To ask if you'd go to the pub?

[wildlygreen]

Using here for traffic as it's a quick decision I need

I walk DD to a club on Wednesdays between 7-8. It's about 20 minutes each way and there are no shops or cafes or anything else open at this time of night. There is however a Wetherspoons. DH thinks I should just take my book and sit in there with a drink (doesn't have to be alcoholic) because I have about 15 minutes at home before having to go back. Pub is 2 minutes from her club. The thing is, it's quite a busy pub and I get anxiety on my own in large crowds. Would you go to the pub or go home for 15 minutes? Sorry for using AIBU, please ask for it to be moved if this isn't appropriate use of this board. I guess AIBU for potentially sitting in the pub?

Oh see I’d vote for home and back - but I’d see it as a chance to get some more steps in on my pedometer! 😂

Pub.

I've sat in Spoons whilst dd is in brownies... sometimes with wine :)

Absolutely go to the pub and have a coffee and surf on your phone or a read. Nobody will bat an eye

Pub coffee and a book

You can online shop- start Christmas gift buying whilst killing time. Sort out any online admin. That’s what I used to do outside clubs- didn’t have a pub to go to but sat in my car. Sometimes used to use a meditation app.

I’d be in the pub with an alcoholic drink death scrolling Tik tok.

Pub. I'd take my knitting

Spoons is the best pub to do this you can tuck yourself away in one of the nooks and order on the app so don't have to worry about losing your seat, being chatted to by strangers etc if you don't want. Soft drinks, coffees and snacks all reasonable too

Any other parents you can encourage to join you?

I'm sat at a Harvesters waiting for a friend who lives nearby to join me whilst DD is at rugby training. We catch up for 45 mins and then go out separate ways

I might take headphones to block out the pub noise if you want to read though

I'd definitely try the pub. If you do t have the app alteady, download it so you don't even have to go to the bar. Take headphones if you want - even if you dont listen to anything, they can put people off speaking to you if you dont want to chat.

And hopefully enjoy some you time! if you hate it, at least you tried.

I do exactly this when I take my DD to Rainbows as it's an hour long session so not worth going back home and then going out again to collect her. I normally get a hot drink and read my book and it's lovely, a Wetherspoons would be perfect as you can be pretty anonymous in there.

Occasionally I put an audiobook on my earbuds and go for a walk for the hour instead to get some exercise. I would do either of those options instead of going home for 15 mins.

Another vote for the pub.

What do the other parents do with DC at the activity?

Sure, why not, if you don't fancy a walk.

You'd be in the warm and can relax for a while and like pp have said find out if other parents are in the same boat.

Pub and use the app to order.

I’d go for pub or at least try it. If the noise bothers you and you’ve not tried them - there are lots of noise reducing ear plugs these days, eg loop.

Pub. I often go and have a solo drink/coffee between things. It's pleasant.

Pub with a book

Any other parents you can encourage to join you?

Don't do this, because then it turns into a weekly hour of social torment where you have to make small talk or listen to someone banging on about their genius child or how many kgs they can bench press. Take a book or newspaper, have a drink. Relax

I’ve had this exact dilemma tonight - although it’s a tiny village pub and I didn’t feel comfortable with that as it is so small with locals. Had it been a weatherspoons id have definitely gone to the pub. So instead I’ve sat in my car reading mumsnet posts and thinking how lovey the pub would have been 😂

I'd go home.

Pub. Although I'd prefer a little country pub to a spoons.

It's what I used to do when my daughter had gymnastics.

I sometimes go to the pub after work on my own for a pint.

Definitely pub and book.

I went/am in the pub thank you all so much

Defo pub.