To ask you to make me feel better...

[GreyMary23]

About being utterly useless parenting today. It's raining all day. Dc has been alternating between iPad and Netflix all morning. I've been busy wrapping, cleaning, and other associated Christmas prep. Usually at this time of year we'd be out doing stuff, walks, carol services, cinema, visiting family. Today it just feels like a total shit show.

Hoping to play some board games later but feel really crap about dc spending this festive time starting at screens. I posted the other day on a thread about how I wasn't beating myself up about the additional screen time this year but today I feel awful.

Don't feel guilty at all and I say that as a teacher who is very aware of parents' screen time worries.
The times we see it become an issue is when there is a ton of screen time and nothing else. In the grand scheme of the holidays it will balance out especially with some board games which are brilliant for quality time/communication. I remember spending full days watching TV in the school holidays as a child and it never hurt me you're giving your child the gift of a less stressed out more present mum over Christmas because you need this time to do the prep. Won't hurt them a bit!

It's a drag isn't it - there's just nothing to do. I suspect most children are having what their parents think is too much screen time. These are not normal circumstances and if the iPad etc. is keeping DC calm, engaged and happy then don't worry. This won't be forever. Keep your chin up!

I am totally with you! Got the kids out yesterday, but it’s rained non-stop so far today. I’m tired and out of ideas - there’s only so much baking I can take and my kids (and I) are just not into arts and crafts. They’ve been on screens most of this morning. I’ll force them into some non-screen activity at some point this afternoon, and then I’ll quickly remember that it’s more stressful and just frankly too much hard work to persevere with, and we’ll probably all curl up in front of a film instead.

This year has been blimming hard. Cut yourself some slack and enjoy the peace screen time gives you. 2021 is not far off.

Merry Christmas

I’m with you... tbh I’m finding the kids need a bit of zone out time with the screens, since they can’t get a away from each other and it can get a bit intense. That’s even with finding them jobs to do, a bit of craft, walking the dog... there’s still a lot of hours in the day!!

Well I could have written your post. I keep trying to think of things to do with my locked down (in Wales) 3 year old. Since March screens (and apps) have become a big feature of a rainy day. We did go out for a walk on the beach (in the rain and waterproofs) but it wasn’t much fun for me. However I now have the jobs you talk about so I think I will give in and let her watch bloody Chip and Potato until I get the wrapping done. YANBU. Completely normal and justified in these crazy times x

I have a 6yo, yesterday we spent 2 hrs at a farm park, the rest of the day was lounging about, telly, bits and bobs of playing and so on. Today 1 hr at swimming and yet more lounging, tomorrow will be an hour or 2 at the park then some lounging. Might also bake some cookies or cheese straws,or just dunk some ready made ones in melted chocolate.

It's holidays, there has to be relaxing during holidays,it can't all be go go go or you'd be more knackered at the end of the holiday than your started.

Dont be so hard on yourself OP. Sometimes you need to use whats available to get stuff done or keep you sane. I am day off today before 3 long days in a row in work-I have had a lovely bath, put fresh pyjamas on and am draped over the sofa browsing mumsnet. My children are 14, 12 and 10 and are more than OK deciding what they want to do today. Ive done the Christmas prep so today is mine.

It sounds like you usually do loads so don't feel bad about not being able to this year, it's a wasted emotion, get the board games set up, pop some christmas music on and try and enjoy not rushing around for this one year only

I always feel bad when my daughter has too much screen time but the weather is awful and there are too many hours to fill. But what l would say Op is that when we were kids, we just had to entertain ourselves - l never remember my mum giving us fun activities to keep us occupied, we had to make our own. So don't feel bad, let them chill out and not worry about constantly keeping them busy.

Agree completely with @Fishfingersandwichplease. Aside from the Sundays we spent with my Grandparents that always involved some sort of excursion, I can't remember many instances of my Mum (single parent) playing a board game with me, baking, crafting, going to the park, otherwise actively entertaining me. Once I was school age if we were at home then it was up to me to entertain myself with the TV, videos, games console, books or toys.

I fairly sure I turned out ok. Don't be so hard on yourself x