To hate Friday evenings

[toastbutterjamandtea]

We have two children, DS(4) and DD (2). DS used to go to an after school club twice a week with me picking up the other three days. On Fridays this club has now stopped due to lack of intake.

This isn’t as bad as it could have been because DH usually works from home Fridays but now it means he has to rush out to get DS then carries on working while DS watches TV. He gets bored, demands snacks (which DH gives to him which I do understand because he’s still working) and then starts messing around and messing the lounge and toy area up.

So I have to get DD from nursery and she’s always at her most clingy and demanding then walk through the door and have to cajole DS into having a healthy dinner and have an absolute tip. Then DS is always stroppy and difficult at bath time.

I have changed my work hours in light of this but I can’t do so until September. So right now I HATE Fridays!

Depends on what the help desk is for. Some have 24 hour help if they work worldwide or it’s for customers who are average people with jobs

Yeah - just depends how busy they are. It isn’t forever. Which has been my mantra ever since morning sickness hit! Then you can barely walk or sleep, then childbirth, then no sleep either a newborn, then broke on maternity leave, then terrible twos (which nae fucker tells you starts at 15 months) then the threenager , then stroppy reception aged kids.

And I’m doing it all again with DD!

I do love them honestly …

Do you think things might improve a little when the weather starts to get better? For me the batteries are totally depleted after work/school at this time of the year, mum says it was the same when I was little. December is pandemonium, January, February so gloomy, so many of us (children and adults) are quick to feel exhausted/grumpy/needy at this time of year.

What about giving the teenage babysitter a go?
When I was growing up the teenagers in the villages tended to learn to drive pretty quickly as they wanted their freedom (while us town kids were a bit behind in this sense). Is there anyone in a nearby village who could come to yours (by driving themselves or coming by moped) and then entertaining the child for the hour and a half. A change of face and someone interacting with them means they might be less grumpy. At 17/18 as I am sure you will know as a teacher, this age group might be looking for work experience so to say they did this would look good for them in the future. I can imagine a lot of students I taught in the past being very good at this (studying childcare, wanting to be nursery assistants, nurses etc).

The difference being, when I got in from work when mine were teenagers...they made me a coffee and I could chill!
It does get better 😊

I think adding a teenager to it all just sounds my idea of hell to be honest. DS would become shy and awkward and then you’d have to deal with them as well as your child! Then there’s how they’d get here and back as well.

Things are always easier when the weather improves!

Have you got a bunch of daffodils to look at? There are times in life when you have to cling to the tiniest of life rafts, I look at my daffs and have a little daydream about the Easter weekend being one of those perfect British spring weekends and I’m frolicking in the sunshine through a field of wildflowers with a creme egg in every pocket.

I know, I know. Easter will probably be greyer that Conniston slate, with sleet and wind and bickering. And creme eggs aren’t what they used to be. But believing my own lies is what sometimes gets me through 😆

Drive their own car or moped to yours? Seriously a lot of teenagers I have worked with in the past would love this kind of experience and are quite independent (studying childcare and wanting to work in this area). As you say it wouldn't even be for that many weeks now, so could be worth a try. If the weather is improving they could take your child out into the garden so they can burn off energy before bed and won't be emptying the toy box everywhere.

I now see though that maybe rather than looking for solutions you just wanted a bit of a moan about it all.

I appreciate the suggestion @Moonnstars but honestly it is a no. Adding one more person to the mix would just be another layer of stress and I really can’t see DS responding well to them.

What’s DS into or would see as a treat that would occupy him for the hour or so that’s needed so he doesn’t bombsite the house or bother DH? DD is a similar age and would be bribed with a magazine with plastic tat on the cover, a bag of jelly tots (and the rare treat to eat them in her bed), and maybe a new story for her Yoto – costwise the same as one session at our after-school club. (I feel your pain, ours has just stopped doing breakfast club; I’m job-hunting and it’s curtailed opportunities as DP commutes.)

But if he’s not that type of kid there are really only two solutions: mentally counting down the 15 Fridays while rewarding yourself with wine, or apparently moving to London.

Personally i’d stick an advertisement on local facebook/ask around and see. It’s a mothers help role not babysitting as not sole charge.
Does he go to scouts (squirrels?) ask leader they might know an older teen.I’ve got several guides 12 plus that help with younger age groups, first aid trained they are great with little ones could do crafts, board games, get him a drink etc.
You might even pick up an older teen that can drive and be an actual babysitter if needed.
It’s an easy job and good for cv if applying for teaching, nursing etc.
Mine babysat from 16 sole charge. The couple used to message if needed. Was only in village, easy money for her she got £10 an hour.

Curious why you think he wouldn’t respond well? Our rainbows start at age 4 and love the girls who help.

They aren’t in their home while a parent is there though. It’s a different dynamic.

I have a child the same age and I don’t think the house being that messy after an hour is OK, even if your DH has been working. I thought your DS was being left to entertain himself until near enough bedtime in which case the mess would be reasonable.

Leave him a box out with a few toys, some Lego and colouring maybe. Let him watch TV and leave him some healthy snacks or a lunchbox. I would expect my house to be pretty tidy after an hour even with a reception aged child.

I suppose it depends on where he works from.
Out of sight out of mind eg if he’s shut away upstairs and someone is playing with him. Surprised his employer ok with it, many will only allow with older more self sufficient children.