I'm going to have a whole afternoon at home on my own! What shall I do with it?

[DucksInTheGarden]

DH has made a last minute plan to take 7 month old DD out to see his friend tomorrow afternoon. He'll be out for between three to four hours. This is the most time I'll have been at home alone since she was born and I am SO excited!

I'm trying to work out now how best to use the time so I don't sit there faffing on my phone or looking around thinking "Hmm...no baby...what do I do now?" and being indecisive.

I'm going to clean up in the morning so the house is nice and tidy for relaxing in later and I've got to do the food shopping so I can get some nice bits in that I can eat in peace, in my own time. I might buy cake

I'm currently thinking book, snacks, and tea in a teapot out in the garden. Maybe a film? I'd be able to watch from start to finish without stopping...

I'd love an afternoon bath but we have oil heating and are trying to make what we have left in the tank last as long as possible because the price of oil is extortionate at the moment so that's out.

What would you do with a few spare hours? I want to get it right!

Honestly, withna child that age I would have had a big luxury nap.

With older children, inwould have something nice to eat and drink at the ready and either read a book in the garden or watch a film under a blanket on the sofa

It's only a short time.

I'd lie on the sofa with my book and have a snooze.

Whatever you do, just enjoy it and don't feel guilty if you do just sit on your phone for a few hours! Who cares!

Oooh, I love it when DH does this! If it was me, I'd pour myself a nice g&t, pick up a nice book and sit in the garden. And cook myself garlic mushrooms on toast (DH's least favourite food 😆) for lunch, followed by some nice chocolate. If it was cooler/wet I'd have a long bath.

I’d probably be paralysed by choice and do nothing. The pressure! In reality, I’d probably go for a walk in peace or with a podcast, nice shower after, then lie in bed watching TikTok until they got back 😄

@MassiveSalad22 That's what I'm worried about: being paralysed by choice and wasting the first hour umming and ahhing about what to do!

@ArtVandalay It feels like bloody ages

It’s not that long a period, I always think trying too hard to schedule something in spoils the relaxation. Just go with the flow, I know you say you don’t want to faff around on your phone but some of the best downtime I’ve had is scrolling through my phone with a nice cuppa and some chocolate, with the window open if the weather is nice simply taking in the peacefulness around me without the responsibility of looking after a small person.

For me it would have to involve some crisps and a dip or two. Whether that’s in bed before a nap or whilst watching a film.

enjoy!

Hmm maybe I'm overthinking it! But i find time whizzes by when I'm on my phone.

I am debating working a nap into the mix.

Haha I always plan this out and look forward to it, ooh maybe I'll go wild swimming and go to a coffee shop and clean my entire house... and I always spend it in bed on my phone and napping

I would sit in the garden with a book/magazine with ice cream, chocolate and a cup of tea. Would probably have a short nap too.

Going by today’s posts, throw out all your old knickers and make yourself a nice egg sandwich

Weather's looking lovely - book in the garden it is! But no egg sandwiches..

There won’t be long after you’ve tidied and you should buy snacks in advance. On a week like this I would probably lie on a sun lounger in the garden reading a good book or magazines or just dozing in the sun. And if I got sick of that I would watch trashy TV in my nice quiet & clean living room

buy snacks in advance and neglect child while you tidy so you have More Time To Yourself.

take things to the tip/charity shop
so rewarding

All the tidying and snack buying will be done before they go.

I'd like a swim actually but the pool's lane swimming times don't match up.

I’d go to the cinema