For finding family/kids events stressful?

[Stigofthedumpp]

Just got back from a family Halloween kids event at a local visitor attraction. My husband was at work so was just me with my DS1 (6) and DS2 (1). God it was hard work. Wasn’t particularly pushchair friendly (despite saying it was), trying to engage with DS1 when DS2 was refusing to nap was impossible, it was packed (obviously) and full of irritating families (mine being one of them). Does anyone else find these things hard work or am I just an intolerable, insufferable old woman 🤣

I'd say its very different. Its the indoor ones that are the worst. Running from car to door in the rain or packing them into a buggy to walk 20 yards (necessary with twins!) then queueing up to pay, then the noise level and half the time spent looking for a toilet etc. Then at the outdoor ones you are always worried about the weather so need to pack raincoats no matter what time of year, I'm from a particularly rain place.

It depends!

You need to remember that many of these things are just seasonal marketing ploys to bring people in - they're not exactly designed by child development and education experts! So they can be chaotic and pointless, with you trapped in and facing lots of overpriced games and snacks etc.

I think the problem is that many of these seasonal experiences are just a bit shit, in terms of being overcrowded and the things to actually do being not v well organised or time consuming enough. I actually didn’t mind soft play or farm parks or forestry commission places where they can just go and play, even if they’re a bit feral, but I generally avoided holiday themed special events as tend to be overpriced and too hectic.

Children are hard work full stop..... but also wonderful. Seek out the positive and get a grip.

I always book things like this but I don’t enjoy them. I get stressed, ds is nearly 4 and dd is nearly 2. Dd loves to run off and it’s a nightmare on my own if she’s not in the pushchair. It’s not as bad if I’m with other people or their dad but solo is not fun.

I am fairly certain I have a mild sensory processing disorder. I can hold it together most of the time, but a few years ago I told DH that I would no longer be in sole charge of our children at events like this if they were at night. I could cope, just about, with the day time events, soft plays etc (albeit I was exhausted afterwards), but night time (halloween, Christmas etc) somehow just drove my stress levels through the roof. I literally could not think so I'd have one child asking me a question and one trying to run off and I was just frozen until I would snap and shout.

Oh, and similarly, I no longer do anything like guy fawks etc at the really big fun fair type places. We look for a local school h hosting something and do that instead!

Oh no - I absolutely love them but I do only have 1 child.

I think it depends on the age of your kids, how tired you are, the weather and whether anyone is hungry! I go to kids stuff in the week but wouldn't dream of going on a weekend. My husband never comes anywhere so I'll usually go with another mum. Easier to watch each others to get coffees etc. It is essentially an event to make money! I doubt you went to anything like that when you were tiny!

No that does sound hard work and not fun for you 🤣. I do so many things not fun for me so my 5 year old daughter can enjoy them... I have a baby as well, that's what makes these things harder for us.

My youngest has just turned 9, and I think I must have just forgotten about the horrors of trying to do these type of activities when he still needed to nap. My husband has always used his annual leave for our holidays, so it's almost always been me alone with the kids on our days out. I wouldn't worry that you found it stressful, it will get better as they get older. I have fond memories of our days out, but I tend to pick RHS gardens or national trust sites or English Heritage type places, so the activities are outdoors (even in winter). I avoid being indoors with other peoples screaming kids at all costs.

Absolutely love days out here! Even better if you can double or triple up with friends and their littles!

I am the type to be first into a play area tho!

Yes it can take a while to organise everyone to get going but with the right attitude we always have a fab time- it just makes me happy seeing kids happy and engaged! I also work with kids tho 😅

Hate mum/baby groups for the reason I love days out haha