IABU but I do not like outside

[idonotlikebeingoutside]

I do not like being outside.

It has taken me a while to admit this to myself as it feels like a moral failing in many ways.

I love looking at the outside. At beautiful views, or when I wake up in the morning and take in the birds singing and the fields and the blossom. It’s beautiful. But actually in it? When it’s either too chilly or hot, and you don’t get to sit down, and it’s, you know, a bit too outsidey. Oh and bugs, and itchy grass.

I would far rather a day indoors contained.

Unfortunately I have young children. I have to hide the fact I hate garden play and parks and walks, for their benefit. But given the choice give me a rainy day ‘oh what a shame!’ Soft play it is!

I've figured out that I'm extremely sensitive to temperature changes. So gusts of wind, even if they're not that strong will take it out of me. I've invested in a quiltet onesie which really makes a HUGE difference so I'd recommend one of those to make it more bearable. I like the smells and the sounds of outside, the colours.

Growing things in your garden is a bloody tyranny, I found that out in Lockdown.

I don't love outside, its nice if the weather is good, not too hot, and there's somewhere comfortable to sit. Otherwise I'd prefer to be at home on my sofa. The noise in a soft play is a not insignificant part of why I don't have kids so not with you on that.

I find summer difficult because as soon as there’s even a hint of sun, everyone insists on sitting outdoors to eat etc and I can’t stand it. It’ll be 17 degrees, windy AF, napkins flying everywhere…such a joy.

I'm generally very outdoorsy but I completely agree with this - having full-blown meals that you prepare yourself outdoors seems like a monumental amount of hassle for basically no reward. My father in law 'treated' us to a 'barbecue' a few years ago so we could 'enjoy' eating outside when they visited in the summer. It's not really a barbecue - it's a small gas grill that is completely unsuited to cooking a proper meal. Nevertheless it has become the law that we must use the fucking thing to cook if it's not raining between May and September. I can't stand it - it takes five times as long to cook everything, everything except the last thing to go on is cold by the time it is actually eaten, somebody is always faffing about going back and forth to the kitchen to fetch something that would normally have been within easy reach, the in-laws go mental every time an insect comes within ten feet of the table, or if the sun is in their eyes, or if it's too hot, or if it's too cold, or if there's a cloud, or if there's a breeze etc. And then I'm expected to compliment the in-laws on their culinary skills and say it's just like being on the Med. It's just shit.

Fair enough. If I lived in a busy, urban area I would definitely like going outside a lot less. All I can hear outside my house at the moment is the birds. I just went for a run in the sunshine - it was lovely!

I totally get this. Don’t get me wrong I love my garden and do a fair amount of gardening and making it look really nice. But when a friend comes round and suggests we have a cup of tea in the garden I just don’t get it. I’d prefer to be indoors albeit with the patio doors fully open and admire my garden from there.

there’s no anxiety in that - just preference.

I agree with a lot of this - eating outdoors is vastly overrated, unless conditions are perfect (which they rarely are!)

Poeple like OP are a worry. It's not great to see 'outside', as they put it, as some alien and dangerous place. This is the UK - not Australia, where I grant you, there might well be dangers lurking for children's play.

I don't know where our education system has gone wrong to produce attitudes like this. "Bugs' is always a giveaway. Do you mean the fantastic world of butterflies, moths, spiders, beetles, bees etc etc etc?

I think we need to worry for nature and the planet with attitudes like this - I thought they were a thing of the past.

OP - you need to seek help to overcome your irrational fear of 'outside' for your sake and your children's.

I used to be like this... mainly because of horrendous hay-fever, so I was effectively allergic to being outdoors for most of the year (or indoors, if we were visiting someone who had flowers indoors)! Also, outside was too busy and full of people, unless I took the dog out for a walk over the moors.

I then had a very indoor job (primary school teacher), where I didn't set foot outside in daylight at all, apart from on Tuesday mornings when I did playground duty. I discovered that I did not like being indoors at all times, either!

I now work outside in the countryside. It is generally OK (fairly quiet, very few people, etc.), unless it is inconveniently windy, icy, or too hot! I am too pale and my sensitive skin just goes lobster red when exposed to heat. I much prefer cold weather, when I can layer up like an onion. In hot weather, there are only so many layers that I can safely remove before I risk getting arrested for public indecency!

It’s utterly shit when you’ve got a child too young to go in herself. But that’s kind of why parks are also stressful. Both mine always wanted to access equipment too old for them and then had tantrums / upset when they couldn’t.

I do kinda get what you mean. It’s very sensory overload when we suddenly get mega sunny days from 6am to almost 8am. I’m always a lot calmer on grey or even drizzly days.

Im like this op im single and childless thank god.

I am the opposite, I get cabin fever and I need a daily schlep like I'm a dog. You do you though. Do you have anyone in your life who can do the outdoorsy stuff with your kids instead?

@ConBatulations I agree about the eyesight comment: it affects my eyesight if I stay indoors for too long, especially if I'm on screens.

Being outside is vital for well-being (one reason of many I think Saint Boris's lockdowns were EXTREMELY harmful, especially to children). Yes, it can be a bit impractical, with British weather. But you layer up, you wear clothes appropriate for outdoors.

It also seems to be a Mumsnet thing to moan about nice spring and summer weather as much as cold and wet weather.

So then it’s busy with walkers and dogs and dog shit and stressing over kids falling in and drowning and I mean … what is there to DO? Yes, it’s very pretty but beyond that it just isn’t really very interesting.

If I was alone then maybe a book but then you have the sun in your eyes and bugs crawling over the pages.

@Monty36 I’m not sure how you’ve deduced I don’t go out with my children. I’ve felt like I haven’t been inside at all this holiday! I did go to the cinema last Monday but other than that it’s been countless national trust Easter trails and playgrounds and so on.

The sun makes me frowny and squinty too.

Quite looking forward to the predicted rain on Thursday.

I take every opportunity to be outside, I'm in the office now, looking at the sunshine - just wanting to be out on a walk instead!

It sounds like your main issue is planning for and managing children outside. It’s work. But lazy is always harder than work in the long term. I’m not going to go into details as to why in these circumstances as you’ve already dismissed plenty of good advice.

Many people stay ‘sat on their arse’ indoors looking at their phone. You shouldn’t be needing validation as it’s rather common in the western world.
But you get something from this thread?

I like both the outside and soft play! Never understood the hatred for the latter nor found them dirty. The trope of "all soft-plays are germ ridden hellholes" is very tedious.

I’m exactly the same. 70s kid here, and I was forced outside to play. I’m sure it’s that that has given me a love of the great indoors!

How do I cope going to work? Holidays? Visiting people? I find it weird tbh if not a phobia x

But why? What will be the purpose of said walk? Will there be a nice shop or a lovely cake/hot chocolate at the end? 😆
I just don’t associate relaxation with being outside at all!

I'm definitely with you, OP 😁

Me too.

DH jokes about me going outside for my daily walkies

On nice days like today I'll potter about in the garden to get my fix of outdoor time.

Every year I promise myself I’m going to sit in the garden more. I buy nice cushions, crank up the old parasol, get the place looking tidy. Then I just stare out at, sometimes staring at my tea going cold and my Kindle lying there on the patio table and can’t bring myself to go outside. We got a summerhouse put up a few years ago (glorified shed) and I prefer to sit in there. I also hate gardening and garden related ‘stuff’. It probably doesn’t help that we’re in very exposed spot and our garden is like a wind tunnel. I do like to get outside for a walk though. But I hate just sitting outdoors. There are insects. There are clouds suddenly covering the sun and making you shiver. There is too much world to contend with. I feel cocooned indoors.

My hate for soft play was down to when my dd was little. She went into the gym as i entered I put my arm into someone elses poo. I was not happy. It must have been a very full nappy. I got her out and left quickly. I did scrub my arm before hand.