Just a rant: I absolutely fucking HATE weekends!

[canihavecanihave]

First thing on Saturday is my low point: all weekend yawning before me.

I feel like the whole two days are just an exhausting merry go round of trying to do stuff to fill time and entertain the kids (both under 5 so hopeful this may get better) to stop them arguing and destroying the house.

I know some people will say just to chill at home but if we ever try to do this it is so so stressful, they argue and make a mess everywhere.

Ugh.

I knew you would have little kids. It will get better. In the meantime, rant away!

I used to feel the same - it does get better!

I know what you mean. I am one of the rare few who rejoices about a kids party invitation - 2 hours of entertainment for my kid that I don’t have to plan or think about, just turn up with a present and card - wonderful!!!!

Sitting around at home doesn’t work for me. Time just seems to last forever.

It’s going to get SO much better. Two under fives is so hard. When they are a couple years older you will have much more relaxed fun with them and when they hit 13 they will disappear completely more or less and you will be looking around for entertainment.

Hang on, the good times are coming x

It will get better! I agree, getting out is the answer, but it won't always be like this.

ME TOO. When I see people complaining about parties I am so confused as that is just the best, your kid is fed and entertained, it’s a win.

I am hopeful it will get better, it literally starts Friday afternoons as I know I have to go home and the children are naturally excited to see me but both jumping around and circling and I need to sort dinner and bath and bed and then the whole weekend is before me. It’s just so weird and topsy turvey to what I imagine most people feel, I wonder if everyone with little kids feels like this secretly but doesn’t say so?

I knew you would have small kids. It will get better. Now I'm shouting my 14 year old who never believed in sleep and would get up crazy early to get out of bed.

In many ways I long for teens so I can stay in bed beyond 6 … I’m sure that brings its own challenges!

I remember it well, if weather was ok we just used to shove stuff in bags and do laps of the local parks/woods and take cricket set, football etc. we would also shove lunch in and it felt like a picnic. Anything to kill a few hours.

Cinema used to be £1.00 Saturday morning when mine were small and that would also kill a few hours even if I hated getting there for 10am!!

Are you a single parent, OP?

No … I’m guessing you’re going to tell me that DH should be stepping up? 😂 He does TBF, he does try, but the reality of having two little kids is just gruelling for both of us.

How old were they when they watched a film? The oldest will but the younger one won’t yet, tried a couple of months ago and the first bit was OK but then it was just a nightmare, kept trying to get up and run round etc. I literally can’t wait for the day I can just book a kids film and sit them in front of it with a box of popcorn!

I’d get them out as soon as possible somewhere for a run around and then at least you feel like you’ve been out. Or take turns for one of you to do something like park run first thing on a Saturday (or go for a lone coffee) so at least you’ve been out.

We go out loads with them, it isn’t really that. It’s just I have to admit I hate it, hate feeling like on chilled Saturday and Sunday mornings you have to kind of drag them out and yourselves out.

Honestly the only way to keep a nice house with small children is to go out! Can appreciate that's not ideal when you're missing lazy weekend mornings.

Mine are 7&5 now and it is getting better. They've started sleeping in more, or reading/listening to yotos in the morning. They can get their own cereal, help out around the house and can at least tidy up after themselves which helps if they create a tornado.

It'll get better OP! Just don't do what we did and have another one just after you start getting lie ins back 🤣

It is difficult and much easier if you can go out somewhere like a party or softplay. My DH and I sometimes alternated which one would get up with the kids at weekend or let them watch tv in bed with us for a bit so we could have a half nap if they got up too early.

Oh hell no!!! I saw the most beautiful newborn the other day and all I could think was … in about seven years you may have your life back 😱

Mine just keep running into me / other parent when we try to do this, or you can hear a riot happening and feel like you have to go help. It’s never really relaxing.

If I put the TV on there’s no way I could have a nap, they are just whingeing and crying that they want a different programme, elbowing me in all my most sensitive areas or grabbing my face or clambering over me.

Mine are: 5, 3 + 1 and DC4 in due in Feb 😂

Can you and DH take it in turns to do mornings and 1 person gets a lie in?

Mine love colouring. Do you have a playroom? It helps if the toys are all in one place.

A garden? You could invest in garden toys to save money on outings.

Baking can use up some time.

Or put them both in a double pushchair and go for a walk. Take it in turns with DH so the other one can have some peace.

I used to go for a walk round the block, took about 20 mins weekend mornings. It’s no time at all really and good for a few mins peace.

No … I’m guessing you’re going to tell me that DH should be stepping up?

No, not at all! I was going to suggest you divide and conquer. Or he looks after them whilst you go to the gym or for a coffee.

My DD is 23 now so I can be a smug twat and tell you to savour these precious moments making memories 😂

My top tips are:
Stick them in the bath bubbles toys used to get about an hour out of it.

Films with popcorn and treats Saturday am (a tradition that ha continued)

McDonald’s in the dark used to scoop them up in pjs and go to the local macies for porridge and pancakes and I had a coffee

Homebargins let the buy choose treats or a new under a fiver plastic crap and come home and play with it

Also Costco for trial stands and a hotdog or pizza from the cafe

Anything You enjoy and drag them along with you.

All of these done on my own giving my DW a bit of breathing space . She’d reciprocate with a different selection of stuff

Under 5s it's grit your teeth and cope with getting up and out early. In two years it'll be better. We used to do the one lie in each weekend. Many a weekend morning I've spent being at the playground at 7am but that's behind me now! With heading into winter, my suggestion is museums near you as they're free, they will generally have some basic kids' activities like a trail to follow or some drawing or colouring in, and fragile things are usually safely in cases😃 Go round, get a fruit shoot in the cafe, head home.

Who are these unicorn children who sit and watch films and don’t throw popcorn at one another and who don’t trash the house with colouring pens and who don’t flood the bathroom but sit for hours entertained by rubber ducks? I need these children. I’m returning mine.

Oh yes, I feel this in my soul. It does get better to a degree but I found what really helped was creating as much structure as possible. I know that sounds miserable at the weekend when it's supposed to be downtime but I think that's what I miss so...it was swimming lessons on Saturday morning and the library on Saturday afternoons.... you know, create a routine. It's gets a bit easier when they discover Minecraft!