What are you doing right now?

[Muchadoaboutlife]

I always thought having a family (husband and kids) meant I’d never be alone or lonely and my life would be full. It’s full but full of cleaning up after them and feeding them. Friday night and I’m on my own in the sitting room again while kids and husband are all in separate rooms on their devices/headphones/games. Is this normal? Do you spend evenings sat on your own while the rest of your family play on devices/consoles? What are your kids and partners doing right now?

I'm topping up the bath with hot water and more stupid expensive bubbles whilst DP is off hunting and gathering dinner from the Chinese takeaway.

Normally, I'd just have a quick shower and a long bath tomorrow morning, but I needed to wash this entire work week off properly as it's been really challenging, both physically and emotionally. And he's actually got the entire weekend off for a change, so he's been happy since getting back at half seven.

Once he's back, I'm going to get out, put some pyjamas on and we're going to eat at the kitchen table by the light of a wanky bronze lantern I bought on a whim two weeks ago, then he wants to watch The Last Leg before bed, when he'll put a podcast on and fall asleep.

I'm hoping that my body clock will decide to ignore the usual 'it's just gone 5am, time to ping awake for work now you've had a whole 4.5 hours sleep' I get every weekend and I get to stay there in the warmth and quiet with DTwatCat snuggling into my head until at least 9am.

I've fucking earned those prawn balls tonight.

Sat downstairs on my own now..finally 🙈13 hours with a hyper toddler Dd today, dp home and put fire on and it’s his night to do bedtime (we alternate every night)
He’ll likely fall asleep up there and I’ll watch Gogglebox and eat some more of the doughy homemade pizza I made earlier. I’m grateful for the peace at last.

Sorry your feeling lonely, op, I’m guessing when kids get to that age, they like to do their own thing. Can your dh join you? It’s been a long time since we sat together to watch a film etc..since I was pregnant! It can make you feel lonely 💐

DD upstairs playing on her iPad.
DH watching rugby.

Me drinking wine, mumsnetting, arsing round online texting friends with funny memes.

I cooked dinner before. Only Dd has ate it so far.

Just chilling really

Drinking Gin in bath 🛀

It's goooooooooood

Dog next to bath (total shadow)

DCs are small and in bed by 7.30
DH and I watch TV together but one of us is often on ipad or phone at the same time if it’s a programme we’re not super keen on. But we are together and no headphones.

DDs in bed.

The Truman Show is on. It's as awful as I remember 20 years ago, hence me being on MN.

Oh but I do have Freixenet.

@Menofsteel sorry about your dad

Sitting on the kitchen sofa, waiting on Gogglebox at 9. Cat at my feet.

Ds is in the living room watching you tube.

I like my alone time!

@Muchadoaboutlife Make it happen. Who do you want to be snuggled up with? DH, DC, both?

Tell them that from now on Saturday night Or Sunday afternoon (Or whenever) is family food, walk, game, film time. Lockdown and winter is the perfect time to set some new ‘rules’.

A highlight of lockdown for me was when DS1 (22) came to find me and asked if I wanted to play Scrabble or Chess or do a jigsaw. From then on we spent an hour or so after lunch each day playing something together.

I'm so sorry to hear about your poor Dad OP.Sympathies, what an awful year it's been💐

DD is with her dad for the week, I'm in bed Ill and DDog is very very bored and barky.

Sorry my last comment was meant for Menofsteel not OP.

Right now, DH is prone on the other sofa, browsing his phone whilst keeping one eye on the Masters. Both teenagers are in their rooms. We did eat dinner together earlier, which is something we do most evenings.

Teenage dd is curled up with a blanket and a cat in the armchair and I'm on the sofa with the other cat. We have had (hm) Chinese food for dinner and we are watching a House box set.

Just got in and I've been at work since 6.30 am. Had a steaming hot shower before I left so I've chucked all my clothes in the laundry room washing basket and changed into my Andy Pandy onsie. Not hungry so will grab a sarni. Kids ( 18,16 & 14 ) mucking about upstairs and Dh in the garage playing with some ancient motorbike and listening to Pink Floyd, altho there seems to be a lot of swearing too.

Ds 17 is on xbox, dss is reading upstairs. Me and dh are arguing. Again. I'm drinking vodka. Contemplating life.

I live with my partner and his 17yo son. 17yo is always in his room playing games (saying he's doing college work) when he's here. My partner works in the day and I WFH choosing own hours, so I work when he works, if he gets a day off we go out somewhere.

In an evening we all eat dinner together, DSS bolts his down as fast as he possibly can. Then DP goes on his computer for a couple of hours and I'll chill and have a bath, watch the soaps (he doesn't like them so him being on the computer is a good thing for us both ha ha) and browse the internet for a bit .. then at about 10 he'll come downstairs and we'll watch something together and then go to bed together. We go to sleep very very late as we always end up chatting haha.

So we do spend time together but time doing our own thing, too. It works well :).

Had an Indian takeaway earlier now watching tv

@AethelsWhiteGoose thank you I appreciate that. Falling behind at uni but decided I will take a night to regroup and relax. Had a nice nap actually...

DP is watching the golf in the living room. I'm in the bedroom, having a pamper and watching sliding doors. I kinda want to cut my hair into a blonde pixie too .

We don't often sit in separate rooms, it's the masters this weekend, so lost DP for most of it to that. It's nice to have a bit of separate time, but I would feel lonely if it was a regular occurrence.

Youngest DD and I are curled up on the sofa with blankets watching Hotel Transylvania after a big Chinese.

It's a mix in this house. Tonight after tea me and ds 9 watched a film cuddled up in his bed while dh mucked about with his home brew. Ds is now in bed and we are watching Gogglebox. Few beers, some crisps etc dh is working at 6am tomorrow morning so we won't be up to late

I just finished breastfeeding my second twin and enjoying a little cuddle before I settle him back in his cot. They're 10 months old and it's their first night in their own room so I'm a bit emotional. DS3 was in bed at 7.45 and then DH and I ate dinner, chatted and mooched on the sofa for a while. It's very rare for us to be in separate rooms in the evening. We like each other's company.