Too much screen time

[Ginnypotter44]

I'm really struggling these summer holidays. I have a ds11 and a 4 month baby. I am finding it really hard to get out with both of them. The baby is colicky and cries all the time. I'm knackered and stressed. All ds wants to do is spend time on his iPad or PlayStation. He's right now shouting through his headset to his school friends - I'm classing this as a social activity so trying not to feel too bad about it.

But the mum guilt is getting to me. And I feel so lazy. I could be encouraging him to do crafts or baking or go out in the garden but I haven't got the energy to insist that he does it. I am trying to get us out at least once a day for a walk or to the park but before and after that he's on screens for hours at a time. He does read and draw quite a bit too but that's literally it. It pales in comparison to the summer holidays I'm seeing all over my Facebook.

I feel so bad. I don't know what's happened to me. I don't know why I'm posting this, maybe for some solidarity from other mums who are finding the holidays really hard. I'm hoping things will get easier as the baby gets bigger.

Bump

DS is 4 and I'm 10 weeks pregnant. I've barely moved off the sofa this past week and DS has been in front of the TV or his tablet most of the time. He'll choose to play with his toys sometimes but he's a bit of a couch potato if we're indoors. Sometimes you just have to let it go. He's having a good time with his friends doing something he enjoys. There's plenty of time when the baby's bigger to get out and do other stuff. He's probably enjoying the complete switch off from school work

You have just got to do what you have to to get through when you've got a tiny baby

I totally get the mum guilt though mine are 8, 13 and 16 and cos I work so much and from home, basically they've been left to their own devices (quite literally - their screen time must be awful)

I've hardly done anything with them Altho we did go on holiday.

Could your partner (if you have one) look after the baby while you take your older son out? Or could you arrange for him to have a friend/s over ?

Also

IGNORE all the "perfect parents" posting their happy family days on Facebook

It will not reflect their reality (trust me I've been one of those parents 🤦‍♀️)

Could you compromise with ds? Maybe take him to the library once a week and if he reads say a book a week he gets x amount of time on the console. Or one of those reading challenges, just so he’s not constantly gaming. Tbh I remember spending my holidays reading/drawing/gaming, I was never an outdoorsy child.

We are doing the reading challenges, that's giving him some motivation to read and we are going to the library once a week to swap books. But that's been about it.

Simplest solution is to delete Facebook. You're doing fine as you are. Give yourself a break.

Thank you, I had grand visions of taking the baby out in the sling and letting ds run free. So wholesome and lovely. But actually by the time I get us all ready it's nearly lunch time, ds complains, baby screams and it just feels easier to stay home. I hate how unmotivated I've become.

Give yourself a break. They will both be fine.