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Original poster

How can I make weekends less stressful...?

34 replies

mommathatwearspink · 16/03/2019 12:29

We have two DC (nearly 5 and 2) and weekends are just awful at the moment. The bad weather doesn’t help! There is always someone screaming, crying or fighting. We can’t even have a cup of tea in peace.
If anyone has any advice on making weekends less stressful with two young children, we would really appreciate it

OP posts:

EleanorLavish · 16/03/2019 12:44

Eh, forward wind time?

Sorry, OP. I have actually been there with kids that age. It’s tough.
We also had no family about, in fact didn’t really even know anyone else with kids.
We got family yearly passes for things like the zoo, folk parks, etc. Went to museums a lot.
It does get much easier as they go up school, have sports etc, parties.

Ricekrispie22 · 16/03/2019 14:39

Do you live somewhere where you can go for bike rides? When my dc were that age, we had a bike seat for the youngest on my bike, and a tag along for my eldest on DH’s bike. In nicer weather, we’d stop at a pub with a play area in the garden and enjoy a drink while the dc played.
In the winter, we often resorted to soft play. We could read the papers, chat, make shopping lists etc... and enjoy a cuppa from the little cafe kiosk.

Babygrey7 · 16/03/2019 14:42

Routine, every morning have breakfast, then go out for an hour at least (walk, park, playground) in all weathers

I found kids very much like dogs, in that they thrive on routine and predictability

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Imacliche · 16/03/2019 14:47

Could have wrote this. 6 year old 5 year old and autistic 2 year old. Oh and im trying to recover from a hysterectomy, and subsequent bladder and kidney infection and a raging cold/chest thing going on.... im honestly pulling my hair out. Csnt even have a gin later as on antibiotics and hefty pain killers 😑

hopeishere · 16/03/2019 15:28

Agree routine. We went for a walk every Sunday when ours were small.

TipseyTorvey · 16/03/2019 16:51

Agree with the routine! Sign them up to soccer tots/Rugby tots/swimming/theatre class whatever. Something every sat and sun am. Organise playdates for sat avo for eldest. I work ft and for years people wouldn't do weekend playdates but now they will so its great. If you have space get a trampoline and fling them on it with some balloons for 30 mins mid afternoon. Bake a cake every weekend (then that is also pudding with custard for Sunday lunch). There is still waaay too much TV watching in this house despite all that but until summer I don't care 😂

perfectpanda · 16/03/2019 17:05

I always used to want to keep weekend days free but then had the same issues as you. Then dp started taking kids to a club in the morning. Even if he only takes the 5 year old, that structure and routine made our weekends so much calmer. Plus if you find something they can both do ( tennis works for us), you might even end up with an empty house for a few hours.. unless you end up with a dc3 like me and go back to square one!

Ihatesandwiches · 16/03/2019 17:06

I'm with the previous posters - routine rules!
What do your children do during the week? I tried to follow the same timings for wake up, food, naps, snacks and bedtimes as during the week.
It does get easier :-)

PuppyMonkey · 16/03/2019 17:07

Send them to bed at 6pm and crack open the

MrsDeanWinchester75 · 16/03/2019 17:44

Mine are 4 and 6 and get frustrated when we can't get out, today we've baked fairy cakes and watched a film but there's been a fair few arguments.

Dh often takes them to a soft play when it's raining and I go out on my own somewhere for a break.

We've signed up to the National Trust this year and plan to go to their places a couple of times a month.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 16/03/2019 17:46

Routine and keep them busy... it’s knackering but it works.

Up at X time, breakfast X time, swimming, park, walk, lunch, baking and if at all possible do things separately. We have at least a few hours with one on one. I take one dd to do a chore, and my dh takes the other dd food shopping. They are so much easier one on one

confusedofengland · 16/03/2019 17:48

Get them out! Whatever the weather, going outside is so good for everybody. If it's raining, put on puddle suits & wellies & jump In the puddles & mud! It wears them out & distracts them, and at the very least it doesn't sound so loud outside. Then a nice hot chocolate & a bath for DC when you get in & then they can chill at home.

If it really is unbearable outside then soft play or maybe library (The ones I work at have toys, colouring & refreshments as well as books). Or a long drive in the car ending up at a nice cafe/pub etc

Plenty of food too.

DonPablo · 16/03/2019 17:49

When ours were small like that we'd be in the supermarket at 7 on the dot. Do the shopping, go to the supermarket cafe for breakfast and home for 9 am ish.

Set the kids up with sinethu g to play and then an hour of putting shopping away and tidying up. Out to the park or swimming and home for a light lunch. A movie or crafting or play doh in the afternoon and tea bath and bed.

On a Sunday if the weather's better it's a day for the garden usually. And the prep for the week ahead.

senttomefromheaven · 16/03/2019 17:52

Glad I'm not alone. Had a cry yesterday. Weather getting me down and 6 month old being clingy and not letting hubby do anything for her and not getting a break. Hope it gets better for you too x

formerbabe · 16/03/2019 17:57

Go out in the morning and burn off as much energy as you can.

Oblomov19 · 16/03/2019 18:09

Agree routine, tire them out with exercise. 5 and 2 is a very very difficult stage.

RoseMartha · 16/03/2019 18:10

Try and take them out to the park or for a walk/run for at least an hour everyday if possible. Or visit family or friends.

My kids are older but we still need to get out everyday to stop the bickering. And for them to run off energy.

Spend some time doing structured time ie drawing, puzzles. Some time playing together or alone. Some time watching a kids film together.

unicorncupcake · 16/03/2019 18:16

Up and out first thing on a Saturday to do something as active as possible so country park/trampolining/swimming/soft play type thing for a couple of hours before places get too busy to knacker them out. Then either home for lunch or out for brunch somewhere. Then home for a bit of telly and playing with toys. Pop out again somewhere (invent a spurious reason if necessary) and get a cup of tea and a biscuit somewhere. Home for tea/bath/bed. Sunday lazy pj morning, then big run around at the park after lunch, DH cooks a roast whilst we snuggle on the sofa, bath and bed. I get very narky if trapped in the house-also I think DCs need a good hour at least of running around each day at the weekend. Makes them sleep better too!

Eastie77 · 16/03/2019 18:29

It's a very difficult stage. We have a 3 and 5 year old and there are lots of screaming arguments. I take DD (5) to drama every Saturday morning. It's at 9am so no lie in for me but I get to chill in a nearby cafe for 90mins whilst she's there. DP takes DS swimming. A relative bought a science kit for DD and this has been a revelation. She loves working her way through the experiments and now has a routine doing this Saturday afternoons. After lunch we all go to the park. On Sunday's we do a day out somewhere like a free museum or play dates.

I know it's been suggested a lot but personally I can't cope with Soft Play! I also find baking with both DC 'helping' extremely stressful.

TooStressyTooMessy · 16/03/2019 18:33

Agree with PPs.

One weekend morning sign them up to an activity. People say it is a waste of your weekend. But if they have loads of energy and hours and hours to fill then really, why not (cost and practicalities aside of course!).

National Trust, park. Soft play. Playdates. If you can find other friends happy to have playdates at the weekend you are onto a winner. Swimming if you can bear it.

Divide and conquer so each of you takes one child.

Really though, coffee to get through the day and for the evenings. Weekends were very hard work at those ages.

Tfoot75 · 16/03/2019 18:35

Exactly the same here, but mine will soon be 6 and 3. Don't really want a weekend routine though so will suck it up - they are fine when we're busy but can be awful when we want to do things in the house. Getting better at times then on days like today it's back to square one!

tomhazard · 16/03/2019 18:37

Garden centres! Find one of those wyevale ones with a little soft play and cafe right next to it. There's one not that far fro us that is massive and they used to just wonder around the garden sheds afterwards 🤣
I feel your pain- mine are a little bit older and are better at playing at home now but they used to be super annoying at weekends.

Also agree with bikes/scooters - just go out even if the weather is shit.

Twerking9to5 · 16/03/2019 18:42

Sorry OP but this does make me feel slightly better. 5 and 3 here and my stress levels are through the roof by 8.30am

SoyDora · 16/03/2019 18:43

Mine are 5, 3 and 9 weeks. No way we could stay at home at the weekend, whatever the weather. It would be horrific.
5 and 3 year old have dance class on a Saturday morning, they’ve both done it since they turned 2. After the class we go for milkshake. Home for lunch, then we go out in the afternoon. If the weather is horrific we go somewhere like a museum, garden centre with soft play etc.
Sunday mornings we all go swimming then out for lunch. Home for school reading/piano practice, then they’re worn out enough to play nicely together with a film on in the background!
Obviously the 9 week old just comes along for the ride

Stormyday · 16/03/2019 18:48

Cup of tea in peace? You’ll be lucky. I only get that if I wake up before the dc at 7am and youngest is 11.

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