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.

Board games, a baking afternoon with the older kids, movie days, walks dodging the rain, reading books. And day to day life which can't be put on hold.

What century are you posting from please

OP you sound a bit down, maybe you just need to let your parents give you a bit of a break. Order nice food and board games in and just chill.

Do you need to be out all day, every day? Maybe they just want to hang out with you and play with the grandchildren? You could all go out for lunch nearby - walking distance?

we lived abroad and my parents/in-laws would come to visit for weeks at a time.

To be honest they were quite happy staying home a lot. Trip to the playground or a walk was plenty activity for a day. Throw in the supermarket and the odd lunch out. Harder if it’s torrential rain of course but they were good at playing with the kids so the days didn’t pass too slowly.

That’s pretty much all my in-laws do anyway, so throw in the grandchildren and they’re pretty tired. They don’t want to go on busy days out or anything too strenuous, they just want to spend time with us.

Is there anywhere close enough that DH can do 2 trips to drop you off or some of you could get a taxi

Sorry if it's been suggested already but would one of your parents drive your car with you guiding them around, at least you could go out with them a couple of times for lunch or whatever while your dh takes care of the dc. As a pp said they might just want to spend time with you rather than explore the area.

Are you sure they want to go and visit places? As a grandparent, if I was visiting, I would just want to spend time with the grandchildren. I would like to take the older 2 to the park and spend time playing games reading etc.

This.

go to places that are accessible on your local transport links?

put on some wellies and go for a rainy walk and let the kids jump in puddles.

have a living room picnic on the floor and some games.

let them teach the older ones some card games and have some fun,

Make some popcorn and chocolate covered raisins and have a movie night.

their your parents it doesn't require big outings just quality time.

How long are weekends where you live? 🤔

If you want a "day out" then they will either need to get a taxi or DH will have to shuttle them.
They may be happy enough to just hang out with you all. What would you have been doing for the weekend if they weren't visiting?

@BluePony Obviously not knowing which city you are near I can't really comment on there being nothing but shops, although maybe if you approach your city like a tourist you will find a couple of attractions. It is a UK holiday tradition in our family to find the random little museum everywhere we go, admittedly some can be very random but that is part of the fun.

I would suggest having a look for a trail for your city, there are a couple of companies that do these for all sorts of places, not just big cities in some cases they have them for towns or villages. They are clue hunts so they take you round but you have to find and solves clues. It is quite a fun way to explore somewhere and designed for all ages so at 9 and 7 they might be great for your older 2.

That way you could all get the bus into the city together.

(Sorry if this has been suggested I have only skimmed the replies)

It's two days. During which you will need to make meals, feed the baby and get household chores done like uniforms washed for Monday morning.

If your parents expect to be entertained for the weekend with trips and dinners out then simply explain you don't have the flexibility with the car and the baby is too young for a sitter yet so you can do an adults meal out.

There's two scenarios which play out on MN
They just want to hang out with you as a family in a low key way, read the kids stories, make some lego and hold the baby while you watch a family film; or they'll turn up, hog the tv all weekend until the kids are climbing the walls and expect to be waited on hand and foot.

Either way, you are not obliged to lay on days out with what amounts to a newborn in tow. If the older kids have regular activities they can choose to hang out with you at home or go and watch grandchildren kick a football around. Pop to a nearby cafe and eat cake.

If it doesn't meet their expectations, they will take a different approach next time, stay in town perhaps so you can go in and meet them there.

I'd simply list out activities so you have some inspiration and perhaps order some craft stuff to do on Amazon.

When MIL came to stay she came to see us not get ferried around like a tourist. I expect that "these guests" (a strange phrase to refer to one's parents) are there to visit the OP and her family, not to sightsee.

It’s what I’d assume, but then in my family, we enjoy each other’s company. I know that’s not universally the case.

If your older children want to going out, could your husband and one of your parents take them, and you , your baby and the other parent stay local to home?

It’s a weekend, presumably they’re here to see the kids (and you). Base activities in the home. Let them babysit and have a nice evening out. As a GM that’s what I’d do.

board games indoors / crafts etc - they could make personalised christmas decorations / bake cakes etc its only the weekend.

As grandmother who recently visited family it was mostly the interaction with the children I enjoyed. We visited the local bookshop and bought them books and discussed authors and genres they liked (my introduction to One Piece!).

We went to the skatepark and I was suitably impressed with what they could do (and what they were aiming to do).

We visited the very tiny museum in which much chat and explanation ensued. We played scrabble and jigsaws.

It was really a lovely opportunity to get closer than the odd video and phone call.

They are your family just relax into it.

Maybe spend the time planning where to move to as it’s sounds really depressing [sorry 🥴]

If I were visiting my DC and DGC for just the weekend and I had CHOSEN not to drive, I would be expecting to potter about the house/local shops/park.

Honestly I think you’re overthinking it, unless there’s a huge backstory of them requiring outlandish levels of entertainment?

Dont they just want to hang out with their loved ones?

Great idea

You split up. Simple.

DGP come to see their DGC not wanting days out. Holding their /your latest when they can, help with household chores and read/ play board games (children’s monopoly etc) to relieve you a bit.

Could you hire a 7 setter for the weekend?

I don't think @BluePony is going to come back to this thread now.