Families that don't do anything with children

I agree. I always used to take mine to the park and out with family. I worked pt when they were young but always tried to do stuff with them!

They’re teens now but we still do stuff. Eldest does a lot with friends and goes to the gym etc.

We’ve just got back from a long haul two week holiday Thursday, and we’ve not been far since. Have loved watching tv, chilling and reading while getting over the jet lag, but already getting bored…!

Just can’t imagine being in all Summer. It’s not all to do with money. When they were younger I didn’t have much, but still did stuff!

Not every area has community events, and they may not be easy to get to even if they do. Lack of transport can be a huge factor.

It makes me quite sad to think that you’re judging people for not going out every single day. Not everyone is able to.
Ive not been able to get my 2 dc out everyday or do trips as such, my eldest who is 15 has challenging behaviour which has become increasingly more challenging these last couple months. I have totally lost my confidence in being able to manage her behaviour when out & about. It’s a horrible feeling having other people stare at you & judge you for not being able to manage your child, despite trying my hardest.

I really struggle hearing about how families with these easy children have incredible summer holidays, and always out doing something fun. When I’m at home unable to even think about doing those things.

We’ve managed some quiet walks. My eldest has had a couple days at a school club for sen, so I was able to do things with my youngest on those days.

Considering you say you come into contact with children/families through your work, I would have thought you would have been a lot more understanding & not judging other families.
I too work with children & see how hard it is for other families to get out & about. Sometimes getting their child into the car to drive to a family members house is a massive thing & something for the family to feel great about.

So yes you are being very unreasonable to think like that.

Im working from home 3 days a week over the holidays and my husband 1 day a week. The 5th day my DS is with his grandma. Due to work we cannot go out apart from an hour at lunchtime for a walk if work isnt busy. My DS has to stay in a find indoor activities to do each day. We don't have a choice 5 days a week.

That little boy may well have had a busy summer, he may well have played on his tablet that day but not the previous days. My grandson would say something like this, even if he'd had an activity 6 out of 7 days.

Perhaps, in your work, you'll learn to see the bigger picture. Try not to compare other people's lives with your own. You are privileged compared to some people. A little compassion will help you and others.

‘I met a little boy Friday who said he'd just "chilled out" and played his tablet all summer and it made me so sad.’

There was someone on here the other day who was bemoaning the fact that their child said this despite going on an amazing holiday and having loads of new experiences.

Why do you feel the need to comment on other people, it seems very judgmental and mean

I hear you OP. My DDs were always active. Lots of clubs, we also Home Educated so a lot of museums and galleries and meet ups. I moved to rural Ireland in 2016 and it was totally different. Very few parents plan things with their children … If they’re off school, it’s simply downtime. Horses for courses.

Are you sure the kids saying they’d done nothing actually hadn’t done anything? Our summer has passed in a whirlwind. 6 weeks over and back to school on Wednesday. I bet my DC when asked will tell their teachers they did nothing or they don’t know as they won’t know where to start. The main significant things were near the beginning/middle of the holidays followed by almost constant little things. As school staff too dc will often say nothing then parents will tell you a very different account 😆

When my son was little I would take him to the park and to a coffee shop once a week, which he enjoyed. We rarely went to the beach as it was hard to get there without a car. We could have went to a museum having direct bus route to the city but I didn't know about things like that being free, if they even were in those days. I certainly do remember one trip to that costing a not small amount of money. He played out with his friends from an early age, at first in the flat gardens with neighbour kids and then the street as he got older.

I know you're getting tarred and feathered on here and I agree there are many valid reasons why people don't take their children out, but I have two very close family members w lots of money who do virtually nothing w their kids bc they "can't." They have extraordinarily low levels of patience with their two kids and treat every whimper (or even a little baby coo) like a full-blown tantrum and it ruins their day. They just can't stand it so they don't take their children to restaurants or the park, they flake on family obligations last-minute, refuse to travel, and have ceased to have any sort of adult life or normal social life. (They also both work from home so they are very isolated.) They moan constantly about how they "can't" do anything bc of the kids and how limited their life is even though they have a FT nanny and a night nurse. (Fortunately, the nanny does take the kids on little outings so at least they are getting out occasionally.) So most families are probably trying their best w limited emotional and/or financial resources. But there are people out there who don't find any joy in parenting and refuse to add any unpredictability to their routine. In this case, both parents were extraordinarily spoiled growing up and never needed to be patient or kind to get what they want. I think they weren't prepared for the demands of parenting and are hoping/waiting things will get easier when the kids are older but I really don't know what will happen. It's been sad to watch.

Sure, maybe in other areas.

In my area, it's laziness, plain and simple. The library is no further than a 10 minute walk from anyone in the village and yet parents still don't manage it.

I agree.

I live in a reasonable sized village now and the library is 8 miles away. It’s only open part time hours through the week and it’s closed on a Saturday and Sunday.

you do you boo but don’t judge others

and that’s the problem with the world now

Some people on this thread seem to think there's a library on every street corner.

There is the opposite to this where children literally never spend anytime in their own home and are constantly on the go 24/7. I think a bit of balance is the ideal which can be hard to get right.

Libraries are free. The bus fare to get there isn't.

Wow! Nasty comment imho … lots of people have cancer … the poor poster is just providing a reason. Please be kind!

This! My little one chose to write about banging her head falling out of bed as her big summer event. We’d been on holiday both in the UK and abroad and umpteen days out 😭

coming from a seaside place, we as children NEVER went on holiday, mainly because my parents had had enough of holidaymakers. foreign holidays were expensive (when you don’t do package holidays and only do “cultural”). We would have loved to go to Benidorm or somewhere as kids. Throughout the year though, every weekend we went somewhere of interest, whether castles or stately homes. We always had friends come along (whose parents did do package holidays) but who didn’t do outings. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

I 🤔 because these parents probably had a childhood where they were never taken anywhere either. Poverty isn't just about money, but about lack of confidence, life experiences etc. I have a friend on the Isle of Wight who told me that parents she works with had NEVER been off the island. And some of them, despite living near beautiful beaches had NEVER taken their toddlers down to the seaside!

Some of it in part is down to mid-older teens not wanting to do anything with parent. Mine stay in bed until 2pm then they head out with their friends until 11/12.00 so I’ve chosen to just let them get on with it. The few times we’ve done something special like days at the beach or at a festival they’ve fucked it up spectacularly and have just headed off to town with their mates without telling us group of parents who arranged the days out together so they kids would have their friends with them. I’m also exhausted and frankly cba to arrange anything any more as there’s no appreciation.

Our local library has closed. We don't have a local guide or scout troop either. Our community centre that used to run a fantastic summer play scheme closed years ago.

Your not believing it's lack of money shows you live in a privileged bubble.

I have some neighbours who are like this. Married couple,early 30s,3 kids aged about 9,7 and 3. They have a car,mother drives,not sure about the dad. But I never,ever,see them going out or coming home from anything except shopping trips. All summer holiday,whenever I pass their front door (which I do on a nearly daily basis) I can hear the kids. Obviously, being a block of flats ,we don't have gardens,only a small balcony,but I never see them on that either. I must admit I have wondered quite frequently how they can bear being cooped up all day long in a small 2 bedroom flat.

And your logic is ridiculous. Imagine if we applied that to adults.

"Dave, you should stop going to football on Saturdays with your friends."
"Why?"
"Because part of what you enjoy about it is the company of your friends, so it's a waste of your time. Go and do something your friends hate instead."

"Tracey, why are you wasting so much time getting fit by going on walks with Jennifer? Both of you could go on walks separately. You don't have to always go for walks at the same time as Jennifer."

😂