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!

Go to the gym (take it in turns), read, research Disney holidays. Dh games.

If I had it to do over I would have spent at least a few evenings pursuing my goals, for example even 30 minutes listening to a French lesson download.

And definitely a night out of the house—gym, pub quiz, book group, WI talks, etc.

Lone parent with older dc.. but crochet on the couch while watching Netflix, read in bed for an hour or two before to sleep. Last night I was fed up with scrolling aimlessly through my phone so I started a puzzle.. I actually got really into it! You’d need to be able to put it out of reach if you had a toddler though.

We alternate. We are both involved in scouting and each have one pack night a week, Mine is 6-7.15, DH 8-10 another evening. I go spinning for an hour three nights a week for 5.30/6.30 classes.
Around this we walk the dogs-currently expecting DC2 so DH usually does this as he really enjoys it and they’re getting hard for me to walk solo. Other than this we watch films, take a long bath, play and snuggle with the dogs, have the odd nicer dinner together once little one is in bed.

We found we have to split and have our own hobbies to have any sanity, and to break up the monotony of smalls in the week

We're very boring as you've described our nights pre kids. What did you all do before kids? I've got two months until DC1 makes an appearance so wondering what I need to cram in!

I just stand him in a corner and stick a lampshade on his head.

What did you all do before kids?

I had a partner who travelled with his career, so it was a combination of that going to events together and working.

On a working week I would go to the gym most nights, go to a friends/friends came over, I would go out most thurs/fri/sat nights and I had rugby training twice a week.

Before kids I would go out a couple nights a week, and maybe pop round a friends for the evening or go out for food.

How do any of you have the energy to want to do anything in the evening? I’m literally shaking with tiredness from about 6, and get a bit of a second wind at 8 but the most I can do is telly/bath/read. I only have one kid, lots of rest & sleep well at night, I guess this is not normal

Now: spend ages getting dc2 to sleep then do chores and regret my life choices . Maybe get an hour of tv, read a magazine or knit before kids I used to go to yoga classes, out with DH, for walks in the summer, sew my own clothes. We also did up our house in the evenings.

@inthekitchensink no definitely not normal! Visit to the gp for some blood tests might be in order

I don’t do any housework in the evenings, it’s for relaxing!

Thanks Tweeting, I definitely will!