Sick of wasting my life because of the rain

[GoodnightAdeline]

I don’t care how many people say ‘it was always like this..’ yes it rained a lot when I was a kid but now it does nothing BUT rain.

I swear to God out of the last 30 days we have had 1 or maybe 2 where it wasn’t fucking raining. And they’re always midweek.

I feel like all we do is sit inside going stir crazy waiting for the rain to stop. I have 2 small children and while they’re desperate to go to the park/beach, even they’re not keen in a torrential downpour with everything covered in mud.

I’m sick of all my plans being cancelled, staring out of the window at depressing grey skies and trying to figure out how to pass the weekend without spending a ton of cash on expensive (and brief) indoor activities.

It’s driving me fucking crazy and not an exaggeration to say it’s sending me into some kind of low level depression. 🍷

“I’m sick of the rain”

At least you don’t have cancer!!! Or suffer from drought!! You could have forest fires!! People these days are all snowflakes, my toddlers were whitewater rafting in the local river from dawn, never harmed us!!

This thread is peak social media.

YANBU the rain has been effing relentless since September here. I don't think there has been 3 dry days in a row since then. Just one of those things, but yeah, relentless rain for 6 months can get in the bin. Here's to a dry or drier few months!

I’m sorry but you can’t change the climate. Afraid you’re going to have to emigrate.

there was a good feature in The Sunday Times about families with kids going abroad and working remotely for a few months at the time, maybe that’s one for you to explore

I live in Cornwall where we are used to rain, but these last few months have been horrendous, absolutely horrendous. February had three times its usual amount of rain and this month we reached our normal rainfall two weeks in.

Of course 'nature' (whatever the fuck that means) needs rain but this constant rain is causing huge problems for farmer friends of mine down here.

Im not surprised you are feeling low OP. Being outside makes you feel better, but not if you're going to get soaked.

Could you imagine saying to a friend in real life ‘terrible weather we’ve been having’ and the friend laid in to you telling you to think yourself lucky you don’t have cancer, or emigrate if you don’t like it!

Some people on forums either have no ability to make friends or can’t keep them if their attitude on here is anything to go by.

The rain has been relentless especially on the west of Scotland this winter and it is known that lack of bright daylight can affect your mood so always take some vitamin D and if it gets really bad go to the dr.

Tgat said rain is just water and it’s only getting wet. Getting wet doesn’t harm you it just makes you uncomfortable. Get the family waterproofs and wellies and go out and play in the rain/mud.

TBH I pretty much agree with you! I hate it too. I live in the North West and we get a lot of rain. Yesterday was glorious and wall to wall sun and we spent the whole day outside. Today...back to rain. But I work from home and I have freedom to get outside as soon as there's any hint of sun so I feel lucky. I also do have good waterproofs as do my kids so we can still keep going.

Honestly if it depresses you like this could you consider relocation abroad? I will be considering that for half of the year once my kids have grown up and gone off but we both work remotely so have that freedom and I realise many do not. But yes it drives me mad too.

I still go out in the rain, I wrap up I always walk etc but agree that it's totally not the same for a family day out. It is messy and muddy etc and just doesn't do the same for the soul as a day in sun or even some sun! It's fine from time to time but doing it daily with all the washing etc is relentless. Anyone who is saying 'it's fine' cleary has someone else doing the muddy clothes washing and drying etc etc and space to hang all this stuff up to dry out (daily).

There are many on MN who actively don’t want friends and ‘hate people’. I don’t think they open the door to others, never mind discuss weather!

For me it was the wind all last year. None stop wind. This year has been wetter than usual, but the biggest problem at this time of year is the changeable nature of the weather which makes it very hard to plan.

My only advice would be that, if you have a garden, perhaps set up some outdoor activities such as a water table, planting, making bug hotels, an outdoor kitchen etc and then dash out when there's a break in the weather. It's not the same as a day out.
My kids used to love a garden centre (particularly with sheds) as a toddler. If the weather was really dire, I would take them to IKEA for a good run around or B&Q. Sometimes wrapping up and heading into woodland can be nice in the rain too.

I definitely think there’s an overlap in people who love rain/lockdowns/hate people.

Well I used to be like you and now I’m not. We invested heavily in great waterproofs and coats, gloves, hats, waking boots, rucksacks and general kit. We literally have a huge box in the hall way and it’s full of winter gloves / hats / scarves, multiple hi vis jackets, waterproof - two for each of us. Multiple decent and I mean decent coats - everyone has a wax jacket and I decent one. The kids have waterproof hats like Australia style but leather and waterproof. Always have towels and spare clothes in the car and if on a walk always take a first aid kit and everyone carries their own flask of hot chocolate or tea. You don’t need to go for long but the rain is cleansing it soothes the soul.

Ps hot days are for lounging around or the seaside

It’s tough being at home with small children, rain or no rain. Can you get someone to mind the children one day a week to give you a break?

Whatever the weather you need to get everyone out of the house in the morning, to work off some energy and set the day up.

If you are in a town that’s no problem. If you are in the countryside, drive to the nearest town, or take a train ride to somewhere with tarmac paths. You can take a bag to some local woods for shelter and get the kids to pick up interesting sticks and bits of moss and come back and make a moss garden or plant acorns or whatever keeps them busy.

I found it helpful to have a fixed timetable for the week with set rain/fine activities. E.g. Monday swimming or walk to garden centre, Tuesday museum or ducks, Wednesday to library or grandma’s, Thursday visit/host friend for lunch, Friday soft play or playground.

To be clear, we never did all or even most of these things in a week, but it took away the stress of having to come up with a plan on the hoof. And make sure you build in things for you, too.

There are also some good books of simple activities to do with small children. Hang on in there. Things will get better.

That sounds very expensive.

The kids have waterproof hats like Australia style but leather and waterproof

Who did you buy them from, Crocodile Dundee? 😆

So true. They gained confidence during the pandemic and now like to brag about their misanthropy!

Wait until they are teenagers and want to sit inside all day. Trying to motivate them to get outside in wet weather is so hard.

Not mine both ride and they had some at the local equine place and they were so expensive like £100 and then they had a sale and they persuaded me I paid £25 and they paid £25 each and they wear them all summer and winter 😂😂😂and you can laugh all you want but he’s got SEN and loves it.

I don't like the rain either, and February was the wettest on record. But we can't do anything about it (except try to limit our environmental impact as climate change is behind a lot of these more extreme meteorological periods), so you can either complain and go nowhere or make practical adjustments and at least try to have fun regardless.

Such a barmy thread!

@Zone2NorthLondon definitely wins the trophy for most invested in the topic

It's raining here again this morning. I hate it OP.

Those who say ‘just crack on, stop whining’ - somehow I am not able to convince my 6 month old to enjoy it… and yes, I do have a rain cover for the pram, but when he cries and I want to take him out (and put in the baby carrier for example) it’s simply not possible! Also, as he’s crawling now I would love to put him on the grass in our garden to let him explore. It’s just not great when it’s constantly WET (or should I put him in some wellies and crack on?!?)

Another trip to wander around our local Dunelm it is today… (we’re friends with the security guard now 🙃)

I am with you OP, the lack of sun makes me miserable.

Yes it was but it’s over years and you have to be able to not want everything brand new and designer - it needs to be proper stuff. I have never brought anything for youngest - really as they are in hand me downs. Some one in a local Facebook group had full waterproofs for their daughter that she had grown out of they had cost like £150 new, we paid £10 and when we turned up - they said you don’t want this full body waterproof aged 9-10 as well, do you? Yep 👍. Our walking boots were decent ones in the original factory shop I checked online we paid £35 and they were £150 plus in an outdoors shop. Wax jackets brought in sales and not Joules but proper wax jackets.

Hi vis jackets again from factory shop and local garden centre after Christmas in the sale. Gloves and hats are brought when on offer etc

Eldest now fits in a lot of my kit. Someone asked what do you want for Christmas I will say a thermos or whatever and we’ve had them for 10 years and they are bomb proof.

Try your local groups - anyone got any waterproof coats etc available to buy for aged 9-15 and see what comes back. Likewise eldest is 10 and we pass stuff on. You wait for flash (!) sales and buy. Kids don’t care as long as they aren’t wet. Or if they are wet they aren’t sitting in it for hours!

Move to a tropical country?
It rains here. Every year, without fail.
Like we know the sun shines 3 days a year, and it snows once.
Do you just need to moan for the sake of moaning? I mean, because I understand that.
I'm pissed off I can't cut the grass today.

Yes the last year and a half its rained non stop, been freezing or been completely grey and miserable... we didn't have ANY summer here last year while being told constantly of how hot it was everywhere else. It feels like its been 18 months of endless winter.

Its genuinely effecting a lot of people mood and mental health.

YANBU

if we could be guaranteed a decent summer it would make some difference but that will probably be shite as well. I’ve seen a few gigs that look good but all outdoors in summer. Nope. I’m well past the age of wanting to listen to music clad in a cagoule and wellies.