Terrible holiday parenting.

[LewisAndClark]

It can't be just me?

Ds1 (nearly 14) has barely left the house. He's barely left his room, actually. He's permanently plugged in to his pc. I've coaxed him out a few times to come out to lunch with us and he's been on one dog walk. Other than meals and the occasional family film we've barely seen him.

DD (12) has only slept here a handful of times, she's either been sleeping over with her friends or at Grandma's. Again, we see her for meals and not much else, although she's come on a few dog walks.

Ds2 (nearly 5) has spent the majority of his time in pyjamas watching tv. He's been out every day with me and the dog and we've been to the park a couple of times, but mainly he's been either playing in his room or watching YouTube.

I've just realised that between them they've gone through a large tub of Nesquick in a week, and god knows how many biscuits. They are all constant grazers, although tbf ds1 has a fruit fetish so we've gone through oodles of grapes and plums too.

Am I an utter failure this summer? Please tell me there are others who are as slack as me? It's not the idyllic, adventure filled holidays I imagined for them, but they just don't want to DO much.

So there you go then, now you know to consider that other people might not have the exact same life driving their choices as you do.

You're welcome

Well today me and ds2 are still in pjs. DD has slept over at a friends and is going out shopping for the day. Ds1 is still sound asleep.

Ds2s little friend is coming for a play in a couple of hours, I imagine they'll be outside on the trampoline.

I might even get dressed myself. Maybe.

Ffs, I'm tired of people getting so pissed off. I'm going to go outside and enjoy the sun with my kids now. Ciao all, I suggest you do the same

I wouldn't Lewis....
Too risky
They might expect you to do stuff! 😳

Have a good day!

No you can't suggest that.

Have a lovely day

The sun gives you cancer.
And The Sun kills your brain cells.

Would love to but my boys are engrossed in dead rising.....

Well the 9 yr led is blowing up zombies and the 3 yr old is cheerleading! Time to tackle the washing pile methinks

What can I say, my standards were low to start with they plummet in the holidays....

I am feeling very much the lazy parent this week, with DSes 7, 5 & 2, but I am trying to give things a good 'twist', iyswim. So, on Monday, we watched too much loads of Olympics, but we also made a podium & medals (out of toilet steps & pizza boxes) & the DSes had fun standing on the podium with the medals they had 'won' (and painted). Today is another veg day, but we are having hm banana milkshake (bananas & milk) & the 2 smaller DSes have been playing educational CBeebies games. Also, DS3 is potty training, so trips out are a bit trickier.

I do constantly feel like I should be doing more with DS2 in particular, as he has suspected AS & struggles a lot in class. So, I feel like I should be doing loads of playdates so he can practise his social skills, parks so that he can practise his motor skills & reading/writing so he can practise that (he is quite far behind all his little classmates ).

Tomorrow we are going to see my grandparents (5 miles away) but we are going by bus & train as a treat, as the boys love that (they can stand for ages at DGP's tiny station & watch the trains & the level crossing).

Hiker, chill out and have a duvet day, or better still, a whole day lazing in bed when you are perfectly well. That'll show youtside what you've been missing.

Fucking hell who pissed on Hikers chips!

I have an 11 year old and we make the most of our gym membership. Nuffield health at £35 a month as many visits as we want. It's a godsend. Also we have an odeon cinema that do kids films for £2.50 in a morning and our local trampolining center reduces their prices over the holidays. There's no way I could stand to stay in every day and if we did the iPad would be on full time.

I love it when people come on knowing everything and it turns out their children are 9 and 12!

So no teens, no toddlers together to juggle, no huge age ranges. No wonder you have it sorted.

Oh wait teenagers.. Good luck then.

Sounds better than our holidays. Everywhere that I've dragged mine has ended with DD throwing a massive wobbly and last week DS jumped off the climbing frame at the park and broke his ankle.

Went into work this morning, came home at lunchtime. Left all 3 DC in bed. They had surfaced by the time I got home.

Still feeling ropey after hospital admission at the weekend, so I have no plans to do anything much this afternoon. Currently lying on my bed doing some crochet. DD is also lying on the bed reading her book. DS1 is downstairs playing piano (sounds more like than his current exam piece, but still he's playing it!). DS2 is sitting in the garden reading his book. This all actually looks surprisingly productive, but it is more luck than judgement as I have no energy to coordinate anything. No doubt the TV or Xbox will be back on later.

• sounds more like Coldplay

Mine seem extremely restless today after a very active day yesterday, yes we only went to soft play BUT I let them go into the 'big' part for the first time where they spent 3 hours straight running up these big foam stairs to go down the 'big slide'. Once they admitted defeat both were dripping with sweat so had some water and went to buy them some new clothes (didn't take a change, and DH had just been paid so meh...also bought pyjamas we don't need and a spacehopper ) then went to the tobey carvery as it was the only place near that did 'proper' food rather than mcdonaldsy type stuff. Filled up on veg and some extremely nice chicken (turkey, but they won't eat it if its not chicken...) before going to outdoor play where they ended up just as sweaty as before...then dropped them off at their grandads where they no doubt ate no end of icecream and crap...but it wasn't my problem as it was him that had to deal with bedtime with them high on sugar

DH and I went to nandos then had an early night, watched a few episodes of true blood in bed, had a cuppa then had and a full nights sleep. It was bliss.

Kids came back this morning seemingly still on a sugar rush though and have not been happy doing anything at all...so we are definitely paying for our good day. DD was wailing shouting that she wants cake like grandad gives her and icelollies, of which she is getting neither. She threw the apple I gave her as a peace offering at her brother..who picked it up and started eating it which gave me a bit of a panic attack as he is only 2 and usually only eats soft fruit, but he managed it and smushed his banana into the floor in seconds, grinning at the apple as if it was a ticket to disneyland or something. So DD went to time out which made her even more stroppy, and now DS is having a nap while DD sits with her colouring crayons in hand glaring at me like she wants to stab me with them.

The holidays are such a lovely time...

Hikernumberthousand Wed 17-Aug-16 09:03:05

Also, interests which keep them at home? I assume you mean writing, drawing, reading etc.? What's wrong with doing that outside instead of in a dim lit roof scoffing chocolate hobnobs?

Snap. Either glued to their phones, PS4 or YouTube. The only time I have managed to get them out the house is if I take the dog for a walk near any pokèstops or there is a rare pokemon around 😊

Hope you've all been enjoying your day indoors. My kids weren't born 9 and 12 you know, I had to sort them out as toddlers as well, which was challenging but entirely possible. Most of the posts are running along the lines of:

Kids spent the whole day glued to electronics but might heave my arse up to 'get dressed' (tf, who doesn't get dressed?!) to go on a fifteen minute dog walk before further food intake with no exercise. What a productive day.

Well
My DC had a lovely time at the castle. I bought them both a plastic extendable lance :)
Then my nephews and neice came round and they have all had a water bomb fight and trampoline competition.
Choc ices and haribo abounded :)
For the rest of the evening they will be on their iPads and watching tv
Polter...my bro had recommend that game for ds1 but it's £45 :(
Will have to go on the Xmas list!