Once your kids are in school, how does your day look?

[Flooloop]

Kid about to start reception in September- next week!!
I will be doing pick up and drop off every day, and imagine we’ll hang out at the playground after school for a bit some days, after school clubs other days.
But what do you do outside of this - weekends and holidays? Will be still be pootling around the village, or is it filled with class parties and weekend clubs? Or will we have lots of free time and we’ll just be at home?
Im trying to work out whether it’s worth investing in a beautiful house where we’ll spend lots of time, or whether we’ll always be out with various things and living nearer the centre of the village / town will make more sense.
Both me and OH WFH so will be in a lot anyway

YABU - there is no free time between school, parties, clubs
YANBU - there’s loads of free time to enjoy being at home

I was a five minute drive away person and think I would have preferred it if I was a five minute walk person. My DC also would have especially as they got older.

Did you find it did make that much difference?
I’m hoping they can cycle as they get older, but it won’t be an option when they’re first starting.

also fwiw, I do like having people over and the house would be ideal for that, so might compensate something for being further out.

I wonder if the dc friends would be able to come if there parents were happy for them to cycle. The snacks would have to be good!!

The kids are quite outdoorsy and we’d be able to get a dog, chickens or something. They could plant vegetables and explore the woods, so I think they’d really enjoy that aspect. I hate traipsing round the village and would rather be in the hills / woods / riverside etc, but I do appreciate how handy it’s been with the pushchair. But now that we’re moving on from that I’m trying to imagine the future

@ToffeePennieyou sound so cool!!!

I‘m nothing special, I just set up our lives so I can do stuff like burlesque and theatre and singing because I’ve always been passionate about the arts.
My husband loves it because he gets to see me do all sorts of random rehearsals and he loves doing shows with me (as my tech) too.
It’s just how I keep myself sane!

What a lovely jolly family life with a fun, diverse range of interests x

I went back to work, nearly everyone I knew did the same, worked hours around the school and did drop offs, pick ups and play dates, extra curriculars and all that too on the weekends and at nights. It was mentally busy, but mostly good fun. I worked at a school so I could work around school holidays when they were in primary.

Do you work?

Think it depends on school and what friendship groups already exist, so I would base any choice on what you like rather than potential activities which may not happen.

COVID struck when one of mine was in reception so not necessarily a good example, but for my son who started before there wasn't the whole class parties that people on MN say happen all the time. I think he got invited to a handful, if that, as people were more selective and only chose the children their child mentioned or those they already knew (myself included). My daughter's year may have been more into big parties but I can't say as that wasn't a thing then due to lockdown restrictions.
We also don't live close to the school so don't do playdates after either (which I don't see as a bad thing!). I don't think this is that common either in my kids school - parents working so kids in after school club or childminders or again groups of existing friends might do things, but generally it's more paid for clubs kids go to later in the evening so parents don't have time to be doing things after school.
Weekends are generally family time here.

So based on my experience we would have a lot of free time.
Also bear in mind that some kids find reception and starting school really tiring so are happy to go home and watch TV and have some quiet time rather than planned activities.

We both work, either at home or commute to London. If we’re working from home we’ll put a wash on at lunch time or make dinner using the time saved by not commuting.

Weekends are busy with extra curricular activities, seeing family, birthday parties, seeing friends, days out, church. We don’t have much time at all doing nothing!

Me too

How far is the 5 min drive?
Can it be walked (is there a footpath?) or cycled from the village?

If yes then I’d take the extra space - once your kid is 10 or 11 they can get themselves and their friends about without lifts. Being able to get themselves to clubs is a big yes from me.