What do you do in the evenings with young kids?

[Irritatedinmind]

We've just got our evenings back following the birth of DC2. But what do you do in the evenings when you have young kids? Currently it's lots of Netflix and Mumsnet (for me, Reddit for him) which we are bored of. Occasionally I read or we play a board game.

Please inspire me. I'm not crafty but need an in-house hobby!

Watching for inspiration

We have a 10month old still having disturbed night but good sleep at start of night

We watch tv / play cards / cuddle up or do our own thing

Sketch, paint, talk about random crap.

Eat dinner, watch tv/films, read, have baths, have sex!

Dinner is at 6.00, eat, wash up. Watch a bit of TV - tonight it was Simon Reeve in America. Feed dog, have a bath, Mumsnet, newspaper, phone a friend.

Repeatedly get back up off the sofa to put which ever one has come back downstairs.
Try and watch a 30 minute programme that says two hours because we keep having to pause it to put respective child back to bed.

Fail.

Go to bed early so the kids don't keep getting up.

Repeat the next night.

Cry

Not much!

Ok. So it appears we're in for shit evenings until they're teens and can be left alone.

Please someone remind me why we had kids?!

DH and I have got into puzzles

We tend to go to bed not long after our toddler at the moment! But maybe get a babysitter once in a while and do whatever you want.

Eat, drink, tv, bath, mark books (not in that order). In summer more outside less tv.

Eat and drink gin.

Work from after they're asleep till the first night feed.

Usually it’s chores, tv, reading.
Sometimes we play a board game, bake or listen to music or podcasts.

Tidy up
Laundry
Life admin
Work admin
TV

I might be up for a hobby if mine slept better mind you! Some people take turns to go out with friends while their OH stays home with the DC, I hardly ever do as mine wake a lot...

Can you each have a hobby out the house one night a week? DH plays hockey, I swim.

MinnieMountain I think that's going to have to be the solution. I'm just sick of doing nothing!

We bought a Nintendo switch. Has caused a few bouts of competitive shouting though that then woke DS up

Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube, knitting and macrame kits, watching Netflix, having a bath, I've been reading a lot more recently to avoid aimlessly scrolling on my phone. It's a pain when they wake up frequently in the evening, DH and I used to take it in turns to be the person re-settling them.

Lone parent here.

Play xbox/switch
Work out (have a little home gym set up)
Watch something on netflix
Read
Sneak boyfriend in when son is asleep

I have started using a babysitter once a fortnight, it’s fab, definitely try it every now and again if you can afford it.

Ok. So it appears we're in for shit evenings until they're teens and can be left alone.

I mean this with no snark whatsoever, but how did you get to DC2 before this thought hit you?

I started working towards a second career during my single parent evenings.

Two parent baby evenings we became board game nerds.

Sneak boyfriend in when son is asleep

Blimey @SimonJT I hope you have one of those good sleepers I’ve heard about. I have visions of your chap sitting in a bin cupboard half the evening

Netflix, chatting, puzzles, DIY, cinema, pub if we’re feeling flush. DD’s are teens and old enough to be left but we are a bit skint right now 🤦‍♀️

I just stand him in a corner and stick a lampshade on his head. They’ve met a few times and survived so less sneaking soon!

Ok. So it appears we're in for shit evenings until they're teens and can be left alone.

^^

This.