Is this normal?

[dingodollarman]

I have one child. This morning we Had a slow start to the day because of no school runs etc. When I was ready we went to the supermarket and picked up some bits for lunch. We came back and since child's been happy playing. I'm busy doing the washing and some cleaning but mostly we are doing not a lot. Tomorrow we'll do something as a family. Is this a "normal" way to spend a Saturday? I feel constant pressure/guilt to be doing "stuff" and going out.

Sounds blissful!

Forty or fifty years ago (eeee, when I were a lad!) your sort of day was the only sort of day! There wasn't this incessant pressure to be 'doing things', play-dates were when kids came round and rang the bell for you to go out and play, clubs were pony club or guides (and only once a week) and parents generally didn't have the disposable cash (or the cars) to be driving us about to things.

A bit of hanging out and boredom is good for kids! Didn't do us any harm, (and other Old Fart Sayings).

Yes very normal.

Millions of families up and down the country will be spending their Saturdays in a very similar way.

Unfortunately instagram/instamum projected lifestyles lead to these feelings. You need to remember the big social media mums get PAID to look like they're doing all this amazing stuff all the time

It sounds like our average weekend. I have a sensitive daughter and toddler who gets overtired easily. Doing activities all the time would be way too much for them to handle. Plus I need the time to relax too.

That’s most days in my house with two Pre schoolers. We sometimes venture out to Sainsbury’s for a change!

I know how you feel as we are quite similar. We are all introverts and really need to recharge on the weekend and do little. I often have work to do at home and also have chronic illnesses meaning only a certain amount of energy available. DS is my one child so I think I feel worse thinking he’s having a deprived time with just us and we are not stimulating him etc etc.

But the rest of the time I feel like we’re doing him good not going bing him constant treats and days outs and never letting him potter and sometimes get bored. I sometimes take a perverse pride in having nothing to say when people ask what we did at the weekend. I think he appreciates his days out more having fewer of them too.

Totally normal! Don't worry about it! Tbh that's how we spend most of our day quite happily. It's absolutely fine.

Kids don't always want to be doing stuff. It's usually the parents who want to rush around organising activities for them. On a nice day like this, just toys in the garden, get the paddling pool out...

I feel myself that when we do then have days out that they are real treats rather than the expected norm. I see so many other kids who constantly need to be entertained and are always asking "what next" and "where next" which I hate. But all that said I do feel insecure about how we spend our time because I feel people look upon it negatively (maybe just my imagination but that's how I feel!!).