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At what age does a weekend feel like a ‘break’ when you have kids?

181 replies

kalokoli · 05/04/2021 09:19

We’ve got a 15 month old and pretty full on jobs, and at the end of the week the weekend just feels like more hard work! In some ways when it gets to Monday it feels like we’re getting more of a rest going back to work!

It might be worse because of Covid and how little there is to do at the moment, and also we think our son potentially isn’t the easiest child. We get lots of moments of real joy from him but he’s also extremely quick to cry and scream if we do anything other than intensely interact with him eg unloading the dishwasher or other household tasks or even just chatting to each other for a few minutes. And he screams in the car and will often have meltdowns if we try to go out for more than an hour or so on eg a nice country walk which means we tend to just hang around the house. Hard to tell if this is just normal baby/toddler behaviour though as we don’t know any others!

We try to do shifts so that we each get some time off to ourselves at the weekend, but really we’d like to spend time all together as a family but have it actually feel like a restful break after a week of work rather than be exhausted at the end of it! This is probably wishful thinking for the immediate future but we were wondering at what age it might start to feel like the weekend is actually a break and you end it feeling ready for the week ahead?!

OP posts:
Chunkymonkey123 · 05/04/2021 09:21

4 and 2 year old here and not yet!! Watching this thread with interest!

BringBackDoves · 05/04/2021 09:22

Oh dear .. mine are 6 and 9 and I look forward to being back at work on Monday for a break!

I’ll grant it does get easier now they can make their own breakfast but that’s about it !!

Barneybear11 · 05/04/2021 09:23

Ooo watching. Soon to be 3 year old and 4 month old.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

WhatwouldRuthdo · 05/04/2021 09:24

7 and 3 year old here and not yet either. But I think if it was just the 7 year old then it would. So sometime early primary age perhaps?

Youngatheart00 · 05/04/2021 09:24

Depends what sort of a parent you are!!

CatsRule · 05/04/2021 09:25

9 year old here and I dread and look forward to the weekends in equal measures 😂🤦‍♀️

Daydreamsinglorioustechnicolor · 05/04/2021 09:25

I would say at some point after your youngest is about 6 or 7?
I actually find myself at a loose end now, mine are 8 and 13. They entertain themselves now. The downside is I have to drag them out of the house, and you don't get an evening with them in bed.
Sorry, I know that will seem like ages away!
I think each age brings its challenges.

folloyourarro · 05/04/2021 09:26

5+ for me I think, when I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn, they can play independently so I do get some down time.

Herja · 05/04/2021 09:27

Mine are 6 and 8, almost 7 and 9. Just over the last year, weekends have felt much more relaxing.

FlipFlapFlop1980 · 05/04/2021 09:27

11 and 12 year old here (with SEND so may be different for others) but get a couple of hours to myself without being disturbed. I might be able to get a movie in at home and perhaps being asked a question 2-3 times during that movie.

Still feels a bit like feed them and 2 hours later, they're hungry again. Grin

happytoday73 · 05/04/2021 09:27

Mine are 12 and 8.. Its a lot easier now... Other than being taxi service... I think it seems to switch at 6/7 significantly but is a slow change from 4 if child plays alone (my eldest didn't like too)

Daisy829 · 05/04/2021 09:27

6 & 10 here and definitely more relaxing now. Both my kids are currently still in bed whilst I’ve been enjoying a coffee downstairs. They had a busy day yesterday & late night.

Lollypop4 · 05/04/2021 09:28

I have a 17 ,13,5 &3 yr old.
If I just had the older 2, I would say now.

FlipFlapFlop1980 · 05/04/2021 09:29

From about the age of 6, we started to get a bit if a lie in at the weekend. My niece is nearly 8 and still gets the parents up at 6am. So I think it depends on the child.

GeorgeandHarold66 · 05/04/2021 09:30

Ds is 8.5 and weekends/holidays can be relaxing but not always. I usually get a lie in and will get the odd half hour here and there to do my own thing. I'm on a mission to get his screen time back to pre-lockdown levels though and that can be quite hard work.

AnnaSW1 · 05/04/2021 09:32

I have 3 yr olds. Weekends definitely feel like a break now. The joy of just looking after them and not juggling work too.

MattyGroves · 05/04/2021 09:32

15 months is a tough age, I think.

I would suggest you try spending some time each weekend really focusing on him, doesn't have to be hours, even just an hour doing something like water play or playground or when activities start up a football class or swimming or something. I found both of mine were much easier to deal with if we did that for the rest of the day

billybagpuss · 05/04/2021 09:33

When they get weekend jobs, 22 & 24 still cannot watch a film without having to pause it multiple times

Mumof1andacat · 05/04/2021 09:34

I'd say from 4 or 5. My son is nearly 9 now and we can do more stuff. Especially pre covid.I spent many a weekend alone as my husband worked. Its only in recent times he's been around and that makes a huge difference. I can remember waking up of a weekend and bursting in to tears at the realisation it was the weekend and I would be alone with a small child again. Not great.

tiredmum2468 · 05/04/2021 09:34

Mine are 5 and 2 - no chance!
My best friends are 12 and 14 and they have nice weekends away but she's prepared for the teenage strops.

EssentialHummus · 05/04/2021 09:35

I have a 3.5 year old. There are easier moments. But from quite a young age I’d alternate playtime together with “Now mum is reading quietly, go play with your toys” and she now happily does that for little intervals.

rainbowballs · 05/04/2021 09:36

@EssentialHummus

I have a 3.5 year old. There are easier moments. But from quite a young age I’d alternate playtime together with “Now mum is reading quietly, go play with your toys” and she now happily does that for little intervals.
I do this too... mixed result
Delatron · 05/04/2021 09:37

Hmm I think they get a bit easier in some ways but we’ve had years of getting up early and driving them to sports clubs and tournaments and standing watching on the cold. So definitely not restful...

Mine are 10 and 12 and there was a day last weekend where both were out with mates for a fair few hours so that was nice.

Mishmased · 05/04/2021 09:37

15 months is a tough age. Mine became much easier when the youngest turned 4 I'd say. The older was easier as a toddler but we had the baby when he was 2.5 so when youngest was 4 oldest was 6.5. They share a room and play for a bit if they wake up in the morning. Eldest is an early riser but entertains both of them. They're 8 and 5.5 and I'm hoping in the next year eldest can make breakfast. We're going back to start again as I'm pregnant and due in 7 weeks.

digthroughtheditches · 05/04/2021 09:37

Depends how you like to parent I guess. I have a 4 & 6 y/o who love to game. Weekend mornings I let them. It's peaceful except for the odd shout over the game.
I like this style. It would be exhausting here to referee the independent play all weekend.