To find the evenings so boring?

[MsMustDoBetter]

I'm so bored of the evening routine. DC dinner, bath, bed, and our dinner. I know that it's just life, but I'm bored to tears.

Is it just me? Some days it's as if I'm just going through the motions. It's so dull.

I quite like the monotony after a full day at work.

Maybe pick a new box set, or one evening make it a fun dinner - DIY pizza, or movie night, bathbomb evening?

Yep YANBU. There are so many other things I'd like to be out and about doing!

OP - why don't you go out and do some of the things you want to do? Can you and DP each have an evening 'off' each week?

Yanbu... just the sight of the tv makes me want to cry as I know that’s it for my evenings! Even the Netflix logo makes me feel depressed. But... this too shall pass.

Once they’re a bit bigger, I’m going to dance classes, language classes and to apply for random fascinating evening jobs.

Yep, but then I imagine not doing it when they get bigger and then I feel sad about that!

It's partly selfishness. I'd love to be sitting outside, enjoying dinner and drinks with friends, but everyone else is stuck in with DC too. We manage to get out together once in a blue moon and ditto for evenings out with friends.

A pizza and box set are just not going to do it. I'm clearly a spoiled and demanding woman. I just wish that I could enjoy my life a bit more rather than mindlessly plodding from day to day. I need to find joy in the mundane.

They definitely are with a young baby. Can you all go out for a walk?

Same!

I enjoy the evening's, dinner, wash dishes tidy up kitchen, do packed lunches for tomorrow, maybe do a wash then relax in front of tv with DP around 10.30pm -11pm bed.

Do you have a dp/dh? If so leave them home with the dc and get yourself to a beer garden! Take a book or text round your friends and tell them where you are and see if they can escape too.

Yanbu. I have to go out at least twice a week for my sanity.

Can't you get in the garden with a glass of wine and some music on once the kids are in bed.

Any chance you can get out to a class one evening a week? Or go for a walk? I’m going to start doing those adult colouring books and jigsaws to try and reduce my wine intake- I drink when I’m bored.

When everyone had young DC we used to go each others houses and DC used to fall asleep in their buggies then we'd walk them home.

How old are the kids?

Can you not just send them to bed and sit out in the back garden with a drink and dinner?

I quite like the evenings. But I like chilling out after a hard day at work or going to the gym.

Mine are school aged and need the Mon-Fri routine.

I'm just a bored and lonely. I need to try harder to get out, maybe try and corrupt some friends too.

We have always eaten dinner with the children as making and clearing up two meals is just drudgery. The whole evening feels dominated by cooking/clearing that way. And I like eating as a family anyway. That way, once the children are in bed then it’s free time.

Then I go swimming some evenings, read a book in the garden, do some writing, do some gardening - I’m a fairly boring person tbh but so grateful for my quiet and unexciting life actually .

I found once DD became about 4 we could do more stuff in the evenings. She does go to bed about 7pm on a school night. Bit about once a week we go to the beach, or for ‘pub supper’ and sit in a beer garden, or get fish and chips and eat them on the sea wall. That breaks up the week. On a weekend she is good to stay up late as long as the next night is an early bed. So it does get easier. I love my evening adventures with DD

I felt (and sometimes still feel) exactly the same as you. The solution for me was to cultivate a social life without my DH. It felt a bit strange at first, but now we have a reasonable social life each, without each other. So we can each escape the monotony some evenings and leave the other parent to hold the fort.

You have my sympathy. I found life with small children a struggle. I longed for some freedom.

Yeah they’re crap, I’m meant to be at a small birthday celebration at the park, but my son was too tired so we stayed for about ten minutesz

YABU.

I love it after a long busy day to just settle down for the evening. Me and DP will watch a film and have a cuppa on the sofa. Do a bit of gardening. He might take the dog out whilst I have a long bath. I sometimes force him to have face masks

I like the winding down, tidying the kitchen - it feels better to come downstairs to clean worktops and no dishes in the sink! Might just chill and read a book (in the garden when it's warm).

I think the opportunity to relax and do nothing often goes unappreciated!

I don’t mind as much anymore but I used to. I think it didn’t help I was in a flat and now I am in a house so I have a garden

I also have a dog so although this adds to yet another thing to do I really like going on a walk with a podcast. I have a routine which is pretty much always the same but yes involves face masks, maybe a film or TV show, clearing up, washing. I don’t have to bath my DC anymore or read stories - it does get better trust me!

Go to the gym for a class (I’m there now) or go and meet friends - dinner or a wine bar?