Weekends with an only child

[Sofullicouldburst]

Curious what you do at weekends if you have an only child
My Dc is 6.5, curious about all ages though really.

dance class, walk dog and park, cinema, bowling, soft play and we go in with her or meet friends. Baking, see family, play in the house, watch a movie attend birthday parties . Normal stuff

@OneLastGo

I think a lot of parents of only children feel they have to make up in some way for lack of siblings or find it very intense, particularly if you are also a single parent.
I am a single parent, by adoption so no other parent around, to a single child with ASD.
I was never bothered about having siblings for him, but it could get very intense and he needed a lot of exercise. I never did anything of the ordinary with him though - usual stuff, park on his bike, swimming, tennis lessons, cinema and theatre. He went through beavers, cubs and scouts so regular weekend camps or activities. Days out to local English heritage sites, museums, concerts. He loved going put for breakfast. He liked helping out at the allotment.
We were very busy so had the occasional pyjama weekend where we just chilled out and watched TV.

Dd is a teen now, but when that age usually a structured activity (stagecoach) on Saturday morning, then maybe a cafe after then park. Sunday was usually chill in the morning, walk the dog and then diner in the pub.

Saturday mornings were spent swimming. Then ‘car picnic’ after food shopping, she was allowed whatever snack she wanted.
Then the library.
Chill time in the afternoon whilst I did chores (TV, playing, reading, colouring, literally, whatever she wanted). Movie night on Saturday evenings, with popcorn.
Sundays we always met up with friends for walks/ play areas/animal farm/zoo. Sunday afternoons we baked her lunch box treats for the week, de-liced her(she seemed to have had head lice throughout the entire bloody primary school), bath with ‘all the toys’.
My DD was very much a routine kid.
I also took her with me everywhere. So if I had a hair appointment, she’d come and read in a chair.
If I met friends with no children, she’d come too, she was a happy by herself child, you wouldn’t know she was there.
Sometimes we’d do a day in London, a museum, lunch, a new book from a big Waterstones (we used to live in the middle of nowhere).
We also went on holiday together, just me and her, I started when she was 6 months old.
I think out of necessity, we learnt to take turns: if I wanted to do something, she’d be patient, and then she’d choose something she wanted to do and I’d be patient.

She’s a grown up now :)

Seeing family
Swimming
Meeting with friends
Playdates
Library
Museum
Playground
Woods
Walks
Go out for lunch
Potter about at home
Watch TV
Cinema
Skate park
Birthday parties
Exploring places
Camp fires

All sorts really.

Dd is 5. She does Sports on Friday night and Saturday morning. Then she visits GPs with her dad. In the afternoon she hangs out with me for a while (we do crafts/ drawing/ card or board games/ imaginary games/ reading/ jigsaws/ basketball in the garden or watch tv) then she helps make dinner or goes on her tablet, dinner and then bedtime.
Sunday is usually park/ soft play/ play date in the morning, same as Saturday in the afternoon, then bath, dinner, bedtime.
Sometimes we will do something else like go to a match, she might have a birthday party, go out for dinner, day trip etc.

Saturdays are shopping and chores and a bike ride or something similar.
Sunday mornings swimming lesson and chilled afternoon.
except when we go away overnight in our camper (summer only)

Surely the same thing people do as bigger families too?

It is different, surely people understand that the make up of families are different and it makes people who they are?
I am a single parent but have two and it does solve a lot of 'problems'. Kids play together. Kids argue. It's not better just different.
If you're a single parent with one child, it's a lot of pressure on you, to play, entertain, make decisions... I think you have to develop strong social network.
We usually have play dates. I don't mind having lots of kids over. We sometimes go out but my son likes to spend every other Saturday in. I invite a friend or two (other single mums) over for wine or food some Saturday nights.
If we're alone, I usually make some nice Saturday night food and we have a kitchen disco. Sundays we have a walk or bike ride and a roast (in or out depending on budget). It's honestly the highlight of my week. Then we play board games or read or watch a film.

My daughter is this age and I wish sometimes she was an only child because having a boisterous three year old boy doesn’t make it easy to do the things we both love! We’d craft a lot, go shopping, cinema, theatre, park with friends, bike, cafe dates, trips out.

My two absolutely hate each other, have nothing in common and spend zero time together unless we force them (11 & 8). Neither of them find any value in having a sibling that I can see. I am hoping maybe they will get along better as they get older but they are such opposites I just can’t seen it.

I don’t think parents of only children should feel bad for not providing a sibling, there is no guarantee that they would play with each other.

DS is a few years older now but since about that age he's always played in football matches on Saturday mornings and I like the routine of this. Also feel justified that Saturday afternoons are then more relaxed...errands, TV etc.

Sundays we might have a lazy morning then see family in the afternoon.

I swear by not having a routine. We meet up with friends at least once over the weekend, go to craft sessions, swim, bake, go for a walk or bike ride, go for a coffee in town, watch a film or cartoons, read, or potter about. Always cook some nice food together and usually have a fancy brunch at home.

A babysitter? For weekend daytime? On a regular basis?

What a way to make your child feel unwanted!

Why can't they just chill at home if it's "intense"?

What exactly did she expect from parenthood?

Surely you’re confusing single PARENT with only child as opposed to just being a couple with a single child?

Also I love it how people who aren't single parents are posting their experiences.
It's not the same.

I'm not - it's clear from the poster I'm quoting that the sister has a DH. So she could leave only child with said DH if it got too "intense", wtf that means.

But it's not about single parents? OP doesn't mention being a single parent, just having an only child.

@ThePiglet sorry you're right! I don't know how I misread that

That’s bonkers then.

Same age only child here. Our weekends are quite chilled and we try to please all 3 of us after a busy week of school and work.

We have very slow mornings and DS and DH are both gamers, so they’ll spend time doing that. We might all go swimming together or plan a nice walk with a picnic on the way. Sometimes we’ll stop by a pub or go out for lunch after a walk along the beach. Cinema, bowling or arcades are also an option, or we might go and meet friends for the day. In the summer we’re mainly at the beach or in the garden!

When she was young she would go along with me while running errands. Once we got back home she would play with her friends in the neighborhood. We moved when she was 12 and never made any neighborhood friends so either she was participating in sports or watching sports or we would run around and do errands or house stuff, then watch tv or play board games.

Having an only was tough for me as I'm not good at entertaining, so it was great she had the kids in the neighborhood to play with when she was young and then sports when she was older.

Breakfast out then park followed by going to a football match in the afternoon or cricket in the summer.

Saturdays are wonderful.

DD3.

Sat: Pre-school French class at 10.30, then visit the library and park. Pick up bread/milk. Nap in the car. Eat lunch if not already eaten while out. In the afternoon usually DH will take her out for a walk/bike/scoot or just play.

Sun: usually a family day, but probably once a month will be seeing family/friends. We usually do an activity like going to the park, fly a kite, bake cakes, crafts, theatre. Last weekend we did some gardening.

I only work three days a week so we get all the softplay/farms/gymnastics/swimming in then mostly.

Most of our 'days out' are when on holiday, we tend to do multiple cheap UK breaks.

DD very content with that right now, she would stay in a role-play all day with us if we let her!

She's not good at sticker books, drawing or just generally playing on her own yet.

All the hobbies…