“I’m not a park mum”!

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I’ve come to the realisation that I’m just not a “park mum” 😅

I try, I really do… but I end up feeling overwhelmed more than anything. The noise, having to constantly be “on”, keeping an eye on everything, making sure they’re safe, engaged, not wandering off it just feels like a lot.

I see other mums who seem so relaxed, chatting away while their kids play, and I honestly don’t know how they do it. Meanwhile I’m counting down the time until we can leave without it seeming too soon.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who finds it a bit much?

I hated the park. My DH on the other hand loved it. They went away for hours playing football, swings and slides. I stayed at home and enjoyed a bath and a book!

My kids are now adults. I hated the park in the winter avoided at all cost.
But we lived in London near a park with paddling pool and 3 playgrounds, once the kids were about 7 or 8 and could be trusted not to drown each other, me and a few mum friends spent many hours sitting on the grass, drinking wine and chucking food at kids when they came back to us.
Im sure we would probably be called terrible parents these days.

I'm not either but mainly because my son is afraid of dogs so we just avoid parks completely now.

I agree. We have to suck these things up for our children. You can't just keep them home all the time because you don't like being in public areas.

I love the park! I hate being indoors. Have always said im a shit indoor mum

To be fair - yours are little. Go with friends when they are older and you can sit back and not worry. I remember hitting the age where I didn't need to see them at all times - and then relaxing.

I'm now 'past' the park age and find that very sad! I get a little heartache when I see a group of kids playing in a park...

@Kirbert2 parks ruined for us by dogs as well - my youngest absolutely terrified of them and its unbelievable how they are just everywhere now. Many parks now have no dog free space except the playground so you can't even cross them without encountering poorly controlled off lead dogs.

I don't remember just standing to one-side or chatting to other parents. My kids seem to always want me to be engaged too. Pushing them on the swing, climbing on the huge frames, playing billy goats gruff along the bridge, help getting on the zip wire, pushing the roundabout, playing football. I never got a minute to look around at what the other mum's were doing.

Maybe just engage more. It wasn't my thing either, but I just got on with it.

I hated sitting in the park too. Found it mind numbingly boring. I was lucky there was a lot of parks and green space nearby so we used to go on walks, feed the ducks etc. We had 5 minutes on the swings at the end when they were hungry so wanted to go home for tea. Kids didn't mind because we were still active and talking all the time. I hated parks as a kid the smell of the metal turns my stomach.

I'm a solo parent I spend a massive amount of time with my children 2 and 5 in the playgrounds and parks. I also have no car so it's tiring just to get there and back! I just treat every outing like a hiking expedition. It's absolutely knackering but a fantastic and cheap way to tire them out. As I'm always flicking my vision between 2 children I have a great excuse not to get too deep into conversation with other adults if I can't be bothered. I'd never go if the playground was busy - too difficult to keep track of the children. And favouring playgrounds that are surrounded by railings and gates makes it less stressful. You can also decide what you would like to take to make it more interesting for you. E.g. there's nothing to stop you going to the playground and reading books with them, you don't just need to stand watching passively. Sometimes I get in a 'let's go crazy' mood and put some music on I like on my phone (not if there are lots of people around). Once I took face paints. Anyway it's definitely not that enjoyable or relaxing but you can make the best of it!!

Part and parcel of caring for children and comes with the territory of parenting

I frequently thank my lucky stars that my kids are older and we no longer go to parks! I hated them - and we seemed to spend every weekend in one for years and years!

I’m a park mum. I love seeing the kids all running around in the fresh air, learning to ride their bikes or climbing trees. I have made quite a few “park mum friends” and happy to strike up conversation with pretty much anyone.

I hate parks. I have an autistic DC who needs constantly watching or will make a beeline for other children and adults.
I also hate the fact we also seem to have someone else’s child tag along and their parents are either engrossed in conversation within a group and not watching their child or they’re nowhere to be seen. It’s bad enough being at the park with my own children let alone having to babysit someone else’s too.

I can’t imagine not taking my children to parks. Surely unless you’re so wealthy you can do paid activities everyday(!) the park is free and a bit of fresh air. Mine love it too so I do it for them - I don’t particularly enjoy it!

A walk around a nice green space park is lovely.
The fucking swings/play park I loathe.
Bored to tears while simultaneously on edge waiting for an injury or them to start bickering, constant 'watch this mummy!' and usually while you're watching 'this' (nothing, nothing is happening) someone else's kid will latch on because their own parent is ignoring them.
I would gladly never set foot in another playground in my life.
Mine are older now but I used to dread ''can we go to the park".

I always enjoyed it. The ex didn't see any value in it at all, compared to sitting in a car or sitting watching television or trailing around a shopping centre looking at clothes, but that meant I didn't have him sulking around and complaining it was cold and isn't it time to go home yet.

I also hated going to the park. Some of my friends seem to go daily. Not for me.

You don't have to do it for now😀 but one day in the future you may have Grandchildren and you will be back losing hours of your life in some god forsaken hellhole pushing swings, singing songs and physically removing little hands from the railings as they hold on for dear life when it is time to go home. Oh what fun

We live on the coast and I much prefer a beach walk especially in winter, ds runs around, climbs breakers/big trucks, find interesting shells, skims stones, I have a nice stroll. It's like walking a dog. I don't like the standing/sitting around at a play park I get bored.

I am a park mum, at our local park. Small town where everyone knows everyone, and there’s plenty for the kids and their friends to do as it’s a big space. They’re generally travelling in a pack and so there’s always plenty of kids and other adults keeping an eye out if one of them gets hurt or are on their own so the parents tend to sit and chat and deal with kids as they pop up.

Boring as hell on your own but as part of a group it’s really rather lovely.

Back in the day when mums were just mums❤I bet both adults and kids had a great time, i hope your kids have great memories of those carefree times.

To each their own. I loved it, but I rarely chatted with other parents. Just played with my kids.

Is there a safe, enclosed park you could take them to where they could play and you could read, or scroll, or whatever you like to do, and can take your eye off them without worrying they will come to harm?

I thought everyone disliked going to children’s playgrounds with the exception of children, ditto soft play, sticker books and anything involving Pom poms. But a lot of children love them, so you crack on, enjoying it vicariously.

The fact that there aren’t adult equivalents tells you everything you need to know.

Same!

I don’t mind the park, although I rarely go now as my youngest is 8. In the preschool, early school years I found going with others was much better. We have some decent parks near us and my eldest goes a few times a week with friends.