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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

aibu to put a dvd on for my 3 yo to watch while my 1 yo is sleeping?

11 replies

peanutbuttersarnies · 11/09/2013 20:21

So my 1 yo is on a long lunchtime nap now. But instead of enjoying yhis time for a rest it is one of the most tiring time of my day. My 3 yo expects me to play with him. The games he plays i find exhausting. Its imagination games where we makes the people talk to each other and drive cars round living room etc. We do this for an hour or more.
I started letting him chose what to do so he got quality time with me. But its backfired slightly. He now wants to play every day. I try suggesting painting, reading etc. But hes just not interested. I could probably persuade him to watch a dvd. Which i am so tempted to do, just so i can get some chill out time. Wibu? I feel like it would make me a lazy mum! But its exhausting me not getting any time for a rest.
Any other suggestions for thibgs to do that are a bit less tiring for me. But that he'd find fun?

OP posts:

NumTumDeDum · 11/09/2013 20:24

Dear god woman! Put the dvd on. Then the kettle. Nothing bad will happen but you might well feel like you've finally had a tea break!

plantsitter · 11/09/2013 20:25

I would play with him for a bit but set a time limit and then put on a DVD if her really won't do anything else alone (my dd1 wouldn't).

You can then have a rest guilt free.

gamerchick · 11/09/2013 20:27

God no.. you crack on.

I'm not a natural get on the floor and play mother.. an hour even would drive me nuts doing that. Don't feel guilty about it gawd.

Original poster

peanutbuttersarnies · 11/09/2013 20:31

Thanks everyone. I see people on here say they try and limit tv time as its not good for them. So i have been trying to do that too! He watched a gair bit of tv during ds2's first year as i just couldnt cope much otherwise! But been trying to really limit it now as was feeling guilty.

OP posts:

BoysRule · 11/09/2013 20:31

I have children the same age and my oldest gets a DVD. He knows that after lunch it is quiet time and he chooses one to watch. I feel no guilt whatsoever as I need the time to do general admin surf mumsnet and catch up on emails.

However, he does often say can I play with him when I have finished 'my jobs' and I do enjoy a bit of time on our own. I dictate what it is though and tell him I will play lego, draw, playdoh etc - basically all the things we find hard to do when the youngest is awake.

So - try to have an hour to yourself and a bit of one to one time doing stuff you can't do when the 1 year old is there.

3MenAndMe · 11/09/2013 20:36

Same as the rest...but it was 12 years ago...
OP you d2served a break, no question, if your LO enjoys the DVD, just do it....Cuddle up and have an energising nap....I loved that...

CharlieCoCo · 11/09/2013 20:42

even if u choose not to do a dvd (which i dont see as a problem) they should be having some form of quiet time anyway, for both of your sakes, so whatever works, weather its looking through some books, colouring in, lying down or watching a dvd. shes still really young herself.

Thepowerof3 · 11/09/2013 20:47

Play doctors. You be the patient and lie down!

OlympicSleepingChampion · 11/09/2013 21:08

No DVDs in my day but DS spent plenty of time in front of videos of Fireman Sam and Postman Pat just so I could pull myself and the house together after lego/sticklebrick/duplo time. Didn't do him any harm. He graduated a couple of years back with a BSc Hons.

My DN is currently enjoying a number of DVDs suitable for small boys. They keep him entertained and my DB and SIL sane. Worry not OP.

edwinbear · 11/09/2013 21:35

I work Mon-Thurs but Friday's, (up until ds started school last week), we had swimming lessons for ds and dd (20 months) in the morning, then home for lunch, followed by a sleep for dd and a DVD for ds. Sometimes I watched with him, sometimes I didn't because I needed to do things, but he loved his Friday afternoon DVD with a plate of snacks, cubes of cheese, fruit, a biscuit, maybe a couple of chocolate buttons. Sometimes he even fell asleep for a bit himself .

CoffeeChocolateWine · 11/09/2013 22:35

I have this too! My DS is a bit older - almost 5 - but as soon as DD is down for her nap I have DS saying "Shall we make plans to do something fun together, mummy...just you and me?" How do I say no to that?!

Fortunately he has accepted the fact that "Mummies don't play dragons or superheros" so he's given up asking. But he has just got really into Lego...he's always quite liked it, but will now spend a solid hour or so playing with it which is great for me because I love playing Lego with him...I find it quite therapeutic!

Also, I've discovered that dragon or superhero-themed creativity is much more appealing to him than just suggesting drawing or painting...so whereas "shall we do some drawing together?" would not get a very excited response, "why don't we draw some really scary fire-breathing dragons" would have him falling over himself to get the paper and pens! I also bought him some dragon mosaics (spotting a theme yet?!) to do recently which he loves and which again I find very therapeutic.

And then, of course, there are times when we sit down and watch a dvd together

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