Not taken children out

[Notbeenout]

I have had so much going on and mixed weather making it difficult to know what to do.

So does this seem enough to do . My older children have tickets for Thorpe Park for 22nd Aug. I'm taking my younger children to London zoo tomorrow. And towards the end of the week we will all go bowling.

If I then do free stuff like parks and possible a a family meal out will that be enough?

I feel a bit guilty about the older ones the youngest is 5 and the oldest is 14. So it's hard to keep everyone happy .

Are you talking about having done enough in the holidays? Of course it's enough.
Days out are expensive!

Yes for the whole of the summer holidays. I feel like we normally do more. Not money costing stuff but freebies as well. Just feels like there's not much to do now

It is fine, guilt is a very unusual feeling to have for doing something completely normal.

What stuff do you usually do that you can't?

That sounds like enough family stuff for the 14 year old - presumably they would rather be with friends anyway. The 5 year old won't be that fussy.

Do your older ones not want to go to the zoo ?

Is that the only time you are leaving the house? Or is it just the times you are doing expensive activities and you are also combining that with trips to the park, walks, etc?

@Notbeenout

I have had so much going on and mixed weather making it difficult to know what to do.

So does this seem enough to do . My older children have tickets for Thorpe Park for 22nd Aug. I'm taking my younger children to London zoo tomorrow. And towards the end of the week we will all go bowling.

If I then do free stuff like parks and possible a a family meal out will that be enough?

I feel a bit guilty about the older ones the youngest is 5 and the oldest is 14. So it's hard to keep everyone happy .

It all sounds good to me, Notbeenout.

Your 14 year old will doubtless make own arrangements most of the time.

@Floralnomad

Do your older ones not want to go to the zoo ?

I can't really afford it. But when they go to Thorpe Park the younger ones won't be going there . Neither will I.

@3WildOnes

Is that the only time you are leaving the house? Or is it just the times you are doing expensive activities and you are also combining that with trips to the park, walks, etc?

Oh no we will do smaller things as well freebies like going to the woods. And park . We might go to the beach as a whole family thing if the weather gets better .

@UserStillatLarge

What stuff do you usually do that you can't?

That sounds like enough family stuff for the 14 year old - presumably they would rather be with friends anyway. The 5 year old won't be that fussy.

I have other children as well just that the 5 year old is youngest and 14 year oldest . But yes your right as long as they are out the younger ones don't care.

I grew up in a poor family, and our holidays consisted of a long 3 day car journey each way (without overnight hotels on the way), so my parents could go care for my grandma for 2 months each summer. We’d then have 8 weeks to entertain ourselves in the middle of nowhere - there were 2 other kids in the village.

We never had expensive days out, and I really don’t remember what we did or didn’t do during the summer. I do have lots of memories of who we spent them with - ice cream afternoons with my mum, walks with my other grandma, games we’d invent to pass the time… This was late 00s, 10s so not an old fashioned 1960s summer.

What I want to say is, it’s not about how many things you can fit in and afford, it’s about how and who you spend the time off with. So don’t worry - the activities you’ve planned will definitely be more than enough Spend time with the kids as a family, allow them to get bored and have lazy days and late nights… that’s what the holidays are about! Not all families are Instagram-worthy, doing 3 activities each day, because that’s not how real life works!

@EileenGC

I grew up in a poor family, and our holidays consisted of a long 3 day car journey each way (without overnight hotels on the way), so my parents could go care for my grandma for 2 months each summer. We’d then have 8 weeks to entertain ourselves in the middle of nowhere - there were 2 other kids in the village.

We never had expensive days out, and I really don’t remember what we did or didn’t do during the summer. I do have lots of memories of who we spent them with - ice cream afternoons with my mum, walks with my other grandma, games we’d invent to pass the time… This was late 00s, 10s so not an old fashioned 1960s summer.

What I want to say is, it’s not about how many things you can fit in and afford, it’s about how and who you spend the time off with. So don’t worry - the activities you’ve planned will definitely be more than enough Spend time with the kids as a family, allow them to get bored and have lazy days and late nights… that’s what the holidays are about! Not all families are Instagram-worthy, doing 3 activities each day, because that’s not how real life works!

Thank you. I'm sorry you did not get to do much as a child I hope you did manage to find fun stuff to do though. I'm sure it will be fine really I'm probably just over thinking.

Of course it will be fine! I haven’t ever thought I didn’t ‘do much’ - it has honestly made no difference. Enjoy the summer with your little ones and stop worrying!

I wouldn't worry. Me and my husband are both working so we haven't really done anything apart from the park yet. Needs must!