to want to go out somewhere but everwhere is closed!

[MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams]

DD has been up since 6.30. Ive got cabin fever.

This is why I hate being the one who gets up.early on a Sunday.

I want to do something

But it's cold out

The sky is purple outside. Full of rain and nastiness just waiting to dump as soon as I step.out the door.

Church? 10.30 service is usually child friendly and free! Other mums for you to chat with, DC usually get to do some age specific craft ( be starting to make Christmassy bits now) or have a story. You all have a bit of a sing song, and then tea and biscuits more chat and a quick play for DC before you head home for lunch. Local church should be walking distance so you get a bit of fresh air and walk up an appetite too.

am an Atheist

I remember this feeling so well. Wrap up both of you warmly and go for a puddle splash then a run around the park. I always preferred being outside rather than in with young DC whatever the weather, short of torrential rain! Sorry if it is teeming down. If forced to stay in we did Blue Peter stuff - they loved that but it was 20 years ago before cable/satellite/24 hour TV had a strangle hold.

Grocery shopping? It's 3:22am here, that must make it 8:22am there, are the grocery stores open?

I dont even know if theyve opened the local park this early.

Shops open at 11 so Ill pop out and do some xmas shoppibg then

Go up and take a bubble bath together. I loved doing that when mine were little now they dunk water over my head and poke my boobs

oooh good idea

Hmm. My local grocery stores are all open 24-hours.

I hate when you get the restless feeling that you want to go somewhere and there's nowhere to go.

That's us too today. On my own with both of them and up since before 6am (and it's my birthday! Sob).

We're getting out for a dog walk soon - it'll be cold and there'll be whining! Nice weather here though.

Then grocery shopping for birthday cake baking.

Xmas shopping? Atheist? Though I suppose Christmas is a good party
Go to church... DC will have more fun, make new friends and its free. You're no more compromising your non belief by attending a family service on a Sunday than you are by sharing in the Christmas celebrations :)

Happy Birthday Judy

Winter festivals are a pagan tradition,arn't they?

failing to see how Santa and a Christmas Tree are christian.... we celebrate the pagan aspects of the holiday, not the birh of Christ.

Father Christmas is pre-Christian, as is Yule; but Santa Claus and the name Christmas are both Christian. The current version of a tree is Victorian reintroduction, but decking with evergreens is pre-Christian.

A church, as an anthropological experience, isn't such a bad idea but OP may not be in a position to know which are child-friendly and which have the things that make services worth going to for non-worship reasons, such as great music.

Is there anywhere that you could face for a nice bracing early walk? Then greasy spoon for hot chocolate and a big fat Sunday paper? (Take crayons, and let DS 'edit' it, or just use it as paper for origami or other paper sculpture?)

Greasy spoon, hot chocs, crayons and buns sounds great. Basically in this cold weather somewhere inside but outside (of the house) but my DC hated, hated absolutely hated shopping (its not my fave pastime eithet) and we never had lots of spare cash so I was always up for finding other free stuff to do.
Christmas is Christmas though. Regardless of which winter festival it originates from. But yes, December is the month when we can all enjoy a jolly good party to warm us up and brighten up the dark nights whatever our beliefs.