Does anyone have weekends like this anymore?

[Ranoutofideasfortheelves]

Friday night, got in, made chilli and nachos, fire on, throws on, pjs on, dh, me, dd (7) and ddog on the sofa watching films
Saturday, Dd did colouring in the morning, had pancakes, then her friend came to play, then she went to theirs for a few hours. I watched xmas films and sewed a top, Dh messed about on his computer.
I made lasagna and Dd came home, we had a dance to Christmas music then watched Home alone and bed.
Today we took ddog out to the woods, dd did clay, we made chocolate Christmas tree biscuits and played with her elves, played in the garden on the trampoline with the elves, had a roast, bath, fire, stories & bed.

Just been looking at Instagram etc and so many posts of visits to cities, girls nights out, santa spectacular shows, Lapland, London visits etc and just feeling a bit 😬
We will do a few Christmas outings for sure, but don’t seem half as busy (or wealthy)as lots of people. I remember lots of weekends as a kid being slow, but I was perfectly happy. We definitely do a lot more with Dd than I did as a kid, but do most of you do these kind of outings most weekends? Is Dd missing out?

It sounds great and we often have weekends like this. Please ignore social media posts. They are normally just showing those moments. They definitely dont show the kids squabbling, moaning or the bill that needs paid it all. I post very little on social media as I see no need for others to know the ins and outs of my daily life.

Ridiculous comment. You know some people actually have plenty of money and don’t need to put it on credit cards don’t you?

Yeah, I did apologise to the OP in a second reply saying I was maybe unfairly being grumpy. But I take that apology back this morning . I’ve re-read the OP’s post and it is definitely a faux-naive, look at us as the perfect little wholesome post. Especially the added details like DDog on the sofa.

Now if the OP had actually posted “Am I right in thinking this could just be the perfect weekend amongst the Christmas mayhem” I think the vast majority would agree. Instead it’s the faux naive crap.

I don’t think it’s particularly normal to stay home all weekend every weekend and do close to nothing (although when I make lasagne it’s a big bi-annual batch cooking affair that I drag out from one evening until the following afternoon so not strictly “nothing”). Most people have some sort of social arrangement or trip out, diy and housework, shopping etc to do on most weekends. Lots of people work weekends and those who don’t will need the time to catch up on stuff from being at work all week.
There are tons of fun things to do in December plus extra not fun things like cleaning and shopping. I’m as introverted as they come and I’ve had my work night out, a Christmassy day out with my sisters and on Saturday I have a boozy lunch with friends. Over the last few weekends I’ve been out with dh to buy a tree, been to screwfix and wickes more times than I’d like, charity shop donation drop, batch cooking, clearing the spare room for Christmas guests coming and made a pair of curtains. DH is working most of the time and 2 of my dc still at home work part of every weekend. Ds2 goes out to meet his gf lots. Youngest often doesn’t do much but will chat to friends and go meet up sometimes. Dd1 away at the moment and I don’t think she’s been in at the weekend since she was about 11. When the dc were younger there was always something going on - clubs, matches, competitions, recitals, parties, camps, etc to the point of it being a ballache but the idea that you can’t play sport for a few hours on Saturday morning and go ice skating in Sunday afternoon and not have time to watch a fuck ton of television and do a few hours of reading is just not true. You don’t have to go to a winter wonderland or be part of a club or re-grout the bathroom but you aren’t better off for not doing it. If you are happy to sit indoors all weekend and not even go for a walk or buy milk then crack on - just like everyone meeting friends and eating an £11 bratwurst is cracking on with their day.

And so many events. Everyone must be exhausted by Christmas Day.

Mine are older now, but we would plan one very special event each year. I worked out what would be age appropriate and what could wait until they were older Even if the event was free, it was special because that was THE event for the year.

Now I see, light trail, Santa train, panto, Christmas market, Christmas tree farm, Lapland, Winterwonderland…and a Christmas helicopter trip flown by Santa himself…real of course (sorry, I jest, you get the idea!).

Your weekend sounds great @Ranoutofideasfortheelves.Time together is what matters. I really worry that lack of rest and down time, time to be imaginative and resourceful, lack of time to think and be independent in play, really impacts on children’s mental health.

Exactly. If you think your weekends are perfect just own it and be honest. Rather than creeping around with this “I’m not Instagram worthy” bullshit.

It sounds like a lovely weekend OP, but as others have pointed out, I think you do know this. We had a cosy weekend in too but it involved a lot of cleaning and admin tasks whilst managing a toddler going through terrible twos. Whilst I did enjoy my weekend at home, in comparison it was nothing as idyllic as yours.

Stayed inside. Rattled my tin mug on the bars of my cell.
(I don't think that will go against my 'good behaviour' record.)

Loads of people do it. They just don't post on Instagram about it.

You've seen the curated highlights of what people you follow have been up to this weekend. The ones who had weekends like yours haven't posted about it. You've just seen the ones who have posted and it's made you feel like "everyone" has weekends like that because they're the ones posting about it.

I think it depends on your culture and social life. I’m of Indian origin, have a large family and friend circle, and weekends have always been busy ever since I was a child but in a really fun way. Weddings, parties, birthdays, drinks, playing sports etc etc.

Most do. Yet more faux naivete.

I'm sure the OP did all of that too, just isn't sharing it cause it isn't as #blessed as her version. Unless they all go to work/school in unwashed clothes, their kitchen is currently still ankle deep in roast and chilli remnants etc.

I'm surprised no-one has commented on screen time yet, maybe it is different when the fire is lit? 🤔

You know instagram isn’t real right? People, even “normal” people like your day to day friends, take pictures of things and spread the posts over multiple days or weekends. I follow someone I used to work with, she complained about her DH constantly, they are always (or were so I assume still are) super tight for money but if you believe her instagram they’re living the idyllic family life. When you pay attention you see that this weeks post is clearly from 3 weeks agos post, just extra pictures.

Your weekend sounds great but people post about those all the time too and how amazing it all is. As long as you’re happy…do you.

Oh my days, your weekend sounds heavenly.
Next time I will bring the snacks! 😆 🍿 🍫
@Ranoutofideasfortheelves

I really wouldn't bother looking at / thinking about what other people are doing as long as you're happy with what you're doing. We're not doing any particular Xmas outings this year and had a similar weekend to yours - we had a great weekend!

Fascinating how differently people are reading this. So many reassuring OP that she's doing OK. I must be a horrible cynic as I read it as the smuggest, most self-congratulatory stuff imaginable! I see I'm not totally alone though.

It’s 6 of 1 isn’t it? Some weekends are slower, some shopping, goofing around, playing at home/play dates. Some weekends are bigger affairs.

This weekend we did some Christmas shopping, popped to local Christmas markets, did some painting and cooking at home, saw grandparents, put the tree up, etc… next weekend we’re going to centre parcs! It doesn’t have to be full on every weekend, a balance is lovely.

We go out a lot most weekends but we don't post on SM. My dcs and I enjoy trips out (we live in London so it's easy to go) and it's affordable for us. DCs have swimming lessons, dance class, this weekend we went to a Christmas concert and a West End play. It feels busy at times but we all enjoyed the activities and it was nice to have that social experience. It's only 15 mins on the tube to get home so plenty of time to play with toys and chill at home too.

Absolutely. Completely cringeworthy, describing the most ordinary type of weekend with an obvious attempt at rose-tinting all of it.

Agreed.

This is exactly it, all these things you’re doing i’m not and it feels a bit shit

I'm jealous OP. I'd love a weekend like that, but ours always seems to go wrong if we don't have a plan as such. Three kids ages 7,5 and 6 months. If we tried to do the amount of home activities you did in one day over the whole weekend we'd fail and everyone would be shouting and miserable!

I find it much easier to get everyone up and out the house and there is less tidying too! I would love a weekend like you described.

But I don’t think it’s perfect that’s the point! I don’t have the money to do all these extra things, the family or lots of different sets of friends or a work do. I’m trying to make the best of what I have

You sound rather smug to me and have posted purely for validation and praise.

I smell humble brag!