many clubs there were, what they offered, their low cost, and the fact that even with national teachers’ strikes, schools would stay open to give the equivalent of childcare daily.
Alexandra paid £170 per month for summer childcare in Spain from 2016 until 2022, making it really affordable compared with her experience of UK childcare. “The council-run options can be particularly cheap. Xàbia’s [Jávea’s] council summer school this year is only €90 (£70) for a month, for example,” she says.
Summer holiday clubs in the UK cost parents an average of £1,145 per child, research from 2026 shows, up 6 per cent from last year. A recent survey from charity Pregnant Then Screwed revealed that 89 per cent of parents had used annual leave to cover holiday childcare. Half admitted that childcare costs affected their ability to afford essentials, and 88 per cent of UK parents felt financial and emotional pressure during the school holidays.
Over the years at these camps, Alexandra’s daughter Theia has done “everything” from tennis, swimming, cooking, languages, chess and robotics – usually five days a week through July and sometimes into August. “Some of her friends even did sailing courses for several summers. Being a little kid and learning to sail a boat in Jávea – how cool is that?” says Alexandra.
‘I can do all my chores – it’s perfect’
Anna Wardley is a solo parent who also has high praise for Spanish summer clubs. Anna has homes in Gosport, Hampshire, on the south coast of the UK, and Colónia Sant Jordi, a small resort town on the south-eastern coast of Mallorca. She lives between the two with her six-year-old daughter, Grace. Pre-Brexit, Anna would spend more time in Mallorca than in the UK, but now it is more of a juggling act. Still, she and her daughter spend summers mostly in Spain due to the affordable and quality childcare.
“Grace goes to the summer camp from 9am until 2pm, Monday to Friday, and it’s perfect,” says Anna, an endurance swimmer who works as a professional speaker and swim coach. “I know she has a great time there and in that chunk of the day, I can get work done. I can do all the chores. I can go into Palma and buy things I need, meet the accountant and not have to drag a six-year-old with me. Then I collect her at 2pm, we have lunch together and go to the beach.”
Grace’s summer camp, Best Centre in Colònia Sant Jordi, features a 50-metre Olympic pool, state-of-the-art underwater video analysis, and technique swim clinics. International swimmers and triathletes train in the pool and Anna coaches swimming there. It was opened in 2009 by two former British Olympic swimmers, and it is near Anna’s apartment, which she purchased in 2015, years before her daughter was born.
Anna, left, loves her ‘holy grail’ setup because she’s found somewhere she and her daughter, Grace, right, love spending summer, that allows her to work too (Photo: Anna Wardley)
Over the summer, Best Centre runs Campus de Verano, a camp for children from age four to 12. “They do a combination of sporty activities, crafts, swimming, and it’s multilingual as well,” she says. “It’s a mixture of local and international children speaking Catalan, Spanish, and English – so it’s not just childcare, it’s language immersion, interacting with kids from different cultures, swimming at one of the best pools in Europe.”
Six weeks of the camp costs €518 (£443) which works out at €17.26 (£15) per day, and it’s less for siblings – more than half the cost of the UK.
Anna has invited other British solo mums out to Mallorca to show them an alternative way to spend summer that enriches children and parents. But for some, work still gets in the way. “It’s difficult because some people’s employers don’t allow them to work overseas or remotely, and for other people, 9am until 2pm is just not long enough and doesn’t cover their whole working day,” she says. “It works if you’ve got some flexibility.”
From speaking to friends, she has heard firsthand how the setup in the UK can make summers a gruelling “headache and a financial drain” for parents, especially for those without family help. “There’s a real divide between people who have grandparents or family that can step in and provide childcare, and those who haven’t,” she says. “For the ones who haven’t, it’s really difficult. Then that’s coupled with that guilt of not being able to spend the time with your child when you feel like other families are able to. They may get one or two weeks during the six weeks holiday when they’re with their child.”
That’s why Anna loves her “holy grail” setup because she’s managed to find somewhere she and her daughter love spending summer, and that allows her to work at the same time.
Both parents agree that when childcare is affordable it alleviates not only the emotional pressure on working mums and dads, but also has a positive impact on their careers and wellbeing. “When you’re 24/7 solely responsible for a child, it can take its toll. We all need a break in the summer holidays, and it means we both get that,” says Anna.
Spanish culture being much more child-centric and accommodating of parents’ needs makes for happier children, adds Alexandra. “It feels much less ‘children should be seen and not heard’ than in the UK,” she says. “The sunshine and outdoor life obviously help too. It’s just less stressful when you’ve got a happy, fulfilled child who’s been out having fun all morning.”