To really dread weekends?

[frillonit]

Is this normal lol

two little kids (2 and 5) never know what to do with them or how to fill the time. Everywhere is busy and expensive. But if you stay home it’s awful.

I totally get it! I find the constantly having to think of things to do really hard work. And you’re right staying home is also very hard work 😂😭. Those people you see on social media who are like ‘slow mornings with the kids’ I’m like how??? The only way I can drink my morning cup of tea is if I also make breakfast for DD and let her sit on the sofa and watch TV while I drink it, which goes against various guidelines 😂. Things like soft play etc are not enjoyable for adults (and sometimes the kids!) and everything costs a fortune. So yes, YANBU.

Totally and always really crowded as well.

I take my 3 year old outside as much as possible but that’s difficult with rainy weather.
She’s started getting birthday party invites which is a handy way of entertaining her.

I have a 1 year old and 3 year old and I also dread weekends 🙈

I’m reassured it isn’t just me. I really find it hard, just can’t get into the Friday vibe at work at all.

Kids that age will happily go to the same place over and over again.

Park if the weather's OK.

Playgroup/ library/ soft play/ play date/ free museum or gallery/ somewhere you can get an annual membership (like a farm/ aquarium/ zoo etc) if not.

Rinse and repeat!

Boring for adults but the kids will be happy with it. You don't have to think of loads of new things all the time.

At that age you can take them anywhere for a long walk or with scooters/bikes and get as much fresh air into them as possible, they'll sleep well.

Can you and DH take turns? My DH was an early bird so was content to get up early and supervise breakfast and potter around for a while; then we'd swap. He'd go for a shower or some such and I'd mind the DDs.

Definitely go to the park now that the weather should be improving. Is there a different park nearby? Sometimes we'd drive a mile or two to the next village just for variety.

Plus if you have any outdoor space, they can put on wellies and 'help' you water or weed (maybe only the 5yr old?). Give them a little corner to dig and some pots to fill (and empty).

The library is free and then you can use up time reading the books you bring home.

Also, if you feel like it, some easy baking can fill the time - just mix up enough for a few fairy cakes/biscuits/scones (half a recipe?) and then you won't be overloaded.

When DDs were small, I used to print off colouring pages from the internet. It was quicker/cheaper than going somewhere and buying a colouring book and they could choose - that took up some time too.

My kids really hated going to the park in miserable weather. And I personally loathe soft plays as they are a complete germ fest. Fortunately my kids are very happy to do something indoors or we go for a drive and for hot chocolate. Museums are good in small doses. Or we go on the scooters just around the area. We have a zoo membership which I much prefer than enclosed germy areas

2 and 5? YANBU! You're right in the horrors, OP but it gets so much easier, I promise.

Join some sort of English heritage / national trust / wildlife / garden type place with a good playground.

I pay about £100 a year for a family memebership to one and we go constantly.

@wrinklycactus it is a bit boring for me! But also it doesn’t really take much time - library for instance is perhaps an hour at the absolute maximum. Soft play and the like is OK but busy at weekends and expensive.

We do have a national trust membership. I could take them tomorrow.

It will only get easier as they get older! They will sleep in longer and entertain themselves for longer periods. Where roughly do you live? People might be able to make recommendations you haven't thought of. Hang in there!

I wouldn't say I dread it but it's certainly not a break. It's much easier being at work!

I’m in Derbyshire @LondonTipton99 .

I cannot wait for the day I get a lie in.

It is hard at that age: its the relentless pressure to be entertaining them and constantly being touched, asked questions etc. It's very normal but pretty hard work.

I found being outdoors really helped. I found days when you are forced to be indoors unbearably stressful. Can't bear being cooped up indoors all day at the best of times. Didn't love softplay but it has its uses. Park, obviously, and little train rides to green spaces. Museums. Swimming pool. My daughter used to go to a messy play thing on Saturday mornings which was brilliant: I could leave her there for an hour and get a coffee/read the papers.

It does pass. I think you just have to get through it.

Are you on your own? Maybe have a look at some parents meet up groups nearby (safety in numbers, you get to chat to adults, kids tire themselves out playing with other kids in the park maybe)

I have to admit we did tag team when the kids were little. He would take them out to the park/cafe/to visit his parents on a Saturday morning and I’d stay home. I’d do a few jobs that were hard to do with the kids around then have a quiet half hour with a cup of tea.

Kids don’t need to be constantly entertained though. Plonk them in front of the tv all morning and enjoy your coffee. I used to prep the morning snacks and lay them out on the counter. So they could even get up and make it downstairs before us and could happily be munching on the breakfast while I was still in bed reading.

Plan something for yourself into every weekend. So yes, we’d do the plod around NT and an ice cream. Or trip to the beach for an afternoon. But I’d also hand them off to Dh and go do a 5 mile hike one afternoon or go take a 2 hour nap or go for a coffee while he takes them to the park. He would similarly go do something another time. We also divide and conquer. They’re much easier solo than together and bickering so we’ll split and do different things for an afternoon.

I don’t dread them but I do stress myself out massively trying to plan stuff. Usually activities take up some time but they’re all on a break at the moment. I’ve actually decided I’m not going force it this weekend and just have a chilled one. They need downtime too sometimes. Lie in, late breakfast, films, park and maybe gym for me and my eldest. That’ll do.

I love play groups just as much as the kids

Being outdoors can help to a point but it’s not a magic bullet. Bags and sun cream and hats and water and you do have to come home at some point and manage it so the younger one doesn’t have a danger nap. It’s also very busy anywhere outdoors at this time of year.

I’m not aware of any parent meet ups Saturday or Sunday but will have a look around.

I hate going out on weekends, my husband and I both work from home and currently home educate, we tend to stay in on weekends and always get a massive shock when we do go out at how busy everywhere is.

One of our neighbours commented that we never leave the house, she literally can't grasp that we go out for the day several times a week but it's always within work hours.

Sod all this no screen time bollocks put the TV on and enjoy your coffee, even give them breakfast in front of the TV it wont do any harm twice a week.

I used to love putting them in my bed and watching cbebbies for an hour in the morning while i have a coffee

Have something to look forward to that’s just for you. Get up and out one morning while your partner has the children. Or he takes them out and you have some time alone.

Meet-ups with others really helps too. You get to talk to other adults while the children play.

Bloody hell. Fuck guidelines. Get your feet up with a cuppa and stick the Jungle Book on. Some of my most nostalgic memories are lying on a threadbare carpet watching Saturday morning cartoons.