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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bad weather only really matters when you have children

232 replies

Welcometotheterrorzone · 21/08/2021 21:07

This might be a bit of a 'well duh' thread but...
Since when did so much of my happiness depend on the weather?
Child free friends still seem to have amazing weekends and holidays despite it pissing down all week. 'Let's just go to the pub or musuem or stay in and watch interesting box sets' all of which are denied to parents of small children.
Now my life seems to revolve around 'please don't rain' 'did I just feel a spot' and 'we've paid £1,700 for this cottage and we are going to the beach, kids, get your waterproof trousers on!'
I mean, I chose this life, but I never expected to have to spend half my life in a car 'waiting for it to ease up a little?'

OP posts:
TrainspottingWelsh · 21/08/2021 21:44

No. Exercising toddlers in the rain is ridiculously simple compared to horses. Nor have I ever been concerned about them poaching the ground or whether I will be able to get their winter forage in. And horses are a doddle in the rain compared to farming. And I'm sure hundreds of other normal situations.

It's extremely narrow minded to assume the weather, or anything else is always harder for parents based on your own limited experience of life.

countrytown · 21/08/2021 21:44

For the day?!
exactly, ludicrous!

Excelthetube · 21/08/2021 21:45

@AllotmentTime
No I didn’t say it wasn’t parenting. If that’s ALL you can do and they can’t do any indoor activity because it’s raining then that’s crap parenting. I’m not the only one who’s said it. And it wasn’t just aimed at you

burritofan · 21/08/2021 21:46

The reality is deserted playgrounds, soaking slides, wet swings and anyone who does walk by looking at you like you’re mad (or asking if you are ‘all right.’)
😂😂😂 2yo DD loves a bit of rain BUT goes fucking demented that the rain has the temerity to be on HER slide so quite often I’m the mad loner in the playground frantically muslinning off equipment.

Also puddle suits are bollocks for newly potty-trained toddlers, unless you like tipping piss out of wellies. Actually there you go, there’s another rainy day activity for you.

countrytown · 21/08/2021 21:46

Just sending them out to tire them so they don’t annoy you and you can sit and have a coffee in the sunshine isn’t really parenting

I thought this was how parents did things in the 70s?

beigebrownblue · 21/08/2021 21:47

I guess not having car helps.

That way you come home, everyone takes their wet things off and you hang them up to dry.

hot soup at the ready?

Change into dry clothes.

Can't say I've ever 'waited in a car waiting for it to ease off'.

Wouldn't want to.

BelleOfTheProvince · 21/08/2021 21:49

In this reality, he shouts “More! More!” and points at my cappuccino while escaping from the straps on his highchair in any public cafe and is only happy when slamming the gate to the toddler playground open and closed until he traps his fingers.

This made me laugh.

Also this and @BuffySummersReportingforSanity comment made me feel relieved it's not just me.

Have just bought a ridiculous 'outdoorsy' brand raincoat my younger self would have mercilessly taken the piss out of me for.

welshladywhois40 · 21/08/2021 21:50

Agree - I feel like I check the weather constantly. My toddler naps better if he gets exercise and fresh air.

Last winter without any indoor options was tough and we did our fair share of wet play. I remember turning up to a booked playground time in torrential rain thinking I was mad.

Our view is as long as it isn't raining it's a good day!

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 21/08/2021 21:50

Just sending them out to tire them so they don’t annoy you and you can sit and have a coffee in the sunshine isn’t really parenting that is parenting 101 Grin

beigebrownblue · 21/08/2021 21:51

@Shirleyphallus

I really really don’t get the MN love for museums. They’re so boring (or maybe it’s still a hangover from boring museum trips as a child)
Perhaps you have chosen the wrong museums? There are fantastic ones out there.
Flatdisco · 21/08/2021 21:51

Jesus this is some self involved parenting thinking if I've ever seen it. Yes parents and small children are the only people who like to do outdoor activities.

Hardbackwriter · 21/08/2021 21:51

think there's something a bit wrong with your kids, Buff.

I would honestly be quite worried about a two year old who would sit and watch movies all day.

Hardbackwriter · 21/08/2021 21:54

@WiggIyWoo

Movie day with a 3 year old?! She can't even manage those half hour BBC Julia Donaldson adaptations. There's a reason pre-school programmes like Sarah & Duck are 6 minutes long. And baking? That's an hour of the day max, what about the rest? Yes we go out in the rain but let's not pretend it's not shite.
Yes, lots of these suggestions are perfectly plausible with my three year old, but they really aren't a way to fill a day. In fact this morning we baked, did some colouring and played his favourite card matching game, twice. Once we'd done all that it was 9.30am.
Hellotoallmyfans · 21/08/2021 21:55

I do miss the days of spending rainy days in bed with dh, having sex, eating and then going to the pub to start drinking all over again...sigh!

LionGiraffe · 21/08/2021 21:56

I have a 1 year old.

Spent the day walking with friends followed by a pub meal while DP looked after DD.

This evening DP is at a restaurant with friends while I look after DD.

It’s been a good weekend (so far).

randomsabreuse · 21/08/2021 21:57

I do not take the kids to the playparks in puddle suits because wet slide plus puddle suit = slides VERY fast and everything a bit slippery, which can lead to tears and sadness (and heads bumped on the end of the slide).

I also occasionally wait for the rain to "ease off" usually when it's bouncing hard rather than a bit wet.

Original poster
Welcometotheterrorzone · 21/08/2021 22:00

I don't think my issue is that my DC's won't have fun, to be honest they would have fun pushing a Octonaught figure through a pile of rabbit droppings outside the caravan. Selfishly, it is my enjoyment of holidays which is affected by the weather.
Obviously I can take my children to a museum, and I have done this summer. They ran through the exhibition I wanted to see, didn't want to attempt the child friendly treasure hunt aimed at getting the children to actually look at the stuff in the cabinets. I don't think they asked one question about the things they were seeing apart from 'is there a gift shop?' I have an art degree, I have tried my hardest to get them to take an interest and this is my experience. It's nothing like going to a museum as a childfree person.

OP posts:
Jinxdoesit · 21/08/2021 22:01

My DP does a high risk job that means in bad weather his life, and the lives of those he works with, is in very real danger, so no bad weather definitely doesn't only matter when you have children.

Original poster
Welcometotheterrorzone · 21/08/2021 22:05

@beigebrownblue I'm sorry but you are romanticising things A LOT! I only learnt to drive a year ago and I have many memories/ nightmares of being stood on bus stops in the pissing down rain. Getting on a bus in the pissing down rain. Staying on an extra few stops to stay out of the pissing down rain. It's alright if you're going home, if you're on your way to a friends, a cafe, work, the shop or anything else then being a non driver in this country with small children is a ruddy nightmare!

OP posts:
heyheymamaway · 21/08/2021 22:05

No, it's not just parents who are impacted by bad weather. Hmm

Lightisnotwhite · 21/08/2021 22:12

I think it’s the reverse. I didn’t mind bad weather when the kids were small and I had dogs. You just got on with it and it wasn’t like you could spend the afternoon napping in the sun.

Bad weather really hacks me off now. I love the sun and heat and it annoys me no end that I haven’t been able to sit outside with wine for more than one afternoon a week this summer holiday.

beigebrownblue · 21/08/2021 22:12

[quote Welcometotheterrorzone]@beigebrownblue I'm sorry but you are romanticising things A LOT! I only learnt to drive a year ago and I have many memories/ nightmares of being stood on bus stops in the pissing down rain. Getting on a bus in the pissing down rain. Staying on an extra few stops to stay out of the pissing down rain. It's alright if you're going home, if you're on your way to a friends, a cafe, work, the shop or anything else then being a non driver in this country with small children is a ruddy nightmare![/quote]
I'm not the romantic kind love.
Doesn't figure large in my life.

yes, I've had a lot of that stuff too.

But it comes down to what I said.

Come home.
Change clothes.
Dry clothes.
Soup or similar.

Dry clothes.

That's it.

Nothing romatic about it love, haven't ever had time or money for that.

It's just the reality of the earth we live on.

Or would you rather have forest fires? Floods? Desert dehydration?

Goodness me, just deal with it.

bellie710 · 21/08/2021 22:14

Are you in the Uk? We live in Scotland it rains nearly every day you just have to be organised and prepared for the weather!

EffYouSeeKaye · 21/08/2021 22:15

@Hardbackwriter

Can't you go to the pub for a meal, the museum for a day or have a movie film day with small children?! confused

For the day?!

I thought this too Grin Couple of hours, tops.
Ilikecheeseontoast · 21/08/2021 22:16

Totally agree OP.