Does anyone have weekends like this anymore?

I think it depends on your culture and social life. I’m of Indian origin, have a large family and friend circle, and weekends have always been busy ever since I was a child but in a really fun way. Weddings, parties, birthdays, drinks, playing sports etc etc.

Loads of people do it. They just don't post on Instagram about it.

You've seen the curated highlights of what people you follow have been up to this weekend. The ones who had weekends like yours haven't posted about it. You've just seen the ones who have posted and it's made you feel like "everyone" has weekends like that because they're the ones posting about it.

Stayed inside. Rattled my tin mug on the bars of my cell.
(I don't think that will go against my 'good behaviour' record.)

It sounds like a lovely weekend OP, but as others have pointed out, I think you do know this. We had a cosy weekend in too but it involved a lot of cleaning and admin tasks whilst managing a toddler going through terrible twos. Whilst I did enjoy my weekend at home, in comparison it was nothing as idyllic as yours.

Exactly. If you think your weekends are perfect just own it and be honest. Rather than creeping around with this “I’m not Instagram worthy” bullshit.

And so many events. Everyone must be exhausted by Christmas Day.

Mine are older now, but we would plan one very special event each year. I worked out what would be age appropriate and what could wait until they were older Even if the event was free, it was special because that was THE event for the year.

Now I see, light trail, Santa train, panto, Christmas market, Christmas tree farm, Lapland, Winterwonderland…and a Christmas helicopter trip flown by Santa himself…real of course (sorry, I jest, you get the idea!).

Your weekend sounds great @Ranoutofideasfortheelves.Time together is what matters. I really worry that lack of rest and down time, time to be imaginative and resourceful, lack of time to think and be independent in play, really impacts on children’s mental health.

I don’t think it’s particularly normal to stay home all weekend every weekend and do close to nothing (although when I make lasagne it’s a big bi-annual batch cooking affair that I drag out from one evening until the following afternoon so not strictly “nothing”). Most people have some sort of social arrangement or trip out, diy and housework, shopping etc to do on most weekends. Lots of people work weekends and those who don’t will need the time to catch up on stuff from being at work all week.
There are tons of fun things to do in December plus extra not fun things like cleaning and shopping. I’m as introverted as they come and I’ve had my work night out, a Christmassy day out with my sisters and on Saturday I have a boozy lunch with friends. Over the last few weekends I’ve been out with dh to buy a tree, been to screwfix and wickes more times than I’d like, charity shop donation drop, batch cooking, clearing the spare room for Christmas guests coming and made a pair of curtains. DH is working most of the time and 2 of my dc still at home work part of every weekend. Ds2 goes out to meet his gf lots. Youngest often doesn’t do much but will chat to friends and go meet up sometimes. Dd1 away at the moment and I don’t think she’s been in at the weekend since she was about 11. When the dc were younger there was always something going on - clubs, matches, competitions, recitals, parties, camps, etc to the point of it being a ballache but the idea that you can’t play sport for a few hours on Saturday morning and go ice skating in Sunday afternoon and not have time to watch a fuck ton of television and do a few hours of reading is just not true. You don’t have to go to a winter wonderland or be part of a club or re-grout the bathroom but you aren’t better off for not doing it. If you are happy to sit indoors all weekend and not even go for a walk or buy milk then crack on - just like everyone meeting friends and eating an £11 bratwurst is cracking on with their day.

Yeah, I did apologise to the OP in a second reply saying I was maybe unfairly being grumpy. But I take that apology back this morning . I’ve re-read the OP’s post and it is definitely a faux-naive, look at us as the perfect little wholesome post. Especially the added details like DDog on the sofa.

Now if the OP had actually posted “Am I right in thinking this could just be the perfect weekend amongst the Christmas mayhem” I think the vast majority would agree. Instead it’s the faux naive crap.

Ridiculous comment. You know some people actually have plenty of money and don’t need to put it on credit cards don’t you?

It sounds great and we often have weekends like this. Please ignore social media posts. They are normally just showing those moments. They definitely dont show the kids squabbling, moaning or the bill that needs paid it all. I post very little on social media as I see no need for others to know the ins and outs of my daily life.

This is the weekend I would revisit if I could go back in time. The cosy togetherness just pottering around at home , watching a favourite film. Not the days out although they were nice.

I’m sure this core memory will be what your daughter will remember as having a secure wonderful childhood.

This is what we miss now our adult children have left home and we have lost our darling dog as well.

Sounds like a fairly average weekend for most families. We have plenty of weekends like this with maybe one a month where we do some kind of day out.

We have quiet weekends regularly. But I don’t post it online. When we go go out and about to a new place or a light show or something, then I take photos and sometimes post a couple on instagram.
Instagram isn’t an accurae indication of how we spend our life, it’s a highlights reel of unusual and noteworthy events, not the “normal”.

I worked both days, I do every week.
DH worked from home *self employed), our daughter is at university.
Me and DH took the dog out for a walk.
It was the perfect weekend for us

Depends what you did last weekend and doing next

we had a chill day yesterday. Dd8 wanted that so we stayed in pjs

put up some xmas decs - played haunted castle - watched a movie - had picky lunch on sofa

but next Sunday we are out doing the stuff you say people post about.

we are seeing fc and at a farm

Yes, I think there is an element of that. Why not just say we stayed home, had meals that I cooked and my daughter went out for a play date. All the extra detail is a bit suspicious! The only bit that was missing was roasting marshmallows in the fire…

anyway, I would get very bored doing that every weekend but occasionally it is lovely to have a family weekend at home.

Well of course people only bother to post if they are doing something interesting, not just having a normal pleasant family weekend. Your weekend sounds completely normal and nice. Presumably sometimes you go out somewhere at the weekend too. But doing so every weekend would be exhausting.

Exactly. It poses as coming from a place of insecurity about not doing enough but what it’s actually seeking to do is tell people that the OP thinks her lifestyle is superior and she was trying to prompt people into responding to tell her this (which many have).

If you really are insecure you don’t paint these loving details which could have come from a family Christmas round robin or an Instagram post.

As someone who through no choice of their own has to work both weekend days at the moment I actually found it quite upsetting.

You have no idea how people fund their lives.

And so what if the OP does think her version of weekend family life is superior? We all do what we think is right/better otherwise we'd be doing something else too

It's just the dishonesty that irritates people I expect. I also found the multiple posters supporting OP by criticising people for posting their perfect (and edited) weekends on SM really funny. That's exactly what OP is doing in this post.

A bit smug? Positively dripping with smugness more like!

Millions all over the country OP…..

I'm not remotely offended, I just think it's a little dishonest maybe? Why not post honestly about having a lovely weekend?
There's nothing wrong with that. It's the description of a clearly and objectively lovely weekend under the guise of 'worry' her child's missing out that's got people rolling their eyes a little.

My weekend was spent in Innsbruck with DH becase we have plenty of money and no kids. And yes that's a (not so stealth) boast.

I also find the “everyone does so much” refrain to be quite judgy and tasteless.

People often have to “do so much” because they are working multiple jobs to pay the bills so they have to cram everything into weekends.

Your perfect weekend is fine OP. Enjoy it with your family but stop with the stealth judgement of people who don’t have the luxury of living a life out of a picture book.