To much expectation, What have you done today?

[coffeetofunction]

I'm feeling a bit guilty, which I think is because of an unrealistic expectation that I feel has been put on modern day parents. Basically I've done nothing "special" with my 8yo today.

We had a relaxed morning involving TV and YouTube, then a wandered round a few shops before half an hour in the park. Then some lunch and this afternoon I've done jobs round the house and DD has laid on the sofa watching videos, played with the dogs and done some housework.

I feel like we've wasted the day and I should have done more but I'm exhausted and money is tight.

When I was 8 weekends involved, shopping, going to the pub, possibly seeing family and TV. So why do I feel like there's so much more expectations now?

It sounds like you had a lovely relaxed day with your DD enjoying each others company which is way more valuable than doing something 'special'.

We ,( me, DH, DS13, DD10 and DD 3 months), had a lazy morning in pjs watching funny YouTube videos together. I did a big of one handed typing while breastfeeding as I have a uni essay due tomorrow. After lunch we popped into town to buy snacks and pokemon cards, went to a cafe did our weekly food shop then came home. DH had a nap, I video called with my mum and kids chilled in their rooms. Then we ate dinner and played some xbox.

It's our usual Saturday routine ATM and works well for us so I feel no guilt. Once the babies a bit older we'll start going swimming and hiking again sometimes but we always have one day at home to just chill as it's important too.

DD (8) has been out all day with DH, so it was just DS (4) & me.
He watched tv & played games this morning whilst I was sorting washing/chores/going on MN.
Had lunch
Went to the park - DS scooted around the park & we then went to the play park for a bit, then home.
He watched a bit more tv whilst I changed the washing on the line, then played another game
We made some basic slime
Then went to McDonalds for tea
Now winding down with Bluey.
I don't feel guilty at all! Sometimes we need quieter days.

I have a 9 Yr old

Yesterday I got a tear in my car tyre. Had to leave it on my customers drive where it'd had gone flat. So today we went and picked up a new tyre and drove to my car to fit it
Then we went to Next to drop off some returns.
Then we bought abbag of chips from the chippy for lunch.
DS has since played out in the street or in the house with one of the local kids.
DH has watched some telly and played on his PS for a bit.
I've done some invoicing & bookkeeping and then had a nice afternoon nap.
Now I'm still sat on the bed with a g&t mumsnetting. DS and his mate are trashing his bedroom by the sounds of it.

We rarely do anything 'special' at the weekends. I don't have the time, money, energy or inclination to be doing special stuff every weekend.

Social media makes people believe they should be 'living their best lives' 🙄every minute of every day and boring every bugger with photos of it. I cba with that shit.

OP @coffeetofunction
Only a few days ago, I found a diary made by my then, five-year-old son (he's now 30), for his school class. He had to write what he did on his weekends for the school year and draw a picture of the activity presumably for writing practice.

It was a pretty boring notebook, to be honest.
He wrote about going on the bus to buy school shoes, he spoke on the phone with his father in the US, he played on his Tonka truck computer game, he watched tv, he went to the park, we went to London on the train, watched more tv, bought a book about dinosaurs, ate fish fingers...😴

One entry was very sweet, "I have a baby brother now. He is always crying." His brother turns 25 next week.

My absolute favorite entry is: "My Mum took me to the pub but I drank soda" 🤭

None of that was interesting but I don't think he's scarred because we didn't do much.

Three primary aged kids here.

As we head into colder and darker weather I actually make a conscious effort to have a day at the weekend where we do very little (we may have a local walk or pop to the park if the weather is nice but when the weather turns I don't force mine out for the sake if it)

Mine are at school 5 days a week / not home until 6.30pm on the x3 days I work. They have clubs the other x2 days after school. Its full on.

I am guilty of way too much screen time - and I don't care - but I do make sure days indoors aren't totally in front of screens. Kids read / play board games / have lego marathons (ie tip out every bit of lego we own) / paint / play doh etc. When I can be arsed we'll bake or do some craft stuff. We're currently using the shells we found on holiday to brighten up some picture frames. I also sometimes just say to them "go an entertain yourselves".... half the time they disappear for ages and find something to occupy themselves. The rest of the time it ends up in a mass brawl 😂

I do confess that I live close to family so sometimes our days in may be at granny's (with or without some extra cousins and a dinner cooked for us!!)