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!

It's insanely hot outside today. Feels like July. Trying to persuade DC to come inside and play but they want to be rubbing in the sun. My head is throbbing.

It says it's a comfortable 16. Feels more like double that. Gross.

I find it so hard to relate to this thread. Just love the outdoors. The garden. The beach. Cliff walks. Mountains. Picnics. I'm trying to see what the issue is, temperature? Solved by the right clothing. Funny how different we all are. I'm never happier than out in nature.

The probable reason you're like this is because you weren't outdoors much yourself when you were a child. Also it doesn't help that the weather in the UK is so inconsistent and often downright horrible. I'm the same myself, so massive well done for taking your children outdoors when possible because it's much better for your health to not be cooped up indoors all the time.

I'm with you OP. I just never get comfortable outside, I'm much happier indoors even on a sunny day.

There's no moral superiority in being an outdoorsy person, which is apparently hard for some people on the thread to grasp! None of the indoorsy people are INSISTING that outdoorsy people have to "get used to it!" and "overcoming irrational fear of outside"!! Bugger off!

I can’t relate at all as love being outside. Being indoors on a sunny day is torture but something we have to accept for work! I still resent it but try and tell myself the majority of adults are working in the week and get outside as much as possible at the weekend.

Im fine in the Winter and enjoy cosy weather and being indoors (also still try and get outside plenty) but when it’s sunny, im outside every moment I can. I very much go with the seasons but if its sunny, being trapped indoors is awful to me. As others have said, I get a strong feeling of being cooped up. Soft play on a sunny day sounds like pure hell.

Everyone is different OP and you are being honest with yourself. You are absolutely doing what is right for your kids health by still going outside. Kids need to move for mental and physical health. My kids went on a 10 mile walk today with DH (I was working) and enjoyed every minute. Bringing up kids that want to do things outside helps so much in the holidays when you can pack a picnic and just go, even if its just off to the park. They wont be interested in soft play by the time they get to the older years of primary school, so you want to set them up for life to love the outdoors (even if you dont).

Whilst I agree not everyone has to be the same or outdoorsy, you do have a duty as a parent to put your kids mental and physical health first. It very much sounds like OP is doing this.

Kids need walks, park time, fresh air, sunshine and exercise and it’s our job as parents to make sure they get that. There would be uproar if schools cancelled PE, outdoor breaks, playtime etc so its not optional to do these things at home either.

No one has to love it though, but you do have to do it for the kids you brought into the world.

I like the outside sometimes BUT it has to be warm sunny and nice. BUT not too warm . Never seem to quite get it right for me. Luckily I can please myself now . Didn't seem to bother me much when kids were young as I felt it was my parental duty to take them out every day and I enjoyed seeing them being happy . Plus it broke up the day when home and trying to amuse them.
Don't know how anyone could actually like soft play areas . Again I did go for kids sake . But they smell of feet and then combined with horrible popcorn or burger smells , acoustics are deafening, and slobbery other people's kids was my nemesis. Used to make DH go as much as I could.

@Devongirl1983 Literally No One has been in disagreement with kids playing outside.

But plenty of posters, you included, have a bit of a lofty telling-off tone about how we should be outside for XYZ. It’s really annoying.

As well as the noise (the shrieking, the crying) there's also the germ pit, the smells (nappies and crap food).
There are much nicer places indoors to pick if you're trying to avoid the outside!

The sun makes me frowny and squinty too.

Why don't you wear sunglasses and a hat?

Yes

I didn’t judge anyone if they dont like outside (I did say soft play on a sunny day is hell and I think 99% of the population who’ve been to a soft play would agree with that) 😆

Only a positive judgement of OP for doing what is best for her kids even though outdoorsy stuff isnt her thing. She’s not keeping them inside and making them dislike it too, so not sure how you can say im being judgey.

There’s also a solution (or suggestions) for alot of the things OP doesn’t like. Bugs for example will usually be in places where there’s alot of plants. Plenty of parks have wide open paths (national trust places for example with landscaped gardens), country parks with proper paths so no need to hike through brambles if that’s not your thing (personally love that but each to their own). I know not enough towns have these but we have an outdoor childrens pool near us with playground next to it. That kind of thing would be perfect for getting kids outside too, without it being the full on countryside.

Even a walk round the local town, stop off at a cafe/park/library. Its time outdoors for some of it, exercise and fresh air and that’s all that

I would judge someone refusing to take their kids to the park or on their scooter/bike etc on a lovely sunny day, but that certainly isn’t what the OP posted.

I find this hard to understand. I’ve longed to be outside today but have instead spent all day indoors- most of it in fitness studios with blasting aircon and no windows. 😫

Nothing you have said OP suggests you cannot do plenty of things because you don't like sitting outside. Hope that whilst not your preference, your DC can still be outside enough.

This!!!! Not everyone loves being outside and I don't understand why this is a problem! Unless you never leave the house and get fresh air fair enough, but if you're just like the OP who simply prefers being indoors, what's the big deal?!