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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think parenting small children is easier in warmer climates?

170 replies

tryingtobefunctional · 31/03/2018 15:59

I have 2DC pre-school age and we've been stuck indoors for months/weeks due to snow and rain showers. I am constantly clearing up toys, food, drink, wiping stains and general mess and always looking for socks, shoes, coats, scarves hats, and trying to catch each DC and dress them appropriately each day.

I remember what it was like for those couple of months last summer when I could put a little dress on DD and just a nappy and a vest on DS , put suncream on them, and go and sit outside in the garden or in the park or the playground and just let them play. You can't make a mess out of grass, or playground equipment which is nailed to the floor.

I have friends on Facebook in australia with similar age kids and every day they're at the beach. It just looks like it's easier.

AIBU/delusional?

OP posts:
1forAll74 · 01/04/2018 03:37

Well if you live in the UK.. it is as it is with our weather, always has been Cold in the winter and maybe a bit warmer in the Summer !! Its not a big problem to be used to all this.. Lots of children like going out in the snow and rain, as well as running about in the garden when sunny. Everyone seems to complain if it's too hot or too cold, I love the UK weather, no matter what. !

Laserbird16 · 01/04/2018 03:59

Yes and no. The summer is pretty punishing sometimes especially if you're in a humid area of Australia. Fending off the wedgetail eagles being ridden by sharks as they try to carry off your toddler with a surfboard is pretty hard work, the barbecue might go out!

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 01/04/2018 04:18

We used to live in the Far East and my DM has always said it was easier there than here just from a laundry perspective - out there required less clothes/layers = less laundry (which also dried much quicker), which meant getting dressed was quicker/easier as less layers and was much cheaper as again less clothing/multitude of shoes/wellies/trainers/snow boots. Yes it was hot during the day but we were lucky to have a massive porch that went around most of the house so we were outside but not in direct sunlight.

Johnnycomelately1 · 01/04/2018 04:26

On balance I'd say yes, albeit warm doesn't necessarily mean dry. We often have a very wet July/August in Hong Kong and in the height of summer you really can't do much between 10-4 other than go to the pool.

mmgirish · 01/04/2018 05:16

YANBU. I live in South East Asia and my kids are currently painting in their pants. Even when it's rainy season, they go out in the rain but it's isn't cold like it is in the UK. I think it's easier than in the UK.

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 01/04/2018 05:19

Depends where you live. It’s pretty nice where I am. I am in a big city though, so have access to a lot of nice places. If it’s over 33C I don’t take kids to the park (though you could first thing in the morning). This only happens a handful of days in the summer. Instead we go from air conditioned house to air conditioned car into air conditioned museum or aquarium. One of the shady walks at the local zoo is really nice on a warmer day too. I HATE soft play places passionately so only take them a few times a year if it’s 38C+.

OP, you do have my sympathy. It wasn’t so easy when I had DS3 and DTs were babies. It’s so much easier now DTs are 18 months and can be organised a little bit/tell me if they’re cold or hot.

WheresYouWheelieBin · 01/04/2018 05:24

YABU. I live in Australia, right opposite the beach and a park. We do not go to the beach or the park every day. I have chores to do like everyone else, and while I am getting my jobs done the kids create more work for me. If I took them to the beach the jobs wouldn’t get done. Also, it gets really, really hot here and then everything feels like an enormous effort.
The grass is rarely greener on the other side and if you truly believe it it then YABU.

LionsTigersBeers · 01/04/2018 05:26

Agree, it's easier. We live in Singapore and the kids swim all year round. They literally do not own jumpers/coats only cardigans for the cinema as the A/C can be too frosty!!

Laughing at all the usual Australia-hate from MN! What is it about Australia on here? I grew up on the fringes of a city in Australia, spent my days riding bikes and swimming in a nearby lake. Never once saw a snake or red back spider.

Bippitybopityboo · 01/04/2018 05:31

Yanbu!!
I hated summer before I had DS now I can't wait for it. There's more to do and while he loves splashing in muddy puddles his weak chest means he's poorly A LOT in winter! He's had a snotty nose constantly since November. So Yes, bring on summer.

awifeyforlifey · 01/04/2018 05:37

YANBU. I've lived in Orlando, Florida and Los Angeles, California and can safely say that I spent my childhood playing outside and my teenage years at the beach (with sunscreen). If mosquitoes were bad, I sprayed my arms and legs with repellent. No other issues to report, I was rarely indoors. My parents must have been thrilled. Grin

That said, I'm sick to satiety of blinding sunshine and chose England for our honeymoon so we could have a little change. Bought some real coats, etc. And ended up going for a record two week heat wave. FML.

TeisanLap · 01/04/2018 05:38

During the hot months where I live children can be cooped up in doors most of the day for 5 months. Theres nothing 'easier' about that when the temps can reach 50- 52 degrees C.

In fact as a family we're having out last 'garden day' today. But even then it starts about 4pm and from now till about October our get togethers will start about 6pm for a swim that lasts an hour or so before the humidity has us running inside. There's absolutely no point sitting at the side of the pool because you'll get just as wet if you're in it. Grin

TeisanLap · 01/04/2018 05:43

Sorry, but all of that said - I love living here and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

I think its just a different kind of difficult compared to having to wrestle wee ones into winter clothes and live with lashing down rain and freezing weather.

OP YABU but not in bad way Smile

Notanotheruser111 · 01/04/2018 05:45

Its not so much even the heat in Aus. I live in the south it can get hot but often it’s just high 20s to mid 30s. It’s the sun, even on a low 20s day the sun is burning, I can’t even hang a load of washing without long sleeves and a hat. It can feel temperate but you need to reapply sunscreen hourly, In our backyard the kids can still burn ar 5:30/6pm in the summer.

beingsunny · 01/04/2018 05:51

We live in Sydney, most of the year we can be outside, so much easier to take kids to the beach or park and let them roam while I drink my coffee.

I don't really worry about sunscreen, I found it's easier to do a long sleeve UV suit, sunscreeen on their faces and away we go.

Indoor play centres are few and far although had a few more pop up in the last few years they aren't a patch on the UK though!

We get occasional 40 degree days but we might then watch a movie at the cinema and have a swim at 4/5 pm instead

mrsheathy85 · 01/04/2018 05:57

I swear it's been cold wet and gloomy for 6 months 😒😒 and if I hear the phase beast from the east again I may scream

Ozgirl75 · 01/04/2018 06:19

I would say it depends on the children a bit. I live in Sydney but grew up in the UK, have two boys. We are outside all the time and when they were small it was so easy to just go to the park, beach, bush walks, swimming etc and now they’re older we spend weekends out on bikes, today we went for a kayak and then they swam in the river, went to the beach on Friday etc.

In the very hot summer days we do tend to hide inside - go to the cinema, bowling, ice skating etc but it’s not hot for that much of the year - only odd days here and there for 3 months or so whereas the cold and rain seems to last for months in the UK.

We spend Xmas in the Uk and I do find the endless clothing of children and cleaning up muddy boots quite wearing but they are still outside a lot, paddling in streams and things.

AjasLipstick · 01/04/2018 06:27

Since moving to Australia, I've become very impatient with children inside during the day at all. Mine are older now but at 10 the younger is still massively physical and energetic and currently, two of her mates are here....everytime they come inside I'm all Confused

I'm not used to it! I chuck them out swiftly....they come in to eat etc but otherwise OUT!

TheHulksPurplePants · 01/04/2018 06:37

YABU. I live in the UAE and the kids are stuck indoors for the hot summer months. Moreover, in more tropical climates they are stuck indoors during the monsoon seasons.

rumblytummy1 · 01/04/2018 06:39

Yanbu
I’m in France. It has rained since October. On the rare sunny days 7yo DS has been outside like an Exocet. I will agree in the summer, when it has been 40+ he has been inside with the shutters shut. But then we can go swimming when it colls down a bit.

SD1978 · 01/04/2018 06:40

Different clones have their own issues. Australia here and it’s too hot to go outside, as some others have said, for long periods of time. You end up at an indoor pool with hundreds of other people, or inside with the aircon on. It’s too hot to play, and too hot to sleep at night. Spring and autumn are good, and winter ok. For me as long as it isn’t raining I’m ok with going out.

rumblytummy1 · 01/04/2018 06:44

Although I will add this year has been exceptionally bad. My Facebook feed came up with a pic of DS swimming in a lake this time last year. Usually we have reasonable to great weather from April to October. Not humid and nice & cool in the mornings

Jeffjefftyjeff · 01/04/2018 06:45

We partly lived in South Asia when DS was young and on balance found warm weather easier. Potty training was a dream! Hardly any clothes to wash if accidents (and they dried quickly anyway), and surfaces also dried quickly. Less clothes generally, more opportunities for swimming and socialising. Overall better.

Really hot was a pain, stuck indoors as people have said , and it also meant more nasty bugs around.

If I could I’d have warm British summer days all year round!

Iceweasel · 01/04/2018 06:49

My DC is outside more in the UK than Australia, favouring a dark room, a screen and headphones in the heat, "The light, it burns!". Doesn't feel the cold much and is loving scout camps here.

Shortfatandangry · 01/04/2018 07:19

I think pp who are saying get out in any weather don't know that in Scotland recently we had a red alert weather warning and 'risk to life' storms. I'm not sure Polern OPryet do a range for that. And there is not a waterproof invented that will get my kids out when it's so windy the driving rain is going horizontal. If you can't see where your children are it's hardly appropriate to drag them out in it anyway for 'fresh air'.

1forAll74 · 01/04/2018 07:49

Its really great to hear from people from all over the world on here.regarding all their weather where they live.. but would be hard to hear from drought ridden places, with no water for months, and other harsh weather conditions that some people have to live in, that affect their lives in such dire circumstances,