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Original poster

What's your half term looking like? Feeling annoyed

144 replies

JKW36 · 16/02/2021 11:33

Morning everyone
How is your week going so far? Have you left the house? We haven't. Because even though we are going stir crazy and are sick of walks anyway, we are staying home to stay safe and protect others. My kids a 6 and 9.
My mum rings me for a chat every day and tells me where they've been that day. My parents are mid 70s, reasonable health. Theyve had their first vaccine but they were doing this before.
They are moaning they are bored yet they go to a different shopping town every day, a different supermarket, banks, visit my grandmother multiple times a week and go for a walk and call round at multiple peoples houses daily for a doorstep chat! They are not technically braking any rules but their lives are still so full!! I suppose I'm jealous.
I cannot take two kids traipsing around towns, supermarkets and banks every day just because I'm bored because its not fair to others and I feel like it is increasing our risk of catching covid!
It's getting to the point where I'm very quiet when she rings and I just give her one word answers!
What are you parents doing this week to stay sane without putting others at risk?

OP posts:
Original poster
JKW36 · 16/02/2021 12:22

@51Rosehip yes it is at the moment! Obviously not usually!

My 2 are just on screens alot. They both hate going out for walks in winter and moan the whole time. It's not pleasant at all. During the summer we are usually a very outdoorsy family but we tend to hibernate in winter. We are in the Midlands so no beaches.
I just don't think its right to take the children who don't wear masks into shops multiple times a week.

OP posts:
PhantomErik · 16/02/2021 12:24

Took the DC for walk round the woods for a couple of hours yesterday which was nice. Long baths for them when we got home.

Today started with pancakes, they're now on screens & it's raining.

If the weather's bad for the rest of the week they'll be a lots of screens with some crafts & cooking but we're all enjoying the break from schoolwork.

Iggly · 16/02/2021 12:24

Walking every day, breaking up the day with screen time, board (bored 😂) games, baking, films etc.

Yes it is dull as fuck.

Northernsoulgirl45 · 16/02/2021 12:25

Staying home with kids today as I am poorly. Will probably play monopoly later and maybe the kids will make pancakes.
Was hoping to have a wild day out at the bank and a different supermarket. Need to take money out of kids account and we don't have a branch in our Town.

Armi · 16/02/2021 12:26

I am feeling under pressure to break the rules this half term. My mother, who lives about 45 miles away, wants to meet up, which would mean going beyond what anyone would deem to be ‘local’ (although now I’ve said that, this being MN there will be 1500 people saying that 45 miles is local as they live in the middle of nowhere and that’s how far it is to the Co-op). It would also mean breaking the rules on only meeting one person for exercise, as there would be three of us meeting my mother. I feel very uncomfortable with this but my mother is painting it as me not wanting to see her and that I’m being completely ridiculous. She is mid 70s and is out every day meeting up with others for walks and take away coffee. I know it will seem ridiculous to the ‘do what you like’ brigade, but I am very much a rule follower and approval-seeker, so the combination of rule breaking and parental disapproval is making me feel a bit wobbly. I hate this crap.

ceeveebee · 16/02/2021 12:26

We went for a walk yesterday and DH has taken for a bike ride today. Weather looking ropey later in the week so will be doing indoor stuff then.

Have you tried geocaching? Might be more interesting than a plain walk

Teachernamechange · 16/02/2021 12:27

Well as I'm at home for bin collection day, I might mix it up a little and dress up to take my bin out - maybe my wedding dress.

I also went to the bank yesterday to resolve an issue. It was pretty exciting.

Baked a cake today.

Yes am bored but grateful for downtime too.

Cripesitsthegasman19 · 16/02/2021 12:28

For crying out loud, you can take them to a playground

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 16/02/2021 12:29

Had a shit day yesterday - just bored and daughter had attitude.
So today l got up, made pancakes for breakfast then made a cake and we are going to go for a walk. Weather is shit so won't be a long one but jeez l hope schools go back soon

Thatwentbadly · 16/02/2021 12:32

I have a reception aged child and a toddler. Things are much better than the previous weeks as we have had some proper snow and then weather has warmed to a balmy 9c so we’ve been able to play in parks. Hot chocolate in insulated cups for the walk back. I’ve never been so happy to go to the local park.

Beamur · 16/02/2021 12:33

I like the idea of a jar which you put ideas in for when you're bored.
DD has a challenge this week from Rangers (older Guides) to do something outdoors every day.
So far, she's been icicle hunting, on a hike with a friend and we're going to do some gardening this afternoon. Planning to go star gazing tomorrow night if it's clear and trying to think up a couple more!
I think we're all very bored, but there's still things to do. Dig deep! Grin
I feel some retro fun coming on at home. DD has started watching Minecraft tutorials again, I might buy some play doh...

RedskyBynight · 16/02/2021 12:34

If you're an outdoorsy family then there is absolutely no problem with telling your children to put on suitable outdoor clothing and taking them out to a park. And at 6 and 9, they don't get to choose (well, they can choose which park you go to). Surely you didn't spend school holidays before Covid traipsing them round shopping centres in their school holidays?

TheOrigRights · 16/02/2021 12:37

I'm working 1/2 days this week. I have wfh for many years so that's nothing new.
Obviously there are no sports camps for DS11 so he's with me (single parent).

Under the rules, he is permitted to exercise with one person outside his household, so he meets up with a good friend to play football. Not every day, but at the w/e and hopefully most days over 1/2 term.
That hour with his mate makes a HUGE difference to us all.

If he's not meeting his mate then we go for a walk. The frozen fields were lovely while they lasted, but we're back to the mud now.

I get out for a run/bike or walk every day. I can leave DS alone for a bit, though I struggle to reconcile that it's OK for me to be away from him after I've finished work so that I can exercise.

I don't have my parents any more. I am close to ex's parents. His Dad is in a care home, which had a few odd cases of covid, so I haven't seen him since the week before Xmas.
Ex's Mum is CEV but pretends she doesn't understand the rules. It makes me cross. I just tell her over and over that in the same way she can make her own choices, I can choose not to see her so I don't put her at risk. This was more of a concern when DS was at school.

buttheywereonlysatellites · 16/02/2021 12:37

@JKW36 can't you take you kids out the the park? Cycling? Skating? Scooting?
Yesterday we went for a reasonably long walk and had a takeout hot choc and cake. This afternoon we'll kick a ball around the park. Tomorrow we'll go skating. On Sunday we went for a bike ride. These things are interspersed with a lot of screen time, but it's really important to get outside. Doesn't have to involve trips to the supermarket and bank!

Kottbullar · 16/02/2021 12:38

Good grief I couldn't be doing with speaking to my Mum on the phone daily!

Do you do this usually or is it just at the moment?

DBML · 16/02/2021 12:42

@Cripesitsthegasman19

For crying out loud, you can take them to a playground
My 15 (nearly 16) year old is refusing. What should I say?
CeeJay81 · 16/02/2021 12:48

Went to the park yesterday, now it's says showers or heavy rain all week! I can't be bothered going out then having to come home on the rain. Going to be a long week.

Original poster
JKW36 · 16/02/2021 12:56

@Cripesitsthegasman19 the playgrounds here are rammed and I just don't feel comfortable with it I'm afraid.

OP posts:
Thatwentbadly · 16/02/2021 12:58

@DBML at that age then just leave them at home.

Original poster
JKW36 · 16/02/2021 12:59

@RedskyBynight

If you're an outdoorsy family then there is absolutely no problem with telling your children to put on suitable outdoor clothing and taking them out to a park. And at 6 and 9, they don't get to choose (well, they can choose which park you go to). Surely you didn't spend school holidays before Covid traipsing them round shopping centres in their school holidays?
No we definitely didn't spend our time in shopping centres! Lol We are an attraction loving family. Our weekends used to consist of visiting theme parks, cinema, play centres, trampoline parks, climbing centres, seaside trips, meals out with friends and family. Things like that. We are missing it dreadfully
OP posts:
DBML · 16/02/2021 13:03

[quote Thatwentbadly]@DBML at that age then just leave them at home.[/quote]
I thought it might look a bit weird just me and my husband.

Buffy81 · 16/02/2021 13:04

Normally My 2yr old is running around in circlest trying to destoy or the place or clinging to me so that I cant catch up on washing the sheets and making the beds as not in nursery today, 6yr old watching cbeebies but wants to be playing lego worlds said has to wait until daddy is home for that as its on the ps4. Would take them out for a walk but its currently chucking it down . Even if it was nice, still cant take them to the park as the council have closed them all.

we baked cakes yesterday with the 6yr old as the 2yr old was at nursery (goes twice a week) Will have to wait and see how the rest of the week pans out as I have the week off work as we are trying not to use grandparents for childcare as they are doing school pick ups as we are both keyworkers and neither of our jobs can be done from home

Lubiluxe · 16/02/2021 13:05

Please take your children outside.

Lulu1919 · 16/02/2021 13:10

We stayed home all weekend but yesterday ad today I've taken an hours walk .
Weather a bit rubbish here !

RightOnTheEdge · 16/02/2021 13:15

Are you not taking your children outside at all?
Mine are on screens far too much at home, but also playing board games, cooking and reading to me.

We went to the park yesterday and it made a massive difference to the mood of us all they had lots of fun and the fresh air and a bit of exercise cheered us all up.
We do bike/ scooter riding and geocaching to make walks a bit more interesting.