So bored at home with 20 month old

[Gumbolt]

Just that really, I feel guilty but I'm SO BORED the two days a week I spend at home with my 20 month old. I work 3 days so he's at nursery for part of the week. But these two days drag like anything. I am unable to drive for medical reasons so a lot of places - soft plays etc - are inaccessible to us as take forever to get to. He is on one nap and tends to wake stupidly early so if we go anywhere in the buggy in the morning I risk him falling asleep on the way back which I try to avoid as he wakes up much earlier than he does in his cot. He is a nightmare to take for an actual walk because he just runs in any direction, refuses to hold hands and sits down and screams if I try to use reins. He is entertained in the garden for all of five minutes. It's not even 11am yet and I am out of ideas. Am I alone??

My ds was always really hard work at home. Even as a baby he seemed more settled in his pram or the carrier. He started to calm down a bit at around three and a half and he is actually really good at entertaining himself now he’s five.

I may get flamed for this but I think a lot of the people who trill that their days at home were filled with baking, colouring and crafts had girls with a calm temperament!

My DS was the calm crafty one, my 2 DDs were energetic and always on the go!

Essentially its usually just a phase and I had to go through the " hold my hand or you go in the buggy " kicking and screaming phase
Or we would have been climbing the walls
Yes its tedious but it passes

My eldest loved a quiet craft and he's a boy! A rude awakening with my second for sure 😄

No way does he have the dexterity for that yet

Firstly I could drive when we moved here

Secondly there's plenty of stuff in walking and public transport distance, it's just that he's an absolute pain to take anywhere!

I thought you said there was a park and a toddler group and that's it?

Anyway, I will reiterate that it won't always be like this, but I really do sympathise how hard it is.

you can get ones with a seat and a handle that you can push / guide. They basically use it like a balance bike. We practiced at home first and it was still hard until closer to two but definitely tired them out

Could you put him in nursery for half a day on those two days? The whole day on your own with him just seems too much and it’s worth your sanity (and his) to take the financial hit?

If DH earns big money then you can afford nursery realistically.

It is boring, but there’s something about trying to find the joy in the every day boring moments. Covid hit when my DD was this age - all we had was our home and walks around the neighbourhood!

I’d definitely try a strap in push along trike - I bought one off FB marketplace for DS and it was great at this age. I also had a period where I couldn’t drive due to an eye condition and I get the frustration this brings too when everywhere is a mission.

Also remember it’s such a short season. It will pass and become different!

I remember these days…. High needs children are completely different to your average child. I remember being absolutely flabbergasted when my nice just played with toys for 30 minutes, or listened to a story when mine were bored after 5 minutes.
they are 14 and 10 now, still full of energy and driven. Both voluntarily do things (sport, homework, housework), and are curious and eager to learn in school. My niece on the other hand is still placid and sedentary , needs to be encouraged/reminded to do pretty much everything. It all got better once they were able to read, but the nursery years were hell.
Hang in there!