To find this infuriating...

[Beansandneedles]

Kids: 'can we go to the playground please?'
Me: 'sure! Go get your shoes on'
I stop what I'm doing. 2 minutes later I have my shoes, phone, keys etc...kids are playing outside, shoeless

Me: 'erm, are we going to the playground?'
Kids: 'oh yeah!'...rush off in the direction of shoes

I sit down in the sun and wait. After a few minutes I hear shouting. I go to investigate. The shoeless children have started playing magnatiles and are arguing over triangles. I get their shoes and line them up.

Me: 'hey kids your shoes are here for you'
Kids: 'in a minute we're just doing this!'

I go back to what I was originally doing. After about 20 minutes I say 'last call to go to the playground, if we don't go now it'll be too late'.

Long story made slightly shorter...we did not to go the playground and now they're both devastated (there have been tears!) and sulking. I didn't even want to go to the fucking playground, it was their idea!!!

Arghhh!!!!! Is it Monday yet?!

Are they your kids? If so you set the agenda for what happens in the day.

This!

As soon as they sat down to play the other game I would have issued up the ultimatum. Now or never. There would be no 20 minutes grace.

You have way more patience than me. The first shoe fail would have equalled no park. You'd have the tears either way, just save yourself half an hour's faffing and waiting.

"If you get ready to go in the next ten minutes then we'll go. "

And mean it

If not ready don't go that day

Definitely using that one next time!

I do usually, but this afternoon we didn't have any plans. Happy to give them a bit of autonomy especially on an otherwise free weekend in half term, it's a good life skill. But the faffing, and then meltdown, dear me!!!

@Sparkletastic afternoon, not weekend ! My brain has checked out for the day clearly.

If you don't have any plans why is it too late? Could you go after tea?

@NerrSnerr We didn't have plans this afternoon, we do this evening :)