What do you do in the early evenings?

[Jinnybean]

Once dinners been cooked and before bed, what do you do? It’s so boring! Once cleaning is done and homework.. aibu to think we just sit around waiting for youngest to go bed 😩

Watch TV.
We usually finish eating between 7 and 7.30, so it isn't that early.

I think we need more info.

Why does the youngest child's bedtime signal the end of boredom? What happens then? Party time?

Let the dog out.
Let the dog back in again.
Let hom back out again.
And in.
Remind him he's already been fed.
Let him out.

He's old and his mind is starting to go....

Water the garden usually! Then when it's dark watch tv/read/do hobbies.

How early do you mean?

Do you mean what do you do with your kids? Or with partner once they are asleep?

We love board games so we might do that in the evening if a child is up long enough, or a jigsaw, watch TV, just talk about our day.

Once they are asleep, TV, reading, gaming, I might play piano (with headphones!), just chat about stuff, I do some felting, podcasts, yoga, have a bath...

TV. Before the baby was born I'd usually fall asleep on the sofa tbh but no chance of that now

I listen to the radio, read, mess around on the internet, or if I have a creative project on the go (I do assorted craft/art things at intervals) I might work on that. Sometimes I phone my sister for a chat.

Why don't you go out? Walk, run, whatever,

Go to the gym around 8.30pm (next to the house). It closes at 10pm. Come home and have dinner. Clean up in the kitchen, arrange stuff for work/next day. Maybe listen to music.

Gym , weights, watch tv, play with cats!

We have about 45 mins between finishing dinner and bath time but don't watch TV then, so usually read books, play in the garden or just play with toys. They are toddlers though.

Do the dishes and sort whatever laundry is on at the time while DS has his bath (he's 9) and then most nights DS and I will spend an hour catching fish on Animal Crossing. 🤷 During term time, this would also be when I make DS lunch for the next day.

Do you mean that bit between 6 and 7 where you've all eaten and it's an hour before the kids go to bed??

How utterly bizarre

Do you really just “sit around waiting for the youngest to go to bed”?

How old is your youngest?
Sounds depressing

What time do you have dinner and what ages are kids? We often head up and start bedtime for almost 3 yr old straight after dinner. Something into garden or tv in between - never a situation where all the cleaning is done already though!!

Our evening goes - clear up the dcs dinner things (they cant wait til 7.30 to eat and we arent hungry at5!); play a board game with them or put an episode of something on we all enjoy; kids showered and into pjs; bedtime stories; DH and I eat and watch a show together; glass of wine and either a game of cards or another episode of a show.

By that point it's about 10.30 so I go to bed.

Our dinner dishes are done in the morning.

Exercise
Sort bags and stuff out for the next day
Watch TV
Sort out massive never ending pile of washing

Doomscroll

Not sure why people are being arsey, other than the fact it’s AIBU. There’s a fast approaching two 40 page threads about how awful it is when a child won’t go to bed.

So to explain for those who are lost, I think just before bed can be a tricky time because you can’t (say) go for a run or similar because you know you’ll have to be back soon to start the bedtime routine. My ds is only a baby but the hour before bed tends to be a bit shouty and difficult - ‘witching hour’ - and I think with older children they can become a bit whiny and demanding because they are tired and emotional. So you end up waiting for them to go to bed to properly chill / relax.

And I don’t know OP, a board game if your children are that age is a good suggestion.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Our evening goes - clear up the dcs dinner things (they cant wait til 7.30 to eat and we arent hungry at5!); play a board game with them or put an episode of something on we all enjoy; kids showered and into pjs; bedtime stories; DH and I eat and watch a show together; glass of wine and either a game of cards or another episode of a show.

By that point it's about 10.30 so I go to bed.

Our dinner dishes are done in the morning.

Is that not depressing walking in to the kitchen in the morning?!

It’s so nice to walk in in the morning and have kitchen all clean and tidy for the day!

Do you hand wash or dishwasher?

Our kids are spaced in age so we don’t have this time! Dinner finishes at 6.30 and then start the bath for little one. He is usually asleep by 8. Then sort the older 2 and by the time they have had their story and settled its 9. Load dishwasher and by then its 9.30 so time for TV for an hour.

Clean, tidy, watch tv, bed.

I usually work til 6/7/8pm juggling kids bedtime then my own dinner, clear up get ready for next day/tidy up. Or I go out and see friends etc!

We eat between 6-7pm with toddler.
7-8/8.30pm go for a walk, in garden playing or gardening/ sorting veg patch, inside play or FaceTime grandparents.
Bedtime 8/8.30pm for 1 year old.

By the time toddler settled dh and I usually Porter around, any work bits, have a tea, sit in garden if nice, chat. It’s only an hour or two.

By 10pm I’m knackered and usually head to bed to read and snooze.

It's our favourite time of the day!

Watch TV
Play boardgames or computer games together
Play with pets
Chat
Read a book aloud or listen to an audiobook
Do housework
Hobbies such as gardening or crafts