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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we are doing enough?

19 replies

Senmumm2021 · 21/12/2021 12:15

DC are driving me barmy with the implication we don't do anything ever.

School finished Friday.

Saturday we walked the dog, saw grandma and went to the winter lights outdoor walk

Sunday was a PJ day as we were all feeling rough

Yesterday we saw grandma and went for a walk on the beach

Today we walked the dog along the river. This PM we have dinner out and panto 1

Tomorrow is polar express and will take the whole day

23rd there is a medical appointment and will be baking with the kids

24th we are seeing a second panto.

At home I'm trying to avoid entertaining them too much, they have toys, they have each other they have tablets and TV.

Am I not doing enough with them or are they being silly? They are 5 and 7

OP posts:
ihatethecold · 21/12/2021 12:17

Flipping heck. You are doing tons.

PoloMintHum · 21/12/2021 12:18

Yanbu you're doing loads! We are just eating and watching tv!

Flingingmelon · 21/12/2021 12:19

Boredom is a creative state! Give them some art supplies and get them to amuse themselves.

You're doing plenty!

HangingOutWithTheSandman · 21/12/2021 12:19

What do they want to do?

AryaStarkWolf · 21/12/2021 12:19

You're doing plenty, Christmas (imo) is a chill out and wind down time of year

Original poster
Senmumm2021 · 21/12/2021 12:20

I thought we are. Youngest especially can't seem to unwind from 6 hours a day at school and seems to what that level of structure at home too and I can't keep up. I want them to entertain themselves when at home

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/12/2021 12:22

Sounds like plenty!

I get moaned at that we do too much!

Flingingmelon · 21/12/2021 12:26

They may be big enough for a Bored Jar. It saved us during lockdown and DS was about that age.

So everyone in the house writes five different (realistic) activities on five pieces of paper, folds them up and puts them in a bowl / jar etc.

Make sure you put chores in.

Then when anyone announces they're bored, they are instructed to pull something out of the jar. Which they must do. So it could be 'watch a movie' or it could be 'strip the beds'.

It def made DS think about how bored he really was and gave me a bit of peace!

DDivaStar · 21/12/2021 13:28

To be fair your last 3 days haven't been as varied as those you have lined up. The next few days sound fabulous .....

Cocomarine · 21/12/2021 13:32

Is seeing Grandma interesting for them? Or more them getting dragged along when you’re seeing your mum? If so, they’ve not done much more than go for a walk these last few days. However… that’s fine! Can’t believe you’re letting a couple of kids mithering you to entertain them get to you 😉

I’m curious how watching Polar Express is going to take a whole day though?

Somepup100 · 21/12/2021 13:39

I took Polar Express to be a train based santa experience and not the film.

Sirzy · 21/12/2021 13:43

Sounds exhausting!

If that’s how holidays usually are though they are probably used to having every day super planned so will struggle to entertain themselves more

Ylvamoon · 21/12/2021 13:50

You are doing fine. My DC only used get Christmas Tree decorating on first day of holidays, plenty of dog walking, seeing relatives as and when (some more boring than others) and a special night walk across the muddy fields on Christmas eve.

billy1966 · 21/12/2021 13:50

Start giving them chores to fill their time.

They are restless, fill their time.

Good time for a toy clear out.

You are doing loads.

Stop listening to the whining, put up the 🤚, and tell them you will give a long list of jobs and some school work if they are so bored!

Suzanne999 · 21/12/2021 13:57

@Flingingmelon

They may be big enough for a Bored Jar. It saved us during lockdown and DS was about that age.

So everyone in the house writes five different (realistic) activities on five pieces of paper, folds them up and puts them in a bowl / jar etc.

Make sure you put chores in.

Then when anyone announces they're bored, they are instructed to pull something out of the jar. Which they must do. So it could be 'watch a movie' or it could be 'strip the beds'.

It def made DS think about how bored he really was and gave me a bit of peace!

Genius idea.
NorthSouthcatlady · 21/12/2021 13:57

Yep, sounds like more than enough to me.

Staryflight445 · 21/12/2021 14:13

You’re doing plenty.
Remind them of the children that are currently at home isolating.

(Far too much iPad and Disney plus time going on here!)

Original poster
Senmumm2021 · 21/12/2021 14:16

@Staryflight445 neither would understand what isolation means, they both have ASC so their view of the world doesn't go beyond their little bubble.

Coming up with a bored jar now!

OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 21/12/2021 15:11

@Flingingmelon

They may be big enough for a Bored Jar. It saved us during lockdown and DS was about that age.

So everyone in the house writes five different (realistic) activities on five pieces of paper, folds them up and puts them in a bowl / jar etc.

Make sure you put chores in.

Then when anyone announces they're bored, they are instructed to pull something out of the jar. Which they must do. So it could be 'watch a movie' or it could be 'strip the beds'.

It def made DS think about how bored he really was and gave me a bit of peace!

Absolute genius!!!

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