To stay out of the house all day with my children?

[Stayoutallday]

In the house, they become whingey, silly, make a mess and generally I’m tearing my hair out.

Out of the house they are mostly lovely kids although the three year old is testing me.

Staying out is a habit I got into when DH was wfh as it was an unpleasant atmosphere but I just generally find it easier out and about. Is anyone else the same?

I used to be the other way love staying in . Kids where a nightmare out of the house

Yep. My two are like different children out of the house. They are smiley little angels even when there is no one rise around. We go out every day pretty much

Must cost a bit!

50/50 with my kids. One loves being outside the other less so. He will play in the park for a bit but will get bored and then whiney.

I'm with you, I have 2 boys 3&4 and they lose the plot at home for more than an hour. We're always out and about somewhere, it's just easier.

Yes, so much easier being out.

@HelloMiss I'm a cheapskate! So I manage to do it cheaply. Parks, museums, libraries, picnics. Wellies and waterproofs in the rain. I avoid soft play centres.

Yup out the house is lovely!

Not necessarily. Parks are free as are most museums. I could easily spend a day out with children without spending anything if I didn't want to.

Why would it be unreasonable to take your kids out?

No. I liked days at home sometimes Mess comes with having children, so I wasn't bothered by that.

I'm the same as you, OP. I guess it depends on the child but my 2.5 year old literal climbs the walls if we stay in too long. He's just about ready to explode if we haven't left the house by 9am. I live in London and we don't have a tonne of space at home but the upside of being in London is that we have three parks in walking distance, three libraries and a free local museum. Oh and I'm a churchgoer so that takes me and the tot out for most of Sunday morning. So we don't need to spend very much apart from the odd coffee or snack to be out a lot... Phew!
I often wonder what my day to day mum life would look like if I had less crazy children and a bigger property!

Mine were the other way round but I had a freind who's kids were much better outside of the house

Honestly I think it is, a bit. I think it would be good for them and me to chill more and draw, do crafts, quiet time sort of thing. In theory. In practice we just aren’t very good at it.

Re money it can do. We often do a group in the morning and back for lunch then out again. Today we went to a cafe so a bit more expensive. But my sanity is priceless 😂

Yes I'm with you. My kids are 5 and 2 and we aren't out all day or anything for practical reasons but definitely prefer to be out with them than in. They do mostly play well together now on an evening when I'm cooking dinner though so that's something at least.

I’m not at that stage yet @WeightoftheWorld but I long for it!

I used to stay out too. A long walk in the woods is good whatever the weather. They can explore, it can even be educational, children are often much better after a bit of fresh air and exercise.

Im better out of the house so often take my 3 year old out for 5 or so hours at a time. But he tells me daily he wants to stay at home today so I'm trying to balance it a little more.

Staying at home for a whole morning or afternoon is very daunting though as he is very active and quite demanding and I get less tired out and about!

I need to get out everyday atleast once with DD2. Can't stay out all day as she still needs a nap in her cot but if it's just me and her at home we normally go out fairly early in the morning, back for nap and lunch then sometimes out in the afternoon too.
I have found that planning an activity to do at home does give me the little bit of structure I need to manage better at home. So I will take her out in the morning for instance and then planning painting or a sensory play activity for the afternoon.

I go out every day with toddler and baby. Toddler is much easier to handle out, and easier when we're at home later too. He doesn't fight nappy changing nearly so much out. He can concentrate on a craft or activity only 10 mins max at home. Plus the demands for the TV are constant at home. I don't mind TV at times and like to sit down too but we can't watch it all day which he'd do if allowed!
Like you we're often out at a group in the morning, home for lunch and nap, out on an errand or seeing a friend in the afternoon.
Why are you questioning if YABU though? Is someone criticising you?

I used to keep my 3 out as much as I possibly could whether that was outings with me or activities and kids clubs. 1) they went feral if they were in for more than half a day! 2) they trashed the house and made more work for me in tidying and cleaning 3) I liked them to be exposed to as many new and varied activities as possible and found it educational. As someone else said even just a beach or wood walk does the job.

My children are adults now but I always planned something to be out most days. Mainly because I found it quite lonely,boring staying at home!

Take things to draw or make with you, or go somewhere that you can have quiet time. It doesn’t have to be either or.

I only have the one but have always far preferred being out and about with her as much as possible. I wouldn’t have predicted it as I have always been a real home lover myself, but as a mum I find it much easier being out.

She’s now at a school nursery 9-3.15 4 days a week, but on the other 3 days we go out! I’m looking forward to some park trips after nursery too once the weather improves, although currently she’s always so shattered by the time she’s done the day there then walked home, I’m not sure she’d manage it.

We still squeeze in crafts and baking and stuff, but what does seem to have been squeezed out is any ‘independent play’ time. I do worry I should maybe be leaving her to get bored/ come up with stuff with her toys by herself sometimes. It’s a bit chicken and egg really but she has never been good at entertaining herself and constantly wanted all of me/ my attention so in response I’ve always thought ‘sod it let’s go out’ therefore she’s always been entertained and hasn’t ever developed that skill. Although her nursery teacher says she plays really well both independently and with others at nursery so maybe I’m worrying over nothing.

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Absolutely not unreasonable. When my older ones were little and I was at home with two toddlers I had a rule that we had to be out of the house by 10am every day - otherwise we'd all go stir crazy. I used pick them up one at a time and sit them on the doorstep to put their shoes on - and off we'd go
Usually for long walks, or to see friends, or to the library, the park, local RHS garden, a ride on the bus, local free museum...