Dull, what do you do at the weekend.

[ChiBox]

I feel like I don't do enough with my children 13&11. I'm tired and a bit bogged down and struggle with the weekends. Husband works away and no family near by. I'm very interverted wish I wasn't. Looking for suggestions to break this cycle I'm in and I guess the reassurance everyone isn't off filling every moment of their weekend?

i usually leave my oldest 2 (15 and 13) to their own devices, but sometimes we will go out on a cycle ride, or a walk. we also go on picnics to the park. a lot of my weekend is spent taking the kids to parties or sports events though x

We go to the park, visit family, go for walks. Occasionally to the cinema/bowling or similar. About once a month we go out to a restaurant for lunch.

We usually have our "busy" day on Saturdays, Sundays are more chilled. DS has swimming in the morning and then we chill at home, watch films, do baking.

I am a lone parent so often beat myself up that I'm not doing enough with my DD at the weekend as alot of the time I'm actually just knackered! I'm also introverted and crave time for myself after a working week in a chatty office so that doesn't help either with meeting up with other people.

This weekend I took my DD (7) to her swimming lesson, we did boring food shopping and she did some colouring/writing/watching tv/going on the ipad/out in the garden for a bit. I did take her to an indoor play centre this afternoon (I know you can't do that with your dc's age group) and she amused herself this morning.

I do think its hard when you're on your own with them - I often imagine that other families are doing alot more (when they're probably not) but I try and remind myself that they do need downtime as much as we do. I know my DD is on the go quite a lot in the week and I think if her weekends were doing alot too she would end up totally shattered.

Be kind to yourself (I know easier said than done) and know that you are doing a brilliant job if your husband is working away and you don't have family nearby.

Sleepismysuperpower1, my weekends sound like yours, they play sports and I do leave them to their own devices but I feel like I should do something with them. The 13yr old is happy alone but the 10yr old is a bit rubbish and nags me to play/build Lego.

Waxonwaxoff0, I should treat one day as a relax day I think that would make me feel better and could justify it to myself! My 13yr year old made pancakes for breakfast and a cake today which was lovely. I need to do more baking with the 10yr old.

Topsy44, you hit the nail on the head, I work full time and by Sat I'm all chatted out and need to is what makes me feel so flat. And your right I do feel/think everyone is having a fab busy family life, and I'm not.

Just said to my two what could we do to make the weekend fun and they said more ps4 time

i think it’s good to get out for a bit over the weekend. We usually do one day out and the other, relaxing, hw and chores.
I have dc similar age to yours and the last few weekends we’ve done
Walk in the woods
Picked strawberries at a farm
Cinema
Shopping and lunch out

I’ve booked theatre tickets for next month and bowling with friends.
Other than that, we’re visiting family, going for walks and/or bike rides depending on the weather.

We are members of the national trust and use it a fair bit. Swimming. Cinema. Diy. Today we looked for tiles and Lidl for lunch stuff.

Yesterday we gutted out one of the kids’ bedrooms and I did a ‘big shop’ at Sainsbury.
This morning I went for a run, bunged a beef stew in the slow cooker then we took the kids mountain biking this afternoon, which was great fun.

We’re off tomorrow (September weekend here) so I’m taking the kids to tick off a couple of Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 ft).

This all sounds very wholesome I know...and we are an outdoorsy lot, but we also have plenty of weekends catching up on chores and household administration and whatnot too. Our weekend plans are largely weather-dependent.

Saturday is pretty much taken up with sport, food shopping and homework. On Sunday we try to go somewhere, today we went to local seafront for a walk and picn ic. If we don't get out side for a bit I get a bit grumpy.

Can you start by doing something nice together on Friday night so you get off to a good start? Maybe take turns to choose and cook a meal (age appropriate)
I don’t really enjoy board or card games but my DC’s did and they loved it when we did play!
Definitely get some fresh air, how about doing ParkRun if there is one?
Something fun for tea on Saturday - fondue? Homemade pizzas?
I think you definitely need to time for yourself though.

Board games indeed, or cinema (though they prefer to go with mates)

Or what we often do us movie night at home, with a movie (retro comedy or marvel or HP) masses if popcorn and sweets

Or they go and see friends and I do my own thing

For the most part, my 13 yo is happy to do anything with me, which helps. Some weekends are films and not getting dressed all day. Other times, we do activity stuff eg bikes, bowling. She doesn't mind a gallery or museum. We like to eat out, so go for dinner and a natter. She likes music, so cheap gigs where I can get tickets for u14s, or pizza express jazz . I'm very lucky she still likes my company more than a device, so making the most of it while I can.