To just want my children to GO TO BED??????

[Foxesinsockses]

Friday evening and I am done in, been a really hard week at work then switched at 5pm straight into Mummy mode. Busy week for them too, tired but happy. However DH has got them watching a movie which they are just about holding it together for but it'll be carnage when it's finished and we need to get them washed and PJs and stories read and tucked in . . .
I am sure from their point of view it is a lovely Friday night snuggled up with Daddy on the sofa knowing that Mummy's going to swoop in and bath them and read to them and cuddle them when it's finished but it's going to be close to 9pm by the time I get finished and I JUST WANT SOME PEACE AND QUIET.

Phhh. It's just family life, innit, and they are lovely children and I'm immensely fortunate and grateful but sometimes . . . AIBU just to wish I could put my own needs first and say NO to the Friday night movie and get them to bed earlier so I can collapse without anyone needing anything (in stereo)??

Washed and ready before film.
After film, straight to bed, no stories, as the film is a treat.
If anyone kicks off, they miss the first 10 minutes of next Friday's film.

Movie finished - am going to try to do this in record time while staying calm and cuddly (genuinely a challenge)

Re the hygiene thing - they haven't had a bath since Tuesday, just feels a bit rubbish skipping it again. I'm not a clean freak honestly.

1. . .2. . . 1 . . . GO!

Friday nights in our house are come in, strip off, jammies on. Pizza and popcorn on the sofa with a movie then into bed (brush teeth on the way). Ideal way to decompress from a busy week & it's a lovely tradition to start

But then I think that's pretty crap not to prioritise their hygiene and comfort over my need for peace!!

Eh? This sounds a bit martyrish tbh. (As does you always doing bedtime because they like your voices )

Missing one bath is not a question of hygiene or comfort. Them being in bed earlier (without bath) will help with their peace and yours!

As a one-off this doesn't seem like a big deal overall - can you sneak have a quick glass of wine break while they're watching the film?

DH can learn how to do the voices.

And this is why you don’t get finished til 9pm. The lovely routine with the voices etc etc is all well and good.

But the children have to accept that if they are staying up late to watch a film with daddy they don’t get the long version of bedtime.

‘Teeth, Toilet, Bed’. If it’s late at 5 and 8 they can easily understand that.

Tell DH to do bath and story and you go to bed early and chill. It’s the only way to get some me time and I wouldn’t under estimate it!

Your kids are old enough to understand you might want some time to yourself and you are showing them a) the world doesn’t revolve around them b)sometimes you have to cope with daddy c) self care is important

I used to be like this and then I became a single parent. No bath? They can wash tomorrow morning. A more refreshed parent on a Saturday morning is worth more than than a tired routine on a Friday

Just get them to wash hands and face, brush teeth and they can have a full wash in the morning.
I’d also think about pausing the film doing it now (quickly) so they can get straight in bed. You deserve a nice (quiet) evening too!

Completely feel you OP, you just want to sit down and unwind after a long week, I'm with you 🙌

We do bath time before running around/movie as they all get excited after bath. They only have a bath 2-3 times a week, showering every day is drying on the skin and body and my toddler has eczema prone skin.

Hope you get to relax soon🍷

If we are doing film on a Friday evening (we did tonight!) I bundle mine straight into the shower when we walk in the door from nursery. I joined them this evening so I'm showered and makeup off and in jammies too. Mine are 4 and 2 though so might not work quite the same with your ages, but you could do similar.
Then it's just up to bed for milk with stories, teeth, into bed.

Just tell them. "It's been a long week, I'm tired and I need you to go to bed now".

In our house they don't get a bedtime story if they watched a movie/special tv program after tea. It PJ's on, teeth, into bed, lights out. They don't get a movie/tv on bath night though. I'd bath them tomorrow instead.

Pj's

Then movie

Then bed

Simple

Yup it's a trade off. Late night watching movies means quick bedtime. No bath. No stories.

Was going to say you lost me at the “hygiene and comfort” thing but I see they’ve gone unbathed since Tuesday. I salute you!

I agree with the poster above - no story when it’s been a movie night, just teeth and bed. Good luck OP!

My son used to have a shower when he got up in the morning, kids are all sweaty after a night in bed and they need one. Let them have a shower in the morning. I don't understand this bath before bed thing.

We do bath and PJ's before movie and the deal is if it's film night we skip the stories and it's straight to bed.

Skip the bath and the story!

If they kids have stayed up watching a film as a treat then they don't get a story as well. PJ's on, teeth brushed, kiss goodnight and you're done 👍

Saying that, it is only 8pm. Not really late for an 8 year old on a Friday night.

So you should have said no.

Or let him do bedtime.

Yup I'd be skipping the bath too!
Could you bath them at 5 going forward op? Then at least they'd be ready for bed!

But then I think that's pretty crap not to prioritise their hygiene and comfort over my need for peace!! @Foxesinsockses it’s far better for children if you don’t bath them daily than if you do.

My 7 year old always stays up till 9ish on weekend nights, I love spending the extra time with him we just find something we both want to watch. My kids don't bath every night, maybe 2/3 times a week. Just relax, chuck them in one quick, teeth brushed and to bed!

But for the future, the joy of film night has to be that your weekend relaxation starts early.

Get them fed and ready for bed, then film night, while you eat, then early bedtime. Win win!