How do you “over” indulge your children?!

[Mmmmbrekkie]

I’ve just run a bath for my DS. Perfect temp, dimmed light, lit candle, bath pillow, glass of milk and book on the side.

He’s 8 years old.

He has football on a Friday and comes home exhausted and filthy. Straight in bath and then every Friday, pizza in front of a film, followed by bowl of popcorn for him and his sister whilst I scratch her legs (don’t ask).

What do you do that really is a bit over indulgent?!

I feel really bad that I don’t do these things for my kids. I care for them obviously and feed them good food but I don’t go over and above. I’m going to try harder.

The main issue is that the three yr old is extremely demanding of my time, energy, thought space etc so as the 11yr old is so self sufficient I don’t need to.

Don't feel bad about it @Turquoisetamborine ! I probably didn't over indulge my children when they were little - as just doing the basics was exhausting! Now they're older , and particularly the eldest is pretty much independent , I feel I have the energy to do silly little things.

Thanks dontknow. Think that’s what it is. My Mam completely indulges both of them but the 11yr old really appreciates it.
I’m off to help him clean his room now!

DS13 has a shower every morning after me. While I blow-dry my hair, he'll get out of his shower and stand there dripping wet next to me and wait for me to dry him with the hairdryer. It sounds batshit (it is batshit) but he loves being hairdryer dried rather than towel dried.

I don't think we have many quirks in our house but this is definitely one of them.

Oh, I also occasionally let them use my bathroom as a treat. The DC have a shared bathroom of their own that I flatly refuse to set foot in without a haz-mat suit but DS8 will occasionally ask if he can have a "treat poop" and that means pooping in my bathroom rather than his. That's true love right there.

I hear my sons school uniform on the radiator so it's nice and warm for him to put on in the morning, I also do the same with pjs.

He has a nice hot bath ran for him when he gets back from a particular club because it's late, he's tired and needs a bath but I put loads of bubbles in it and leave a bath bomb on the side.

I always make DS1 a cup of tea to drink in the bath. And I make DS2 cocoa if he;s had a bad day.
I spoil them when they are ill. Duvet nests, hot water bottles or ice packs, magazines and treats, and a bell to ring if they need anything. I do the same if they've had a tough week (except the bell.)

DD, who is 20, but has additional needs, has been very ill recently and can’t go to college. To stop us both getting cabin fever, I take her for lunch in the cafe at our local animal rescue and then have an hour stroking the cats.

She really appreciates what others do for her, and following 11 days of sitting with her for 10 hours a day in hospital, after her discharge, she asked her dad to help her make me breakfast in bed, so I could lie in .

When I became a weekly boarder at 16 my DDad sent me a postcard every week...a silly picture usually (I particularly remember the one that said ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say call me’). These carried on through uni. My DM used to send cookies by post to me and DSis at uni. I remember that far more than presents.

I buy endless charity shop books for DC. We have ‘coffee and cake’ when out (and they have behaved!).