I think being out and about with a toddler is much easier than being at home - agree or not?

[Gateau]

Even before DS I have never been stay-at-home all day person. It makes me down-in-the-dumps and I get dull headaches.
But now I have DS (2) I just find out being out and about is SO much easier. I work three days a week but when I'm at home with him, in the house, I get next to no housework anyway (DS has never been the best at independent play) which is frustrating and what I do do gets undone at top speed anyway!
Plus I do find playing with the same ols same old toys over and over again gets a bit ttedious and I do feel guilty about this.
So I go out as much as possible with DS, and it's been like this from day one. However I knwo lots of Mums who spend a lot of time in the house with their DC and I just wonder how they do it; or am I the odd one?

[Mintyy]

Completely agree with you Gateau.

Actually, even though my dc are now at school and I am not working atm, I still prefer being out. I hate "pottering around the house".

[used2bthin]

I agree. Much easier I find. I also fel down if I don't get out at least once a day. I actually find it hard to be in too much with DD, I have tried a few times and ended up going out at 11 or something!

[BlueKangerooWonders]

Agree 100%. Always got to get out - for mum's sake as well as child's.

[RenagadeMum]

I am rarely in the house.

Can't do the whole puzzle, trainset thing.
Have to be at toddler groups, library, cafes, parks for most of the day.

Quite envy those who have nice quiet children who like to be at home and not start chewing the furniture!

[Pinkjenny]

Totally agree Gateau. We are always out and about, running errands, meeting up with friends etc etc. Dd starts to climb the walls by about 11am and inevitably starts playing up.

She has always been like this. I was pounding shopping centres with her in the pram when she was tiny by 9am every day!

[BettyTurnip]

I certainly agree if you've only got one toddler. However, I do find it hard work to be out and about with three under 5 (not to mention downright traumatising if it's the supermarket).

Park, softplay, those type of places aren't too bad but have to watch dd2 (2y11m) like a hawk, not always possible when I might be busy with one of the other two.

[Meglet]

agree. Food in the park is best, no mess to clear up.

When we're at home it descends into carnage and 24/7 cebeebies .

[smultronstallet]

I am guilty of not taking my DS out enough, but it is precisely because he is not a quiet well behaved child. Most outings tend to end up with me getting pretty harrassed and him having some kind of wobbly.

I do take him out at least once a day to the park or whatever, for example we went to the local library this morning to choose books, then home via the park, but by the time we got home I felt relieved. He is what you might call "spirited".

I hate mother and toddler groups! He has nursery 2 mornings a week though, and mixes with kids at the swings and when I have friends with kids over.

Don't understand the cafe thing - would love to, but DS is just too full of beans and runs around like a crazy thing - last time I went with a friend and her kid, same age as DS, we had to sidle out shamefacedly as DS was too loud.

[suwoo]

I'm the opposite, I prefer to stay in. I'm not sure if thats just because I'm lazy? I do the school runs and then I work evenings so I prefer to be in during the day. We do go to toddler group once a week and DS does 2 afternoons at playgroup.

He does play very well by himself- can occupy himself for hours, so maybe that helps.

[Habbibu]

Out all morning, well and truly knackering dd on beach, or playpark, or fields, and then she sleeps half the afternoon... ideal.

[janx]

Another vote for being outdoors - wear them out like dogs . I am a much parent when I am out too...my flat is too small to stay in with two under 5s - so come rain or shine we are out - park, groups, library. My dd can play v well inside , but ds 19 months just wrecks the place

[Gateau]

For all those outdoorsy people, do you think it's okay then for us not to spend a lot of time playing with our DCs and their toys at home?

[janx]

Of course - whatever works...why worry about it?

[Pinkjenny]

Whatever gets you through the day imo.

[Gateau]

I guess so.
Would love to take DS to the library but it's in a temporary building at the mo and the children's library is on the same level as the rest of the library. Before, it had its own space in the basement so i didn't have to worry about DS disturbing the "silence."
I know people have to accpet kids are kids but I wouldn't feel comfortable if was running around shouting in such a quiet place.

[Pinkjenny]

It's not like we are subjecting them to clothes shopping trips (god forbid) etc. We are taking them to the park, on outings, to mix with other kids etc etc.

[Gateau]

True, pinkjenny.
I love being out in the fresh air; there's so much to see and teach them. And of course it's nice to have a cuppa (and cake) in different surroundings: that's a must

[Pinkjenny]

Agreed.

[suwoo]

Ha PinkJenny, as you well know DS loves clothes shopping trips. he loves our weekly foray to town .

[Pinkjenny]

A is like a magpie, she finds the accessory stands and pulls all the necklaces and bracelets off and puts them on. Or sometimes she tries all the shoes on. It's impossible.

Grr. You send me yours and I'll send you mine.

[arabicabean]

I actually like both.
We usually play in his playroom after breakfast. He can exhaust himself on the indoor trampoline while I read to him. He also has loads to do in his room. In the garden, we have swings, a toddler activity/climbing frame and paddling pools, enough to keep him busy and running around.
We go out after his afternoon nap. My club is handy for coffee with friends, he can run around (the informal bar) and it's fine. It's also in a lovely estate, so great for walks. Cafes and restaurants present a bit of a challenge, but shops and the high street are fun for him.

[suwoo]

Which one do you want?

[Pinkjenny]

I think I'll have N. A would rather live with M than me anyway!

[suwoo]

at the M fanclub, she has been very good since my hysterical snot and mascara filled meltdown.

[Pinkjenny]