To stay at home every weekend ?

I occasionally love a weekend at home, but every weekend? No. Why can’t you all meet up with your MIL and go for cake?

If everyone’s happy and it works for you, I don’t see the problem.
i think it’s quite unusual though and don’t know anyone else who does this, it sounds really limiting. Of course we have some weekends where we don’t have plans, like this one actually. Ds and I went swimming this morning and dh went and did some shopping for garden stuff. Mil popped by for a coffee. No plans for the rest of the weekend either but we will definitely leave the house for some reason or other.
We work hard all week and the weekends are the time where we can do things we don’t have time for Monday-Friday so tend to make the most of it.
I love a relaxing weekend but even with no plans couldn’t stand not leaving the house at all, it’s not lockdown!!

I don't think most people are going to forests, beaches and farms for the sake of it at weekends, are they? If these things are nearby, great. If not, there are holidays and school break time.

We learned to cycle in the garden initially, whether on weekdays or at weekends I really could not say.

Most children did not go to restaurants until very recently. That's an expensive learning activity. If they learn to eat at table with good manners at home, they'll transfer that skillset to a restaurant no problem when the time comes.

People are different but a menu of farms, sea, forest, restaurant etc specifically as weekend learning activity for kids wouldn't be universal or anything like it.

Up to you - there’s no right and wrong, and the children see people in the week.

When I’ve tried this it makes me a bit depressed- I think I’m an introvert but I’m obviously not fully as having no variety or change of scene every weekend is too much for me.

But it’s down to what you and your children like - and you’ll be saving a lot of money this way!

Honestly? It’s not for me. I would understand if it was financially motivated, but I just think it sounds a bit miserable. How old is your other child?

I don’t think it was unreasonable of your MIL to mention it, as it sounds quite unusual and maybe she was worrying a bit. However, it was completely unreasonable of her to blame you for it when it sounds like it is a joint decision that you and your husband are both happy with!

I’d like to be able to do this some weekends but I am constantly pestered to do stuff.

The thing I find weirder than this is people who go away every weekend, more often than not to theme parks. I know a family that do this with young kids. No idea how they have any sort of routine. Or how they afford it!

I think your small children are missing out.

🙄🙄🙄

We have to take our 3 year old or he wouldn't sleep at night (honestly). So we go for walks or to the shops or park or swimming sometimes.
We did the same when our now teenagers were younger but my kids all enjoy being outside, playing sports or meeting friends if yours are happy to chill at home (and so are you) then why not?

Single parent 2 DCs. We're the same at the moment although its not intentional just a result of sheer exhaustion from the week. I need one day to rest and another for cleaning, laundry, garden, and general re-set for the week ahead. If we had a three day weekend I would plan an activity day but I just cant keep up the pace 7 days a week. Sad really.

Every child is different. My child was in a stroller until 4. She’s now a dancer and walks everywhere.

We always went out at weekends when the kids were small but each to their own.

We have the odd weekend in if the weather is bad but when the suns out, we like to jump in the car and try somewhere completely different. Today we drove to the coast and had a lovely explore with DS. Tomorrow we’re going away for a few nights - can’t wait for a change of scenery.

I mean I learned all of that and weekends no, we didn't go out as a family as my parents were working
My dad would snatch 30 mins to help with my bike riding, we would have meals out on holiday, swimming was lessons but I was dropped off and left and supervised by someone's else's mum
My parents ran a pub so worked from first thing in the morning to last thing at night, they couldn't take time off to take me out to places

I never remember being bored, a lot of meeting and playing with friends, going into the woods, climbing trees etc from sort of age 6 upwards

We stay home a lot of weekends, not all but most. DD has 4 long nursery days Tues-Fri and we see family or go out on Monday’s.

We live in a beautiful village with loads of nature and other children to play with next door. Unstructured free play is just what she needs.

The DC obviously go out during the week as they see extended family then.

We didn’t tend to do much at weekends when DC were at nursery as nursery was close to my workplace so had a commute and nursery was quite full on, so weekend was downtime for everyone.

When DC was older we had a dog so had to go out for walks but we weren’t out and about doing vast amount of activities. DC liked being at home

My DC would have driven me up the wall if I’d stayed in all weekend with them when they were small. I had to park one day and soft play the other to stand any chance of getting some peace 😂

I agree with your SIL. Your life sounds very small and limited and that will have an effect on your children. You don't say how old your older children are but I do not believe that your lifestyle isn't affecting them. When do your children learn to swim, to ride their bike, to explore and learn about the forest and the beach, to see animals at the farm, to understand etiquette when eating a meal in a restaurant, to see new places?
The only people I have ever met who lived like this had children who struggle to do anything and struggle to integrate into normal life.
You need to stop thinking that your children do a lot, school plus one extra activity is not a lot by any means. Give them time for free play at home but please start showing them the rest of the world

I need the fresh air more than DS (6yo) but he’s honestly more happy doing arts and crafts at the kitchen table than having big days out. Today, we went to Tesco; that was our trip out. He’s happily helped out with the house work and we are now just chilling.

I personally couldn't stay in every weekend but we like to go out and my 2 year old needs to get out as it drives us mad staying in and he loves little adventures. But that's us!
If staying in suits you as a family then there's nothing wrong with that.

This sounds like my idea of hell but my children also dislike spending much time at home and just fight a lot and make tons of mess. We also don't have a garden. If they played idylling together without loads of conflict and tidied up better then maybe I'd feel the same as you, who knows.

That being said DH and I are both pretty sociable people so I suppose that drives us a little bit too.

DC1 has an extra curricular activity every Saturday afternoon and then one Sunday mornings in term-time. Around that we often visit family or have them visit us, go to the park, maybe go shopping, odd museum or art gallery trip or soft play trip etc. We do have weekends at home though but we all hate them....