To say I'm dreading Easter Bank Holidays ?

[Pappadontpreach80]

DH & 2 mid teen DC at home. They will game, maybe see mates etc. They are too young to be left at home all day alone. Me and DH are always around, even if we're in & out the house doing errands etc.

There is nothing going on this bank holiday. Its due to rain the whole time. DC refuse to go away (uk). They might come out for a day. I do not want to be stuck at home doing jobs the whole time. Which is what I do most weekends.

I'll go for a run, see local family etc but apart from that it's going to be be bloody boring. I could go out with friends but I would feel bad leaving DH at home, alone, bored on a bank hol weekend. I don't even know if my friends are around tbh.

What on earth am I going to do ?

Tbh, Friday night I just wanna piss off to the pub with DH. But a bit meh just the two of us. DC like us to be at home, even if they are gaming in their rooms. They like to know we are there. Boring.

Saturday we will go out with DC in the eve for food.

To add, DC don't do walks/ national trust/biking etc so anything like that is out of the question. We don't do the theatre. There's nothing on at the cinema.

Please can someone give me some inspiration. I can't face 4 days in the house/ doing jobs.

[neilyoungismyhero]

How old are mid teens? 15/16..if so not sure the whole world should revolve around just what they want.

[MissyB1]

I’m feeling a bit the same myself! It’s me Dh, a 15 year old, and the dog! Forecast is rain, dog will still need walking, sod all on at the cinema for a teen. I’m actually getting a bit panicky!

[HelloMiss]

Why can't they be left home alone? They are teenagers!

[Mumof2teens79]

Why are they too young to be left at home alone?

Also what a strange comment..."we don't do theatre" I mean why not but also.why mention it?

[Maray1967]

My DS is 16 - we insist he comes out for at least part of the time. We would not tolerate a blanket refusal and an expectation that we stay in while he games !!!

You need to get tough - and turn the WiFi off.

[BobnLen]

How old are they, mid teen DC should be able to be left alone in the day, it's not even all day if you just want to see family and go for a run

[ssd]

Such a difficult age. Too young to be happily left alone, too old for babysitters. Too young for a part time job that keeps them busy and too old for muddy family walks and kids stuff at the cinema.

Its a hard one.

What about a sleepover with some friends, let them sleep in the living room, get some pizza's, make it fun for them.

[Curiosity101]

Your post is quite negative and there are some contradictions. I suspect you're holding yourself back due to perceived barriers - start with deciding what you want to do and work out from there.

[BobnLen]

Why are you doing all the jobs, don't they do any

[cerebuswannabe]

My 12 year old is left for half a day so why can't a mid teen be left alone for a period?

[BobnLen]

Sounds like they are being spoilt and babied.

[DurhamDurham]

I think you're just stuck in a rut and have got so used to it that you're putting barriers in the way without realising it.

You could go out with your mates but you're not arranging it.

You could go to the pub with your husband but you're not, because the kids who will be upstairs gaming prefer you to be downstairs.

You could all go out for the day somewhere, heck you could go away for the weekend and tell your teens that they're going.

We always accommodated our children but the whole holidays didn't revolve around them.
It's not good for them to be gaming all weekend, get them out of the house and they might even enjoy themselves.

[Italianita]

Bit old fashioned but we used to do a "family Monopoly extravaganza". Lasts 2 or 3 days. Snacks, pizzas, music, breaks now and again.
Go to bed late, continue next morning.

All the family loved it.

[MumChp]

""DC don't do walks/ national trust/biking etc so anything like that is out of the question""

Do you fancy doing it? Go!

[CherieBabySpliffUp]

Assuming there is no SEN involved mid-teens are perfectly old enough to be left for the day.

[soupfiend]

Unless the children have behavioural difficulties or special needs that means you have to supervise them, they are perfectly old enough to be left at home while you go out

Book yourself the weekend away on your own

Book yourself into a meal out with husband or night out with husband if thats what you both want, kids can have a pizza at home if they want

Book a trip out to the shops if money allows have a spend up (this is my plan)

You're making excuses for having to be stuck inside, theres nothing keeping you inside

I also didnt know it was going to rain all weekend, thanks OP for that bombshell!!!

[Sunshineandpinkclouds]

What do you and your DH like doing? Sat afternoon my DH and I are going to the theatre and leaving the teens at home. Sunday we're all doing a long walk for a pub lunch - they will have to come even if it's raining.

They like you being at home while they game? Sod that - time for you to start doing what you like!

[Temporaryname158]

They can’t have it both ways. Sat in their rooms gaming yet expecting you to be home! they
need to get out their rooms by the sound of it. Make that mandatory and go and do something together.

have a family film night, do a family day at
a gym. They won’t do NT etc if gaming is an option. Make it not an option! You sound like you want to have fun, make them get on board with you!

[PutASpellOnYou]

In working all over the Easter break, come and join me on dot.com, everyone will head to the supermarket if raining then moan we are all in the way whilst they waddle round with at least six other family members in tow.

[Nmchanger]

They WANT to game all day. It's not healthy (speaking as a gamer).and it's up to you to parent them accordingly.

[idontlikealdi]

Leave them to it, revisit in Five years when they might be more reasonable.

[calligraphee]

I do understand the slightly trapped feeling, but I think you could make it a lot more fun for yourself if you put your mind to it!

You and DP can have a day out each, while the other has a lazy day at home doing what they like. We did divide and conquer a lot in those days because being home with the kids is not work like it was when they were younger.

Cook some great food, choose something good to binge watch with DP in the evenings.

You can also force them out for a walk - in fact you should for their health.

[SnickersWasAHorse]

Who is in charge here? Why are they dictating everything?

[5128gap]

If budget allows (which if going away was an option it might) I'd do one day at a theme park (probably sunday as the quietest day), go bowling or mini golf before or after your meal on the Saturday, then Monday go for lunch and a walk with DH, leave at 12 back by 4 so not leaving them too long. Friday I'd potter, relax and do my usual things knowing I had stuff to do the other days.

[FleetwoodMacAttack]

What a defeatist attitude. WiFi off, you’re the parent, sounds like their world revolves around gaming. Insist on time out and as a family.