My kids are 6 and 10. I can't drive, despite trying for over 10 years. I just can't do it.
My eldest says that all his friends get to go out every weekend, whenever they feel like it, for lots of walks and stuff because their mums drive. And that he has boring weekends because I can't.
I don't think this is quite true, on Friday evening he had a friend stay overnight for a sleepover and they had lots of fun. I cooked their favourite meal and bought them snacks. Then when the friend went home on Saturday morning, my husband and I took them both out to the beach where we looked for crabs and built a small sandcastle, then we went to the park. 10yo then mowed the lawn and was given money for doing this which he was able to spend online, which kept him occupied on his games. I played paw patrol games with the youngest for the rest or the afternoon, or she had the option of helping daddy in the garden.
Today husband is working. I am tired. I work all week as well as do the school runs, and my share of housework and cooking. They want to go to a park that has a pond full of frogspawn to collect some to put in our pond. I said we maybe could this afternoon but now I just don't want to. I didn't think about it being Sunday, buses are very few abd don't go directly to the park, meaning we would have to walk 20 minutes uphill from the town centre. I can't leave when we want because I'd have to wait for the bus, which might not even turn up. It's cold and wet and miserable and my house is nice and warm and I have a good book on the go and laundry to do. If I could jump in a car, take them there and collect some then go home, I would. But I cant. Even if it was a sunny day, I probably would. But it's not. Plus 6yo will be a nightmare when it's time to leave.
So I've told them we can go tomorrow after school when there's more buses and they go directly to the park.
I just feel so guilty and inadequete. They act so disappointed and I feel so bad about not being able to drive them around like the other mums.
But should I feel guilty? They do go out, they do get stuff to do. They get love and attention. They've got plenty of toys, games, activities and a big garden at home.
Is it normal for kids to have their whole weekends filled with stuff to do? How much do you expect them to entertain themselves? And how often do you take them out?
Would you have sucked it up and taken them today? Or told them to find something to do at home themselves because I deserve a weekend of my own? Is 6 and 10 reasonable ages to not be entertained by me all day?