Please help me with my weekends alone with 16 month old

[alonragaun]

I am exhausted. Grandparents involved but often away, like this weekend. Most people with families. I’m alone. I honestly feel so depressed it’s Saturday morning. Ds can’t walk far yet, not sure if relevant. I literally don’t know what to do. Used to be so good at coming up with things but I just feel like there’s nothing he properly enjoys yet like a zoo trip etc so it’s just a battle of a weekend. Please help :(

Hi I was a single parent of two under twos . It's gruelling especially as your mind tricks you into thinking weekends are relaxing!
Get out , we had a yearly subscription to this play barn and visiting farm I knew every inch of those places but when you get out get some physical activity you feel better .
We did a lot of picnics too , Greggs sausage rolls .
Try and link up with other parents in similar situations that helped me ,we weren't necessarily friends we just shared each others pain .
Be kind to yourself my kids are in their twenties now and seem unscathed by my lack of highbrow weekend activities

I have two DCs OP, and found 12-18 months hard with them both. They want independence, but still can't do much without us being immediately nearby! How is your DS in a buggy? Both DDs used to like going for buggy walks, then stopping to look at the ducks etc. It is harder at this time of year with the variable weather. They both also loved (and still love!) a trip to ikea, but I appreciate you may not be near one. Do you have any charity cafes nearby? They're often nice, cheap alternative to expensive coffee shops.

What do you enjoy? Kids don't need to be entertained 24/7 put him in the buggy and visit somewhere you want to go eg I used to take mine to national trust places very frequently because I had membership, or art museums because I enjoy them! I talk to them about what is there, we searched for animals on the paintings for instance, as they get a bit older attractions have educational packs as well. I also took mine to free gigs throughout the summer, street festivals etc. again because I like them. Try not to think kids only need to do kids stuff, they don't, the trick is to combine an hour running around a park then into the pushchair and then walk around something you enjoy

Break the day up; painting, dough, water play, story time, singing. Have a look at the BBC site Tiny Happy People. It's really really good. Also look on Eventbrite for what's on in your local area, if you look on your councils library site there may be weekend sessions and also have a look at your councils website, family offer or local offer or activities for residents, There will be listings of what's on. I used to take mine to the pictures a lot. Saw so many terrible films but they loved it.

Another tip is to get yourself a flask and take coffee to the park, saves money and makes it is something to drink whilst you watch him, have a spare cup and it's a conversation starter - nice single dad also watching their kid ....

You will find that within a matter of weeks he will be walking - babies change at such speed and this stage will not last much longer. Soon you will be wishing you could plonk him down and know that he would stay there - he will be into everything!

Once he is mobile you can engage him with the general house and garden chores. That is play to a small child. There is no need for expensive toys.

A 16 month old does not need to be out at activities very much - or indeed at all. Give him saucepans and wooden spoons; a box of tissues to empty one by one (I know it involves tidying them up, but my children loved it); see what safe things there are in your house (not toys, just stuff) and let him explore these.

Hang on in there - you are nearly there - this phase is very short.

(Yes this is how my friend met her dp!)

Is there a pet shop you could go to to look at the animals? Garden centre?

Make a cake - well you make the cake the little one can supervise then take it to someone?

Do you know anyone with a dog you could go for a walk with, obviously where you can take a pram / buggy.

Try to meet up with a friend. I always thought that weekends are everyone’s family time - but friend was so happy to meet up for a couple of hours.
also… pet shop to see fish (free, minimal attention span)
b&q to see lights
Ikea - play in those little rooms
library - rhyme time
swimming (kills a couple of hours, followed by nap)
playground
museums often have a play area/ soft play sessions
farm
supermarket
baking
buy a scooter or ride on
jump in puddles

but really, meet up with a friend.

Forgot to say we used to go to Pets at home and look at the pets. I used to think this is truly insane but they loved it. Honestly a whole hour looking at the guinea pigs and staring with great concentration at the dog outfits. We used to then go to Costa and by the time we got home a whole morning had gone. It is hard though. Time seems to kind of stand still.

I feel your pain. Husband has a restaurant so I'm basically a single mum in evenings and weekends. I have a Saturday routine where we go to either a weekend sensory music class (there's a moo music on near me every other Saturday) or to a local small soft play cafe for breakfast. After that we go for a walk and onto the local supermarket for a quick shop. Normally keeps me busy until about noon. Then down for a couple of hours for a nap and the afternoon is play at home. In nicer weather we'd go out to the playground or the beach but not really the time of year for it!
Sunday we take his dad out for breakfast and a walk before he goes to work. Sometimes my dad joins us. Again it keeps us busy until noon.
So I guess that's my suggestion... get out until noon and it breaks the day up better!

I spent a lot of weekends alone with ds at that age due to dh job. We visited various garden centres, visiting a friend even if it was for an hour, different supermarket each week for the food shop, and big parks for a walk, play, feed the ducks.

I liked having a class booked in Sat morning. He's maybe a little young yet but having that structure is so helpful.

Also look into whether there are any leisure centres around with a crèche. Leaving him for 40 mins to an hour while you swim or just have a bit of headspace and a coffee does help.

I always found the weekends hardest too.

I shudder thinking about the toddler years. Its unrelenting. Plan your day. I found a morning and afternoon activity worked best. Get out of house. Invest in wet weather gear. Annual pass for something like play barn or soft play. Keep a list of things you’ve done that worked and didn’t. This too shall pass.

I've two under two. I basically do what I'm interested in that day and bring 'em along. Annual memberships to zoo/parks/farms is a huge help here (so is driving). I like being outside so it's really handy to get them both out in the fresh air and then a nice quiet nap in the car on the way home (usually with a nice coffee). I find if you enjoy something, they will too. I would bring my LOs to the zoo when they were smaller and even just to do a few animals they were happy enough. And I enjoyed it too.

I second swimming. It's a lovely mummy daughter time on Saturday mornings for me.

Check local libraries as the might have a story telling session.
We had a local church that had "Messy Church" sessions. Craft, play and food with a small sing song prayer. I'm not religious but made some good playdate friends.
A bubble bath is a good time waster.
Pool swim and hotchoc afterwards.
Feed the ducks and play in the park.

Can you visit a friend with kids or have them over to yours? That's what I do usually baby loves to see big kids