Bad weather only really matters when you have children

[Welcometotheterrorzone]

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?'

We took both of our children for a 5 mile walk in the Lake District yesterday followed by pub lunch and then an afternoon in our holiday cottage watching films - our children and 1 and 4.

There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. I don't want my children to be the sort of limpits who sit in the car waiting for the rain to pass. It's very much a mindset and I think when you live in a country as rainy as England, you really need to just get on with it and work with the weather.

There are LOTS of indoor things to do if you really can't stand the rain, but I find it's less limiting to just tog up and get going. We're farmers, so I understand we have to be a bit more resilient than most, but honestly rain, especially rain in the summer months when it isn't cold, isnt an issue.

I didn't really believe in differences between boys and girls at this age before I had kids but IMO this plays into it. I have two boys and they just need to get outside properly once a day. The parents I know IRL who are judgemental about this and all "can't you just stay inside and bake and do colouring" all have girls

There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. I don't want my children to be the sort of limpits who sit in the car waiting for the rain to pass.

Its great that your children don't mind being outside in the rain but that's sheer luck of their personalities more than a result of your mindset.

Just like some adults don't like being outdoors in wet weather some children don't enjoy it even with appropriate clothing

I have dogs and a horse (and my dc have grown up), so my life also seems to revolve around the weather. I'll still go out but I 'ohhhh soooo' prefer it when it's warm and dry

Another thing which someone else mentioned which I think makes a difference is if you're working full time or very part time / a SAHP. If you're a SAHP it definitely is easier to get on with just getting soaked, finding stuff to do indoors etc.

I'm a SAHM and I don't mind the rain at all. I went to school in N. Ireland though, so I'm well used to cold and rain.

[quote Goldbar]@Just10moreminutesplease. Indeed? And which is his favourite museum? If he's into Roman history, may I recommend the Nero exhibition at the British museum? My 3yo didn't appreciate it much but he's a bit uncultured.[/quote]
No particular interest in Roman history but he does like the sensory stuff at Eureka (the national children’s museum).

He also quite likes the flashing lights at the media museum, the colourful fish at the aquarium, and anywhere that has either a shiny floor or bright lighting…

Are you always so patronising?

But you can do that at home for free whenever you like so don't think that the child free relish doing the same in a holiday cottage that cost ££££s either.

No, because at home there is always something you haven’t done. That cupboard that needs tidied out, that basket of ironing, the grass needs cut, the garage is a tip. And the neighbour’s dog is always barking. Even if I do sit down and relax at home, unless the whole place is clean and tidy, I can’t proper relax. Plus, we always make sure where we stay is nicer than where we live.

@Just10moreminutesplease. Sorry, it was a bit rude of me. Mea culpa !

7 month olds are either completely stationary or slow moving crawlers who can be strapped into the pushchair. So of course you can take them to museums and other indoor attractions as there's very little chance of them totalling some priceless object or taking a nosedive into a stone fountain or annoying the other visitors by trying to go up and down in the lift 100 times while you shout "No, we're here to see the magic garden/light show/sensory area and our 20 minute slot started 5 minutes ago!". Then you end up dragging said toddler kicking and screaming into the exhibit while trying to find your ticket on your phone because all they want to do is go up and down in the lift.

@FuckingFlumps I disagree. If children are outside in all weather from a young age they do learn to get on with it.

[quote Goldbar]@Just10moreminutesplease. Sorry, it was a bit rude of me. Mea culpa !

7 month olds are either completely stationary or slow moving crawlers who can be strapped into the pushchair. So of course you can take them to museums and other indoor attractions as there's very little chance of them totalling some priceless object or taking a nosedive into a stone fountain or annoying the other visitors by trying to go up and down in the lift 100 times while you shout "No, we're here to see the magic garden/light show/sensory area and our 20 minute slot started 5 minutes ago!". Then you end up dragging said toddler kicking and screaming into the exhibit while trying to find your ticket on your phone because all they want to do is go up and down in the lift.[/quote]
Ha, no problem (I probably should have specified that I meant child centric museums with very few priceless objects on offer!).

I’ll make the most of my stationary 7 month old whilst it lasts and start mentally preparing for the toddler years now!

[quote chickenbasket]@FuckingFlumps I disagree. If children are outside in all weather from a young age they do learn to get on with it. [/quote]
I really wish this was true but so far I've taken DS out every day of his life no matter what the weather and nearly 2 years down the road he still screams when it's wet and he still hates getting soggy or muddy. I'd love to think in a few years time he will happily play out no matter what the weather but I doubt he will.

I genuinely think its just part of his personality just like the many adults who spent their entire lives being sent to play outside no matter what now still hate being outdoors.

@Goldbar that’s twice you’ve made me laugh reading this thread . I do love a dry sense of humour. Also it’s really nice when posters apologise if they’ve been rude. So very rare around here.

Ive just always let them get wet. 🤷‍♀️

I agree @FuckingFlumps. People are all different and like / dislike different things - children are no exception. As an adult, though, I might learn to tolerate bad weather if I have an incentive and proper clothing (I need to walk the dog etc) but I’ll never like it. You can’t expect a very young child to reason the same tolerance out of themselves, I don’t think.

There is a massive difference between not minding a two minute dash from car to tesco in the rain, and actively choosing to be out in it for hours at a time.

I like being outside with children, it is by far preferable to being inside. But when you get a spell of prolonged bad weather, it’s impossible to do it every day, even if that is only to let waterproof clothing dry out.

Then I’m sorry but these rosy images of toddlers gaily jumping over puddles is a bit Shirley Hughes and not altogether realistic. The reality is slate grey skies, deserted areas and you stand alone with whingeing children.

It’s one of the main reasons lockdowns two and three were soul destroying.

[quote chickenbasket]@FuckingFlumps I disagree. If children are outside in all weather from a young age they do learn to get on with it. [/quote]
I really disagree, my parents took me out in all weather and were one of those families who insisted on going for walks in the rain and to always do “activities” like going to museums. I absolutely hated it, would much rather have been allowed to stay in with a book

If they're getting soggy and wet they're not togged up though? That's my point, you've just got to adjust for it.

I know we live on a farm so it's slightly more "life" than most families but if you've got waterproofs and they're doing things they enjoy, the weather shouldn't be an issue. We have dogs and ponies to do regardless but often they'll play on the climbing frame afterwards, slides are always great when it's wet. It's not an in built thing "some people hate weather" it's just how you've been brought to deal with it.

@FuckingFlumps I disagree. If children are outside in all weather from a young age they do learn to get on with it.

I disagree too. I was brought up on a farm so spent a huge about of time outside in all weathers. I didn’t notice it when I was tiny (as far as I can remember), but hated it more and more as I got older and I detest being dressed in layers of clothes. I don’t mind the cold much now we can buy lightweight warm coats, but I still hate grey skies and cold, wet weather. Having SAD doesn’t help (no depression, just heavy limbs and no energy) - if I’m in the UK I just want to hibernate for half the year over winter.

If they're getting soggy and wet they're not togged up though? That's my point, you've just got to adjust for it.

Of course they are togged up sufficiently but it doesn't stop toddlers and young children getting wet. DS doesn't like keeping his hood up so he gets a wet head and face. He also doesn't keep gloves on so he gets muddy wet hands. I doubt he's unusual.

It's not an in built thing "some people hate weather" it's just how you've been brought to deal with it.

Of course it could be inbuilt. His personality isn't the same as mine no matter how much I'd like it to be. He's his own person and he has his own likes and dislikes. Id love to report in a few years time that he enjoyed being outdoors no matter what the weather but I'm doubtful.

It's not an in built thing "some people hate weather" it's just how you've been brought to deal with it.

I disagree. No matter how much parents encourage children to play out, there will always be some who hate wet and cold weather, and others who hate warm weather. It really does depend on the person, and no amount of enforced time outside can make someone enjoy something they dislike.

The rain doesn’t bother me now I have kids. Admittedly, I don’t enjoy going out in it and the inevitable mound of laundry that I’ll have to do when we get home, but absolutely pissing it down is fine. Any weather conditions now that I think of it are preferable to having to spend the whole day locked indoors with my 3.5 year old DTs.

Well it's obviously just a huge coincidence that all of my friends and family who have the same approach as me are all just "lucky" that their children enjoy the rain, so I apologise.

Sometimes I read mumsnet and some of the utter rubbish about parenting young children and I understand why people find life and children such a chore - talk about making life difficult.

@chickenbasket there's a massive difference between seeing that it's raining and going out anyway (which I do) and being disappointed that it rains none stop for the whole duration of your one weeks annual leave in the summer holidays

Maybe it is because I work full time and spend days looking out of my window at the glorious weather in May, June, July and we're stuck in work, school, nursery. When I worked three days I didn't mind as much but my time with them now feels so precious.

Christ there’s some smugness being posted on here.

Well it's obviously just a huge coincidence that all of my friends and family who have the same approach as me are all just "lucky" that their children enjoy the rain, so I apologise.

Yeah my “approach” means my small child likes the rain too. I bloody don’t though. Standing outside in the pelting rain while your child runs round a playground/jumps in puddles/whatever is fucking shit.