To not take my DC's on day trips every w/e?

[WinterSnow]

A lot of parents I know spend their free time heading off to different places with their DC's, country walks, zoo's, museums, soft play areas etc..

My DC's (3 & 5) are really happy playing in the garden, toddling down to the shops and can spend literally hours playing together with their toys.

We do go on trips sometimes and they have swimming lessons & DS plays sports but I feel a little guilty we don't visit more places with them, aibu?

Those that talk about it, don't do it.

I would go doolally if I stayed in the house all day at the weekends. I see enough of these bloody four walls as a sahm during the week! The kids do eventually go stir crazy after a while too, and need to run off some steam. And plus I know I would just get caught up in housework etc.

So I make sure we are out for a good proportion of the weekend, but not necessarily on 'day trips'. We live near some fabulous parks, so we explore those at length, feeding ducks, collecting interesting leaves, climbing logs etc. Or we go on long walks where the DCs can scoot/ run to their hearts' content. Playgrounds and swimming are fun for everyone too

And that's what suits our family. I guess we're just more outdoorsy than some. But then maybe if I had DCs who were happy to play with their toys for hours I'd see things differently. Horses for courses!

Wintersnow get over yourself - my kids are really happy playing together and can spend literally hours playing with their toys - what do you think other peoples kids do - look at their toys bemused by them?

This is AIBU -you did not on parenting My kids are happy at home but lots of friends seam to go out more - How do I tell if I have a good balance?

I think you know yanbu. Bit of a strange op.

YANBU

We go on day trips every weekend but mainly for walks or to NT properties and similar things that we are members of. We don't go to theme parks or soft play type places. The days out are for us really, not the children, although they do enjoy them. We take packed lunches and generally don't spend any money when we are out. They often beg for ice cream if they see a van but we don't give in because then they will expect one every time.

I've always been an outdoors type and I have tried to carry on with my own interests as much as possible after having children. I don't have a babysitter available so I can't do anything on my own.

When I say day trips I mean trips where we are out for the whole day, but we could do a few different things during the day. I'd love to go to a theme park when the children are older but I wouldn't want them to think it was going to be a regular thing. At the moment the children are quite satisfied to go to a different park with different things to play on.

I'm at home all week so I really look forward to getting out at weekends. I feel very fortunate that we have a car and are able to get out like this.

I sometimes wonder if people are entirely comfortable with being out in the country. Petting zoos and farm parks are very popular round here but some of the people I know who go to those think I am brave for going for walks in the country with the children as though it is some sort of mysterious wilderness full of axe murderers and dangerous big cats. I think they might pay to get into these places so they can feel they are getting close to nature without actually having to get close to nature.

what ever works for everyone we go to zoo a lot have annual passes but it has really fab outdoor playareas including giant lego , has paddling pool and also has indoor play area free bouncy castle .So we cna quite happily pass a day there and on a sunday we all go swimming home rest of teh day .

Just each to their own really

Gotabookaboutit -

"get over yourself" what does that even mean?

Are you the AIBU police? Perhaps next time I should check my phrasing/content/general point of view is correct and up to your standard before posting.

I know plenty of people who's kids aren't happy to play together and aren't happy to sit and play with their toys for any amount of time.

You're obviously spoiling for a row so might I suggest you go away and find one elsewhere.

Why are you the AIU police ??? That 's what I mean by get over yourself -appreciate you illustrating the point so well

so what do you suggest parents with active children ought to do?

kind of stealth-boasting vibe going on here

How on earth is such an innocent thread turning into a bunfight?!

I just see as the op feels guilt or even inferior , as she doesn't do as many weekend activities and wanted to see what other parents did for reassurance as we can all feel insecure we dont know enough at times cant we?

I cant see how it was offensive!

Its a bun fight because the op is classic passive aggressive as boys says 'stealth boasting' - she posted this in AIBU - not asking for advice is in parenting

But I'm not allowed on this thread so better take myself off like a good girl and not spoil the op's fun. Hangs head in shame and trundles away

Ok, so Im thick but what the heck is "stealth boasting"! Keep seeing it everywhere what does it mean?

Cocoflower - your guess is as good as mine!

I wouldn't say we do 'day trips' as such, as we live in London, so already have so much at our fingertips

Seriously, though, I wish we could just potter about the house a bit more at weekends, but a couple of hours of it and my two (6 yrs and 2 yrs) are bored out of their minds. The 6 yr old has a whole array of bloody extracurricular things at weekends, too - swimming, footie, music class etc. I'd kill for a lie-in, but it's not to be.

I think you may be in the minority, OP, so don't be too snotty about the day trippers. They might simply be trying to get out of the house to avoid bored, grouchy kids.

Just in case this is stealth boasting I would like to cheer the OP by stating that my two would beat the living daylights out of each other if we stayed in for any length of time.

Lol - it is rife at the moment

We are quite happy pottering at home most of the time - like others, have worked hard to ensure the DC have fun stuff for the garden & indoors, plus we all like to relax after a week of rushing to & from school.

I know a family with similar age DC to us (5 & 3, admittedly no baby) and they are always rushing about at weekends; dance classes, trips out, etc.

Their DC are very often ill, nearly always tired & irritable and generally hard work. not sure if the rushing around causes this, but maybe.

yanbu
day trips are extortinate and a treat in this house

ds usually prefers to stay and play with his mates anyway

I'm not being snotty, really I'm not!!!

There are 3 other families on our street with young children, every Saturday morning while my DC'S are in their PJ's we see them heading off out on trips and it makes me feel tha perhaps i should make more of an effort to take my DC's places.

Clearly this may not be a typical example hence asking a broader cross section on mumsnet

Depends on what you call day trips?

We (DS and I) have seasons tickets to local family theme park as does my closest friend. We tend to go there 2/3 times a month as doesn't costs us. (obv have outlay at start) We vary time there from 3/4 hrs to all day. Also sometimes will just stay in area where dc's can go on rides unsupervised and sometimes do big rides. So the day out varies too iyswim?

We also go swimming, woods, bike rides, parks, cinema, lunch out, zoo. Some of these happen 1-2 times a year others more frequently. Unless its a monsoon outside we tend to go out and do something even if only for an hour.

Film day or arts/crafts is great for bad weather.

''There are 3 other families on our street with young children, every Saturday morning while my DC'S are in their PJ's we see them heading off out on trips and it makes me feel tha perhaps i should make more of an effort to take my DC's places. ''

Thats a valid question -your original op does not read like this at all

We definitely don't go somewhere every weekend . For one, the cost would be prohibitive and secondly, there isn't always the time. I know it isn't fun but "boring" things like housework, grocery shopping etc. have to be done & thankfully, at 13 & 10 both my DS's are old enough to be playing outside with their friends for at least some of the time.

I don't know anyone who goes somewhere every weekend. But then my friends are not especially wealthy .

I wanted to emphasise that my DC'S weren't clawing at the windows to get out or tearing chunks out of each other and did have things that keep them entertained otherwise i was concerned may have been accused of keeping them cooped when we should be spending time doing more interesting things

'accused' - we are not social services ????

I'm sorry I have poked you too much and I apologise