To say I'm dreading Easter Bank Holidays ?

My kids were babysitting others in their mid teens. It’s utterly ridiculous that they want you around in the evenings while they game. Get them a McDonald’s and go out for a meal with your husband.

Get yourself a family console a switch or even a wii, a couple of games Mario kart Mario party just dance etc plug it in downstairs and have tournaments. We have an escape room at home thing to do. Some crafts for the younger one but my older ones will be gaming mostly I expect.

Oh no socialising with friends whilst doing activities that develop their team building, hand eye coordination etc the horrors.

We're going bowling on one day and then intend to spend a few hours playing pool and air hockey with the dc afterwards at £1 a go. We have an independent bowling alley which is more reasonably priced than chains. Mine are younger 11&13 but I do feel the difficulty of finding things to do. I can tempt them on a walk with the promise of ice cream but how much longer for, I'm not sure.

I don't think we will be doing a whole lot more. Dc were ill last half term break and we all seem to have been cycling through colds ever since. We need to use the break to rest and hopefully reset.

I don’t understand why mid teens can’t be left alone all day. They’re not new puppies.

How old is mid teens? Should they not be revising for their exams? Do they not have holiday jobs? Do they do any chores?

I wouldn't allow gaming all day, nor would I be dictated to by then!

My DH and I are both working part of the weekend, my mid teen will be going to their job and my younger DC will go to a relative as they are too young to be left alone.

Have an informal meet up with other parent-friends (or acquaintances) at your house - kids don't need to move, can chat to other kids and you get ome adult company.

Ask everyone to bring a bottle and some nibbles or a dish depending how much you want to do. I've done this loads, there's always some people who are bored too.

I'd also give these mid-teens the choice of coming with you or staying home alone while you go on a day out locally.

Have a board game challenge - me and son would do this often. Several board games, the overall winner gets to choose the takeaway or film or whatever.

Go to the pub with your husband. It's what you feel like doing. Text all your friends and see if anyone else fancies it.

OK don't leave them for 10 hours, but they are definitely old enough to stop at home while you go on a national trust walk / shopping / pub lunch. If you want to get them out then kung-fu fu panda and ghostbusters are on at the cinema. Or go bowling, crazy golf, rock climbing etc. We went to a Lane 7 last weekend which was excellent for teens.

Mid teens? So how old exactly? If older than 13 there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t leave them home all day. Tough if they expect one of you to be there, they have the choice to come with you.

Why don't you all go out for the day? It does sound very boring if you've got to stay in the house so that your children can game.

Only on Sunday for medium/large supermarkets. The convenience supermarkets - no.

Shops are open as normal in Scotland

I get it op, and I doubt this thread is helping you feel better. It’s more than just a few ideas to fill the bank holiday, I am sure you could manage that yourself with google.

After spending nearly two decades doing Easter farms and national trust day outs. The fun of family life with young children this stage can feel very flat in comparison. Dragging reluctant teens out isn’t fun - yes you can insist - as we do at times but it’s a miserable experience unless they are fully on board. The pub evening sounds dull. I do understand.

Lots of the activities like padel, crazy golf, biking etc are weather dependent. Torrential rain is forecast for much but not all of the weekend.

I imagine the weather is getting you down. Had the forecast been good, I guess you could have enjoyed lots of outdoor fun and picnics. Are you taking vitamin D?

Book a spa day, please yourself - do one family afternoon of their choice. I think you are mourning the loss of little children op, and it’s more about that than anything else.i feel the same. It’s a transitional period, and you are still adjusting.

They won't game all day every day and will see mates etc. They will game in the eves and expect at least one of us to be around.

It's time for them to learn that they are not the centre of the universe and that you and DH are people in your own right, that you have an existence that isn't defined by them.

If they expect you to be in on nights they spend gaming, then they should also expect that they will come out with you and spend some time interacting with you and - within reason - doing things you want to do too.

Sounds like you’re allowing the kids to rule the household. They’re dictating what the family does and doesn’t do.

You're allowing your mid teens DC to hold you hostage in your home
If you haven't left them alone for even a short time by now, you are doing them a disservice
You need to encourage confidence and self reliance
Most teens would love to stay in their rooms gaming all day but most parents don't allow them to

Can't you compromise? Tell DC that you'd like a family day or two over the long weekend, and choose somewhere you know they'll at least vaguely enjoy.

If they're mid teens, you're free and clear to do whatever you want. They can either come with, make plans with friends, or hang around the house. They don't need entertaining or looking after 24/7.

Have a day pottering , catch up on washing cleaning change bed etc. then rest of time do what amuses you. Go to pub if you fancy , the teens need negotiation, do not let them opt out or dictate. So we are going out for a walk and pub tea do you can game or whatever until 2pm or something. We had great time DC16 and 19) in nearest city doing an escape room and street food style meal. we also like cards nights or games or film/binge series particularly comedies. Lots of crazy golf places too. invite friends round for games night, do you have a family where the kids get on?
in short , make your own fun

Tbf OP, you do sound like quite a boring bunch.

I might have missed this but why can't you and DH go out for less than 10 hours....why don't you do a short day trip? Why does it need to be all day or not at all? Pop out for a morning/afternoon if the kids can't be trusted for a whole day.

In the evenings, go out if you want. You can't be held hostage by your teenagers! They can come along if they're too scared to stay at home by themselves.

Surely just pottering around and not doing much is the default for most folks on a bank holiday weekend? What’s with the angst about it? Just embrace it, watch Netflix, eat chocolate and enjoy the break 🤷🏻‍♀️

The new Ghostbusters is out at the cinema, and it’s really good. Very nostalgic and entertained me and my son.

I said YABU because you said the kids are too young to be left alone, AND they "refuse to go anywhere". Well it can't be both. If they're too young to be left alone then they're young enough to be bloody well told "you're coming away with us". And if they are old enough to properly refuse, then they are also old enough to be left alone during the day while you take yourself off for a spa day or you and DH go down the pub.

I'm a primary teacher with three kids age 3, 13 and 16. Not enough money to go on holiday so two weeks' at home. Daughter's preschool term-time only so she will be with me 24/7 and hubby at work throughout.
Can't wait....not!!!

@BeCoralKoala you need to start your own thread . Sorry to hear you’re having an awful time.

I'm dreading it too. I get five days off work but no one to see (live alone, no kids, friends all busy). I have a health condition which is causing me lots of pain so I'm limited in what I can do anyway. I am counting the days til it's over and I can go back to work.

Bet your glad you started this thread op. You forgot this is mumsnet and kids aged 12 are left alone all day regularly and parents do what they want.