I don’t like going for walks or to the park, I want to look around shops

[tohaverealisediam]

on Sunday I was feeling like the walls were falling in on me and just needed to get out. This is where my husband usually suggests a walk or taking the kids to the park- I find this so boring.

I realised that what I want to do, most it the time when I’m feeling like this- is just go and mooch around a couple of shops, get a coffee or lunch, maybe buy something new- nothing big necessarily, but maybe a little lamp or a new candle or something. This makes me happy. Going to the park, really doesn’t make me happy at all. It just doesn’t stimulate me whatsoever.

I am happy to take the kids to the playground of course, but parks or walks just bore me so much. My husband much prefers going for a walk. I don’t mind a walk so much if it’s in an amazing scenic location, in fact I do enjoy it. But I just don’t enjoy it when there’s not much to see.

I know that most mumsnetters love a walk etc and that’s great, but does it not just under stimulate you ?

it’s a bit of a struggle as obviously my husband and I have different preferences.

we ended up going out for a bit, going to a couple of shops, getting dinner out so I didn’t need to cook and clean up.

I am just so bored of staying in all weekend with two young kids and the only thing we do is maybe go for a walk, that’s all my husband wants to do as he finds going out stressful.

No, really don't view shopping or "mooching" as a leisure activity. I much prefer a walk, but yes a walk in a scenic place not a boring kiddies playground.
Sounds like you need to start planning things to do at the weekend OP. Something that both you, DP and the kids can enjoy.

What gives me the biggest dopamine hit is buying books. Specifically second hand books, from second hand or charity shops. If DH ever thinks I need a lift ha says “let’s go to xyz and do the charity shops”. Always works.

DH grew up like this. Every weekend he and DSIL walked round the shops with their parents, without fail. Food shopping followed by walking round the shops in the local town. I LOVE shopping but it's a pretty depressing existence for a child. MIL is still addicted to spending money on stuff she doesnt need.

I spent my childhood weekends going to the park, the woods, the beach, the local country park, the local pool, using bikes or scooters. It wasn't perfect but my parents hardly ever spent money on 'activities' and there was still plenty to do. I would much rather give my children that kind of childhood to be honest. Not popular on here but I think while the kids are young weekends should be largely centred around family friendly activities. You have years and years after they leave home to 'mooch' around the shops alone.

I think families do divide into those who know about everything available in their area, and those who genuinely aren’t aware of any activities beyond wandering around the shops.

I recall once driving with my mother and an acquaintance through a city my family knows well but hadn’t passed through for a while. DM and I were enthusiastically doing Do you remember when … as we passed museums, galleries, theatres, restaurants, the music school, the conservatoire, other concert halls, indoor craft markets, cinemas, historic libraries, sports venues - all of which we’d been to at one time or another, generally with a child or two. At the end of the journey the acquaintance exclaimed that they’d been fascinated by our conversation as they’d lived in the area for years - but had never known ‘what any of those buildings were’.

You have to be curious, or someone has to tell you.

(Of course the OP may have all the information at her fingertips but just not be interested,)

My mum did that too most weekends.

Her reasoning was when we got bored enough to tell her we hated it was that she liked just sitting quietly with a coffee and her newspaper in a local cafe. Well, her two primary school age children didn't like it. It was boring, we wanted to go and do something.

She always did the shopping when she was with us so we could carry the bags with her.

You could sit quietly with a hot drink in her newspaper once her children in bed or we're back for the day. It was a miserable boring existence.

Now, un adult life, I only go to the shops if I want or need something, or if it's absolutely dire weather. Get you out of the house to have a coffee and cake if it's torrential rain outside in the winter.

In the early days of Facebook there were quizzes - how hometown are you? I was genuinely shocked by how many school friends knew so little about the city! Like the name of the rugby team.

Recently took a school group on a trip to our local forest. I have taken my now adult chn so many times it is a familiar place. I was shocked at how many families had never been. On their doorstep a fantastic place with activities and play areas for chn to trail, bike ride, build dens etc. These were chn with family cars that travel abroad on holidays.