To be depressed we are only halfway through the summer holidays

[blackcurrantsuponus]

I know, I’m going to get a load of YABUs as I love this time with my precious children’ but there are still three weeks left, I’m skint and having to muster the enthusiasm for another day out because the alternative is worse!

Many years ago
as do I
so I am not going to tell the Op all the amazing stuff o have been doing with my teenagers this summer!

And of course things like ‘we went to see Bruno Mars because my child got tickets as a birthday gift’ rather relies on someone having bought your child expensive concert tickets as a gift…
Honestly people who are unable (or more likely unwilling) to acknowledge that it’s not a level playing field blow my mind, and not in a good way.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your summer.

Yes it was. The farm opened up after 5pm to families as long as you bought a drink there.

Like I said, look for deals.

Apparently @ZestLemon would also take them to a Bruno mars concert, paddle boarding, roller skating and lots of “roasts”😂

While you might point out these are cheap, I don't think they are to everyone (it's already been pointed out that TAs are on a low wage!).
Not sure if you have deliberately only included examples of prices for one person, else if that is the total cost then you are very lucky!

For us with meerkat movies the cinema still cost £16 (1 adult, 2 children, we took our own snacks).
The nearest free farm to us would be a drive, so petrol costs. Then there isn't really much to do (its small and probably more interesting for toddlers). Not sure whether yours is interactive or if you did any add ons?
Trampoline park is £26 for two children for 1 hour near me. That's only a basic trampoline park too which mine now find boring. If we want to go to a more interesting one then price is higher plus you then have a 45 mins drive (so extra petrol money).
Ice creams are not a few quid here. £3.50 is probably the average. So even if I buy for just the 2 children it's £7.

Personally I found it easier when the kids were little (which I know goes against what the OP is currently experiencing) as everything now with my kids costs money whereas when 4 and 5 mins would do the free stuff!

It makes me wonder what the heck they’re like in RL!

My niece is also 3 so I fully understand what its like. 😂

So not free? You had to buy a drink.

Yes... I bought the bloody tickets!

Would you have taken a 3 year old?

Our holidays ended on the 10th and I do miss the ease of holidays, not having to deal with all the extra curriculars or reminding DS to do his homework, but it is nice to have them both back in good routines and not having to worry about DS home alone and whether he remembered to brush his teeth or eat breakfast.

So you had to go after 5pm and you had to buy drinks. How much were the drinks?

Yes it is free, they just requested people bought a drink.
It wasnt mandatory.
They didn't go up to people and demand they bought a drink.
Lots bought drinks, cakes... some didn't.
Its still free.

What’s the name of this incredible farm?

But that isn't free. It is expected you buy a drink. While some didn't, that would seem awkward (and perhaps if lots of people did this then the owners would notice and not do this again).

Guessing drinks are around £3-4? So again if taking two children that's £6-8 plus if you got one too then over £10.

Yes, I have took my niece paddleboarding, she has a life jacket and I get on with her. 😂

Its called doing stuff with your kids.

And therefore cost money. Plus presumably the transport to the venue etc.
Im genuinely not sure if you’re being deliberately obtuse…
As an adult, surely you know that none of those things are ‘cheap’ for a lot of people. And the deals you mention are only relevant if we all live in the same place as you. There are no deals on farms or paddle boarding anywhere near me 🤷🏻‍♀️.
Are you aware that different people have different incomes/have different circumstances? And if not, what rock do you live under?

Well life costs money.
It beats spending £100 on a day out, you cant have everything. Sometimes people need to put their hand in their pocket when its coming up to a fiver.

@ZestLemon - can you say where the paddle boarding is free? Just the general area, so it's not outing. I know of a family who would really benefit from this.
Thanks

Lots of areas have different deals and days out cheap. People are too lazy to bother looking and their kids miss out and then they whine that they want them back to school asap.

How would you handle taking a 3 year old and a 5 year old paddle boarding alone oh wise one?

What’s sad… is that that judgement probably seeps in to your day to day conversation with your kids.

And so they grow up judging others, scorning others, feeling superior.

I hope your kids are nicer, more empathetic and less judgemental than you.

Hopefully they will enjoy spending time with their kids too.

The thing is these things aren't always available to everyone. A few years ago we went to a great weekly drop in (which was part of the HAF scheme but they opened it to everyone). It was 10 til 3 and you could go for as little or long as you wanted. Clearly the uptake was the wrong demographic and they now only run this as a bookable event to those who meet the criteria and have the code to access HAF schemes.

I find there are several things for young children in my area (the library generally has free crafts for example and story time) but once you get to 10-11 then you are stuck.