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 so lovely. My children won’t leave the house at the weekend. As much as I’d love a walk in the woods/county with them it’s a no. This weekend I’ve done housework, and watched a Christmas film with my youngest. He’s played with his toys whilst I sat watching telly. All very chilled. I see people going here there and everywhere on SM. I wish we did more sometimes but not loads. The odd weekend yes. Over Christmas I’ll be lucky if my kids will agree to go see Santa!

Your weekend sounds great. Don’t compare yourself.

3ish hours out at the shops for dc to pick gifts for people Saturday, and today we popped in on another relative for an hour.
My favourite weekend in ages!

Lol I thought it was just me...

The OP is concerned that her child is missing out and says social media posts about what other families do make her feel "a bit meh". When I'm over here regularly seeing stuff like this and posts from people I know who only have 1, sometimes 2 children (I have 4) and seem to have a life completely different from mine. And their posts make me feel "a bit meh" because we certainly do not have lovely, serene, relaxing days at home with our children or just pop one child in the car and head out for a wonderful day together 😂 Going anywhere or doing any activities is also not really that great either tbh. It either involves too much fighting, whinging, mess, planning, organisation or energy 😂

You need to stop telling people who are saying they have it harder than you that they're wrong.

Otherwise you're being just as annoying as the instagramers you've posted to complain about.

God I love staying in all weekend. It feels quite rare at the moment but I love just mooching around the house

Yours sounds absolutely lovely. I am craving weekends at the moment due to work - so few opps for slow this entire year - always some 'chores' to do plus having to care for IT'S which I totally do not begrudge but means we spend 50% of time off doing so or I don't go but am left with no car.
Anyhow, have just had the best 3 days. Took Friday off and had a 16hr day in London with my DD 24 - saw the best thing on stage in years great food, and a mooch even in the rain. On Sat I had a lie in after we got back past midnight, made brunch, then collected my Grandson and his Mum and other GM to take him to a cute festive photo shoot, stopped at the cake shop for treats then came home to eat them with tea.
Today we had the whole family around again for an 'early' roast (1pm) as DS was working at 4 and DD was still here. All cleared away ; done by 5pm. Baileys & Telly.
Total, wholesome bliss.

I think the majority spend weekends at home!

We took DS to a birthday party, sat in the cafe with baby DD and waited for DS, went home and my DPs came over to cuddle the baby and had a curry while I wrote thank you cards. Today DH took DS and DD to church while I slept. Then DH worked on his laptop while DS played with Lego and I sat with him and DD then made a roast chicken and listened to DS read then started the Christmas cards.

Pre DD we used to go for a walk or to a National Trust place most weekends, but mainly because I need to get out and we don’t have a garden. Since DD we’ve been at home more, and it’s been nice and relaxed.

You chose to have four children though presumably? It sounds lovely, loud, fun, never lonely for your kids

Yep, the humble bragging dial was turned to full, super cringe 😂

?? How does anyone know who has it harder?! They don’t know my life, I don’t know theirs, I wouldn’t assume they had easier lives, we all have our own problems

I took my kids on lots of trips when they were that age. Pretty much every weekend we’d go somewhere. They’re boys, and they were outdoorsy and energetic. They didn’t like colouring, crafts or cooking. And they couldn’t sit through a whole film. Every now and then I think “let’s have a nice chilled day at home”, but inevitably by mid morning the house was destroyed after a nerf gun battle, dens made out of up-ended settees, trains and cars all over the floor. It was easier for me to take them to the Sealife Centre or a farm park or whatever. Nothing to do with social media. I don’t have Instagram , no idea how to use it.

We don't go near the shops at Christmas. Walking dogs is the most exercise that has occurred this weekend. It's been wet and windy.

I think social media really amplifies what we don't have. Ive had a mix ofbactivities with the children this weekend including a trip that looked exciting for Instagram and also some stuff at home which was like what you describe.
However, I looked on there earlier and felt a twang of envy of my friends who are having girls night outs with women they are closer to than me. I don't have the most happening social life and I find that hard sometimes . This has been a timely reminder for me to get off the social for a bit and focus on what's really happening.

I'm certain my lifestyle would be deemed 'boring' by many, but who cares? It works for me. I wouldn't like their way of life any more than they'd like mine. That's okay. I had a laid-back childhood and prefer a calm lifestyle as an adult, too. There's nothing wrong with your way of doing things. Just don't pay too much attention to social media.

When children are young, especially, it's good for them to balance time with friends and out doing things with time at home engaging in activities with parents or on their own. Kids need to be able to entertain themselves, at some point. There's a lot of thinking, learning, and discovery that can happen during slow 'down time'.

Seriously mn strikes again.
OP posts a bit worried that maybe she’s not parenting right, not doing enough fancy outing stuff.
Op gets accused of humble bragging, being perfect, having it easy because she’s “only” got one child, asked if she does all the cooking (as if that’s a bad thing).

MN can be a wonderful source of support.
But it can also (more and more often nowadays) just seem like a crowd of mean bitchy girls in the playground.
Your weekend sounds lovely OP.

Sounds like a normal weekend to me too, ours was similar (minus a dog!) Social media is the issue here.

Thank you xx

Your weekend sounds absolutely delightful. I wish I had the headspace and energy to do more of the type of thing you describe doing yourself. As somebody who often goes to places that provide activities or outings, I do so because I don’t have the mental energy to do these things myself or creative at home. I wish I did. I know it’s better for my children, less superficial and would be the type of thing they look back at with fondness when older but I simply don’t have the capacity for it. I feel like a lazy parent when seeing the people who post things like you describe doing. I think each has their own merit and there is nothing wrong with you’re doing with your child.

It would take me a whole day to make a lasagne alone 😅

Why does it matter if I chose to have four kids? Does that mean I'm not allowed to find it difficult or feel shit when I see people with 1 child having these lovely, and seemingly fairly easy, weekends with crafts and baking and days out etc when my own life is never ever like that? It seems to be a common theme that it's only people with 1 or 2 children who are ever allowed to complain about things being hard. If someone with 3 or 4 do the exact same thing they always, always get "Well you chose to have all those kids!" 🙄

And yes it is loud. As for lovely and fun...not so much. Perhaps it's their ages as they're all very young but right now no.

Right! What is wrong with them?!

That sounds like a great weekend. I agree people seem to feel they need to go to events & do big stuff which they post online.

However DD would have been fine with this sort of weekend but we did have to keep DS ‘busy’ when he was little. So we couldn’t just chill. We rarely did paid for activities though. But he would never have sat for more than 10 mins colouring or doing playdoh. It was exhausting!

It’s a completely normal and average weekend. We live like this all the time, it’s just a normal life. I couldn’t care less what other people’s diaries are booked up with.