What to do with these guests?

[BluePony]

DH& I have 3DC, 9/7/3months. My parents are visiting this weekend(live other end of country) via public transport. We have a car but it’s a 5 seater. Weather says it’s going to rain the whole time. Where we live there isn’t anything to ‘do’, it’s just houses/schools/supermarkets/charity shops. Live about a 25 minute bus journey from a city but it’s mainly shops so not much to do other than look in shops. What will we do with them whilst they’re here? There’s no nice scenic walks here, we’d need to drive 30 minutes but we can’t fit everyone in the car, this is the main issue as they’re not bringing their car.

We do take DC to soft play/zoos regularly but they’re 30-60 minutes away and again, only have 5 seats. I didn’t realise they weren’t driving (they did last time) and they’ve booked their travel.

You'll have to divide up if you want to go out, then.

DH stays with the baby (if feeding isn't a problem) and you drive with your parents and 2 kids somewhere. Even just a park or something? Or you drive somewhere with your parent plus baby and the oldest 2 stay home with DH.

Or you kindly ask them to drive and state the issue of being trapped inside otherwise!

They could hire a car for a couple days?

You and your parents go to lunch at a lovely garden centre. Your DH stays at home with the children.

This. I’d explain you can’t do day trips in your car. They can either hire a small car for them or a large 7 seater for everyone. Or they can meet you there and get a cab.

I don’t drive though. Sorry, I should’ve said. Also I feed DD.

Explain the implications of not bringing a car - that you won’t all fit. Do they anticipate getting taxis or hiring a car. Otherwise leave your DH and baby at home and you can take your parents and older DC out.

They aren’t willing to hire a car due to anxiety about driving somewhere they’re unfamiliar.

How long are they staying for?

Do whatever you usually do and they can accompany you, by following in an Uber.

One day get the bus into town with your parents and the baby, kids stay with dh. Wander round shops, have lunch etc.

One day DH drops your parents and kids at closest child friendly attraction. They start going round whilst he comes back for you and baby. Do the reverse on the way home.

A couple of days stay home and do some ni d things in the house - baking, play games, crafts etc all together.

Good luck!

Bus? Taxi?

Do stuff indoors at home!

Games, baking (make pizzas together?), puzzles, reading, dancing etc.

I guess then you can stay at home with baby and your DH can take them and older DC somewhere. Not ideal.

Put the TV on and say oh well, let them be bored. Maybe they'll then learn how their anxiety has caused an issue for 5 other people.

They must have a plan? Are they really going to show up at your house and expect your husband to ferry then about (to where?) while you sit home with the baby?

I find this a really strange post. You are an adult who doesn’t drive. Surely you know how to go places without your husband there? Surely you know that people will need to get a bus or taxi if you all want to go somewhere together? Or that your parents need to rent a car.
This feels like a basic being-an adult challenge. Why do you need the internet to point out the extremely obvious?
Or maybe you have just misdirected the question. It sounds like what you need to be asking your parents ( who presumably know what car you have and how many children you have). What is their plan for when you are all together?

This seems woefully underprepared and ill thought out. Can you rearrange to give more time to plan? Or can you and baby travel to them, without your other children/husband?

Travelling to the other end of the country, with a baby, on public transport sounds like hell.

Where do you live that there’s nothing to do and nowhere to walk?

Staying at home with 7 people who can't go anywhere, with no attractions close by, or no shops, parks or walks sounds like a worse hell.

This!

If you say roughly where you live I'm sure posters will have ideas.

Otherwise your parents will just have to spend lots of time playing board games etc with your older kids. If they're helpful types then get them involved with house/garden jobs.

Depends on budget but you could take them
out (with some of you in a taxi)
for a nice lunch at a fancy garden centre. It’s my mum’s favourite thing to do when she visits me.

I think there’s a good chance your parents aren’t expecting to do anything. They just want to spend time with you, their daughter. If you feel you need to keep them busy or entertained could you get your mum (or dad) involved in food prep? How about a family TV evening watching something light and fun? Sometimes it’s just nice being together without the expectation of doing something worthy.

I'm sure there are some scenic and beautiful places nearby, that you can walk to, all of you.
Sometimes, when you live somewhere, you don't really see the beauty of it, because it's part of everyday life.

I was expecting this to be a thread about half a dozen uni friends visiting or similar.

It’s your parents for a weekend. I‘m sure you will manage. Just stick some waterproofs on and go for a walk.