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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

6 months of shite weather

310 replies

SomeoneStolemySocks · 04/10/2020 17:03

No toddler groups............can't go to the park because the ground is always soaking wet/play equipment waterlogged. Can't afford softplay every week. One of my sons is nearly 2 and I have no idea what I'm going to do with him until the sun shows it's face again next year.

I'm feeling low about the onset of autumn/winter. Trying to entertain a very active little boy at home for 6 months of cold/dark and horrible autumn rain.

Anyone else in the same boat? Ideas?

I realize with hindsight how lucky I was to be able to take my first son to a local toddler group on a Tues morning. It only cost £1 entry, & he loved playing with different toys. Those groups were great, such a shame Covid has finished them off (near me anyway)

OP posts:
Mariola321 · 05/10/2020 02:14

I'm looking forward to sitting in pub next to log fire. Hot soup etc.

Bluewavescrashing · 05/10/2020 06:17

OP isn't asking what to do if it rains for one day (out on waterproof stuff, go out to the woods) but if we have sustained wet weather, for weeks on end with little let up.

Scaraffito · 05/10/2020 06:19

Think outside your own situation

I hate the well others have it worse posts. Yes they do, but anyone can struggle or find this hard.

lollipoprainbow · 05/10/2020 06:24

Feeling exactly the same too. I'm ashamed to say I find myself dreading the weekends and can't wait to get back to work and routine.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 05/10/2020 06:29

I think most of pp saying there are no probs are not at the toddler stage right now.

I have a 10 month old who is cruising and will probably be walking in the next couple of months. There are no classes around us and haven’t been since she was 3 months old when i was still recovering from birth and hadn’t yet made it out.

Library has 15 minute slots, childrens area is closed and librarians are terrified and barking instructions constantly. Swimming is adult lane only. There are no open soft plays. Garden centre is discouraging children, and frankly even if they weren’t i don’t want to risk my child’s health by treating wandering around crowded shops as a leisure activity at the moment. Farms haven’t reopened. I don’t have dozens of friends with similar aged children to socialise with because see above, no baby groups. Everyone i know is at work.

I love autumn and winter. And we have a nice local park. We go to the park, yes, we put on splash suits, but it is groundhog day. Anyone saying it’s marvellous please explain how you are doing it every day (along with any possible home activities) and it hasn’t palled by the 19th or 38th day, especially in poor weather and with no alternatives.

OverTheRainbow88 · 05/10/2020 07:06

@RubaiyatOfAnyone

We will about an hour a day in the rain having a daytime bath- lots of plastic crappy toys in their;
Occasionally top up with hot water so they don’t get cold. You can get bath crayons so they can draw on the bath tub; then Give them a sponge to wash it off.

I agree- groundhog days are the worst. It’s a shame no farms or anything have opened near you, is there a zoo or animal park you could join?

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 05/10/2020 07:24

@OverTheRainbow88
That’s a really nice suggestion, thank you, and i don’t want to come across as “No, but...” about everything, but dd2 has eczema that flares up with baths more than a couple of times a week, and flares up with anything like bubbles or bath crayons in the bath water. It would have been a good option after cold walks with dd1.

There is a local zoo, and we do belong and go, but again the inside bits and narrow bits are closed and we do the bits we can as often as we can.

MillieEpple · 05/10/2020 07:27

This makes me feel so sad. We used to go to pets at home when mine were that age and the garden centre and swim and library. They are all discouraging children now. They took the pets out of pets at home, library is no browsing you pre order a book. Pool is lane swimming only. With no toddler groups either. I hope this little lot of tots get some normal fun soon.

bookworm14 · 05/10/2020 07:53

Why is it that when anyone posts a thread daring to suggest that the current situation may be a bit shit, particularly for children, they are leapt on by hundreds of posters screeching at them to get a grip and stop complaining? The situation IS shit, and we are allowed to say that. Lots of young children’s activities are no longer enjoyable, or have stopped running altogether. Last year it rained pretty solidly from October to March - you can’t spend six months ‘making memories’ in puddle suits.

There won’t be medals handed out at the end of this for those who ‘coped’ best, so can we just let people have a moan?

NeonNerds · 05/10/2020 07:54

Just also curious as to whether any of the overly optimistic crowd are at home every day? As I say we do happily spend hours outside every day but I think my feelings of not being a "proper, real" person for DD to interact come from the isolation of not really seeing anyone else 7 days a week (except DH but he works long hours) for an extended period

I feel a bit like I'm on a loop and that I'm not able to give her what she needs even though I feel really optimistic and want to. She seems really happy as I said above though (albeit never as absolutely delighted as she used to be when she could play with other children, even if "alongside" them as mumsnet often describes)

catnoir1 · 05/10/2020 09:15

Waterproof all in one suit and wellies are a must for the winter months for a toddler.

Bikingbear · 05/10/2020 09:24

notworthafly your lucky to get toddler classes, I can't find anything in my area. Not helped by the restrictions of only 4 adults and I leader in the room (thanks Nicola) What baby or toddler group can run like that?

Amazed that the rain bothered that guy in MiamiShock but it might be to do with the pressure in the atmosphere.

It's all very well people saying go to the park or splash in puddles, Mums still need to interact with other adults. There is a reason why parent and toddler groups are so popular, it's also a meeting place for the parents, many will make lifelong friends at these groups. Who will then make arrangements to meet outwith the group setting.

There is bound to be mums who's MH is taking a bashing with the lack of interaction with other adults.

I'm glad I only have two days alone to fill with my preschooler. Pre covid I'd have tried to do something on one of those days, bookbug, swimming, meet friends at either park or soft play depending on weather, take him to a sports class.
He's missing out as am I.

jessstan1 · 05/10/2020 14:25

Well the weather is pleasant today and the forecast is for it to be fine for a couple of days at least so nothing to moan about at present.

BogRollBOGOF · 05/10/2020 14:39

@jessstan1

Well the weather is pleasant today and the forecast is for it to be fine for a couple of days at least so nothing to moan about at present.
Looking at our forecast for the week, it looks very changable. It's OK at present after a soggy morning and looks to be unsettled all week. It still doesn't change the fact that there are few (especially affordable) things to do indoors with a young child and while changable with dry spells is certainly better than relentless weeks of rain that we experienced most weeks last autumn/ winter, we are going into autumn socially isolated and uninspired after 6+ months with a very limited repetoire of ways to stimulate young children. Plus a lack of or reduction of the waymarks along the year like Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas celebrations to punctuate the season.
Wtfdidwedo · 05/10/2020 16:34

@jessstan1

Well the weather is pleasant today and the forecast is for it to be fine for a couple of days at least so nothing to moan about at present.
Except we all love in different areas so this is not true. It's been drizzling most of the day here in Wales. What are people on this thread not understanding about the weather. There are parts of Wales and Scotland where it rains for 20+ days a month in the autumn and winter.
Rainallnight · 05/10/2020 16:39

Honestly, I wish people would stop talking to the OP like she’s never heard of wellies.

It’s bloody shit in bad weather with a toddler. Of course you can wrap up warm and jump in puddles, but there’s a limit. And OP sounds like she’s on a lower income so will have fewer options than some already.

OP - two good websites for indoor play ideas. Five Minute Mum and Play Hooray. Both have lots of free resources.

My DS is two. I’ll be thinking of you!

IdkickJilliansass · 05/10/2020 16:41

I remember the long long days OP

Bikingbear · 05/10/2020 17:18

Honestly, I wish people would stop talking to the OP like she’s never heard of wellies

Yip, I actually think even kids would become bored splashing in puddles. Not to mention you then need to get stuff dry again for the next day.

vanillandhoney · 05/10/2020 17:25

Except we all love in different areas so this is not true. It's been drizzling most of the day here in Wales. What are people on this thread not understanding about the weather. There are parts of Wales and Scotland where it rains for 20+ days a month in the autumn and winter.

People are well aware of that. I live in Cumbria - the wettest part of the country. I work outside in all weathers - with good waterproofs and decent layers you won't get wet and cold.

Fair enough if you just don't want to be outside or would rather be doing indoor stuff, but I hate the insinuations on here that you can't possibly enjoy yourself outside in the rain, and that those who do enjoy it are just weird or must be lying about it.

Good waterproofs (jacket and trousers), wellies, and a peaked cap to keep the rain off your face. No, it doesn't look glamorous or stylish but it's practical and will keep you dry. Layer up underneath and you'll stay warm.

Yes, of course driving wind and stormy weather is grim but you don't need to go out everyday and weather like that rarely continues for more than a couple of days in a row.

NeonNerds · 05/10/2020 17:26

@jessstan1 please tell that to my DD who became hysterical earlier trying to get her boots on, saying "no more walking" (taking dog out again), and "want to play with persons instead" (think she means with other children, the one thing we can't do)

We spend hours outside every day and maybe one in four days someone speaks to us

Bozlem80 · 05/10/2020 17:29

Puddle jumping
Autumn walks
Drying off
Baking biscuits/cakes
Snuggly blanket
Film
Hot chocolate

Bikingbear · 05/10/2020 17:35

Vanilla adults are different they understand and will tolerate layers some little kids hate being bundled up in loads of layers.

Adults walking around in the rain will not get as wet as children messing around in puddles. Its a bit like snow and skiing, adults play ON the snow, kids play IN the snow.

But no matter what its still rubbish for the parents who are isolated with no real way to meet other parents. Parent & Toddler groups aren't just for the toddlers.

GiraffeNecked · 05/10/2020 17:36

It is shit when it rains all the time. And I don't have kids. I do have a dog - who is reluctant to go out in the rain.

We do get out - dressed appropriately - and it's almost always better being out than in. We live a short walk/drive from lots of beaches, glens and lovely walks. Happy enough to go out in drizzle, showers and heavy drizzle. It's no fun when it's p*ssing it down.

bookworm14 · 05/10/2020 17:41

Hilarious how new people keep turning up thinking they are being terribly original by suggesting ‘jumping in puddles’ or ‘autumn walks’.

Barney60 · 05/10/2020 17:49

As others have said invest in wellies and waterprooofs, check local papers for ideas, theres a pre school group in sets of 6 meet in a woods near me, do den building, wildlife watching, ect, theres also a local farm that does painting mugs plates cups ect with a ride on a little train that goes around the farm they can see farm animals, reindeer there at press all booked in advance in small groups, am sure loads near you in same situation do you have a local facebook page, post on there ask for ideas, maybe set up your own group where you can go outside and safe distance?