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Original poster

What to do with these guests?

183 replies

BluePony · 09/09/2025 18:58

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.

OP posts:
ChateauMargaux · 10/09/2025 08:31

Maybe embrace the cabin vibe!! If the baby is better outside, take her out for walks, inviting the grandparents with you.

Plan indoor activities for the older two, craft, legs, games, baking, collaborative meals like fajitas or savory and sweet pancakes - giving everyone a job including going out for ingredients, movie and popcorn. Give the kids space to change rooms and do something one to one with the grandparents if they want to.

Treat it like a baby sensory box!

And get out in small groups, even if just to walk round the block in the rain. Remind everyone that time spent together is enough!!

CountryVic · 10/09/2025 08:38

It your parents for one weekend, they probably want to just potter about with you and the grandkids for the weekend. Spend some time in the garden, give them a few jobs to do, my dad loves to clean the window tracks with a toothbrush and my mum rearranges my pantry, all while drinking endless cups of tea, filling the kids up with baked goods and telling the cat to get down….they are family, it’s just a weekend, you’ll be ok ☺️

Peekingovertheparapet · 10/09/2025 08:40

There cannot possibly be nothing to do in a city. What about the library? Swimming? Coffee and cake? Sounds like there are public transport options - we used to send grandparents on the bus with the kids and walk into town ourselves.

other option is to hire a 7 seater for the weekend, but that’s extreme.

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AnnaFrith · 10/09/2025 08:43

They're only coming for a weekend. Presumably they just want to spend time with you and your children.
Play games, watch movies, walk to the park, eat nice food.

mindutopia · 10/09/2025 08:55

I would get on with your weekend plans if you already have them, and they just have to hang out at home, with some local trips out to playground, walk around the estate or whatever. My MIL comes a few times a year and we almost never go out. We go to village playground, play in garden, she has to entertain dc in the house. Your dh could drop them and older dc off at a playground or something to do and you and baby stay home, if they are the sort who will spend time with the dc on their own.

C152 · 10/09/2025 09:00

If transport weren't a problem, what would you do with your parents if it rained for the whole trip? Are you all the type of family that own waterproof coats and trousers and don't mind walking in the rain, or would you rather do something indoors? Whatever the answer to this is, is the answer to your post. If you all enjoy visiting NT properties, for example, go to one - your parents will just have to get a taxi. And if they don't want to get a taxi, then you'll just have to stay at home - catch up, play boardgames and hide and seek, cook together etc..

nomas · 10/09/2025 09:02

They will need to fall in to your routine. I would have some nice food in for meals in case you don’t go out much. Will they play with the kids, play boardgames, watch a movie etc?

Is there anywhere DH could drop parents for the day and then pick them up?

Ohthatsabitshit · 10/09/2025 09:03

Dh drops them and then comes back to pick you up. At the end of the outing he drops you home and then goes back to pick them up.

LuLuLemonDrizzleCake · 10/09/2025 09:04

But surely you can take them on the bus or by taxi to soft play or the garden centre etc?

Bikergran · 10/09/2025 09:10

ButSheSaid · 09/09/2025 20:36

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

Show quote history

Actually, with just one EBF baby, it's fine. Did it loads of times. Avoid rush hours, travel light, use a sling rather than a pushchair, and thankfully accept all help offered by complete strangers 🙂

Samesame47 · 10/09/2025 09:13

When my parents or in laws come to stay they don’t actually want to do anything other than spend time with us. We just kind of treat it like Christmas/Boxing day, nice lazy breakfasts, prepare a nice lunch or walk to village pub for food, games, family movies with nice nibbles, open a bottle of wine and as they weather is looking bad there’s something nice about getting cosy indoors and being lazy.

CautiousLurker01 · 10/09/2025 09:15

If they are coming for the weekend then they are coming to see you and the kids? There really shouldn’t be any issue with watching some family films together with the kids, playing board games, prepping meals together. Maybe buy some craft activities the kids can do with your parents from hobbycraft?

They aren’t ‘guests’ they are family. And it’s only a few days.

Sassylovesbooks · 10/09/2025 09:18

You mention your parents don't want to bring their car, because they're anxious about driving somewhere unfamiliar. Yet, you say they drove down last time - so what did they do, not use their car for the entire time they were visiting?! If they're not willing to bring their car, would they pay for a 7-seater hire vehicle, that your husband could use to drive everyone? It's that, or your husband has to drop you and the kids off, and go back for your parents, which is, quite frankly a pain in the arse and will cost in fuel/time. You only visit places accessible on foot or public transport? In all honesty there's not many options!

Utterknowitall · 10/09/2025 09:19

I would hire a bigger car for the weekend

Starlight1984 · 10/09/2025 09:27

I mean, the fact you have called them "these guests" and not your parents is a bit worrying. I thought you were referring to old friends you haven't seen in years or something!

When my mum was alive she would come over for usually one long weekend every month or two and I wouldn't even give much thought as to what we were doing. She would usually just fit in with whatever was going on with us - dog walks, Sunday lunch at the pub, local markets etc...

TheSquashyHatofMrGnosspelius · 10/09/2025 09:32

Rayqueen · 10/09/2025 03:35

Huh you say in one post they drove up last time but in another they won't drive somewhere unfamiliar

They are likely aging and have lost confidence.

OP don't do anything. Just let them watch TV and interact with the kids because they are getting older, this trend was always going to come at some point so set the precedent now of not putting yourself out.

Are learning to drive or is that off the table?

BlueandPinkSwan · 10/09/2025 09:35

It's one weekend not a month, how difficult can it be for just spending time together doing things with the kids even if you are all at home?
You get on with it because you have to. I don't drive but stuff is still doable regardless

Crunchymum · 10/09/2025 09:35

How odd that you knew all this beforehand - only one driver, car not big enough etc and not one of you thought about the logistics of how you would get anywhere / be able to do anything?

Can they cancel their train tickets and drive? Otherwise looks like a cosy weekend in for you all.

Yellowview · 10/09/2025 09:35

Walk to cafe/restaurants in town. If you want a day out parents can join by taxi. Or you and your older children go on the bus somewhere the children would probably enjoy that, with your parents. You can leave dh with the baby for a while I expect.

CrispieCake · 10/09/2025 09:46

Geocaching or Pokemon Go for the older two. Makes the shittest area seem interesting.

SteviesNicks · 10/09/2025 09:51

@BluePony do your parents actually want to do anything?
Maybe they'd just like to spend time with you and their GC.
Hopefully the forecast will change a bit for the better so you can at least go for local walks and then maybe onto the pub for lunch?

HairsprayBabe · 10/09/2025 09:56

Hire a 7 seater for everyone and have your DH drive
Use uber/taxis
Use public transport
Stay inside

redskydelight · 10/09/2025 09:56

A weekend to me is arriving on Friday for an evening meal, and leaving after Sunday lunch (especially if travelling on public transport).

So you don't need to plan anything on Friday other than food and catch up. You don't need to plan anything on Sunday other than lunch and possibly a walk to get some fresh air.

Saturday, the rain will surely let up at some point and you can go out to the park, or mooch around charity shops, or let the children show them their school/friends' houses/other places of interest to them. Your parents will surely neither want or expect non-stop entertainment.

thestudio · 10/09/2025 09:58

Definitely get DH taking the older ones out, and chill at home chatting with the parents and baby. No-one really likes 'days out' at their age, especially not to middle Britain type 'attractions'!

When you all get bored, you can walk/bus into town for a bit of a potter.

One zoo trip for everyone except you and the baby - you catch up with household stuff and the GCs can spend time with the older kids.

In the evenings, download a couple of good films to watch and make a thing of it.

A couple of really nice dinners/lunches with everyone mucking in to help with food that's a bit more special than your usual?

In my experience your dad will sit happily in front of the telly while your mum bustles around helping and if yours are trapped in gender stereotypes too you could give him a DIY task to chip away at during the visit?

PanEtLesBurgers · 10/09/2025 10:04

Which city are you near? I’m sure someone on here will know if something to do there that isn’t just wandering around the shops.