Anyone else don’t like playing with their kids?

[Kmoggy]

Mum of 3(6,6&5) and I’m trying to spend some more time one on one with each of them to try and Counter act naughty behaviour. Trouble is I hate playing with them. Not sure why if it’s one or more things causing the block. I also have adhd which may be a f contributing factor to it, as the thought of having to set up an activity and tidy it away again sometimes feels too much so i avoid: I feel constantly exhausted too and life seems so busy to factor that time in, it needs to happen when hubby and I are home together as I can’t leave the other 2 unattended ( we work opposite shifts and the nights we are off together one of us is taking kids to clubs and other is home with the ones not out)
how do you all manage to divide your time enough to fill up each kids love tanks on a daily basis. !?

I would recommend not planning anything. Kids are amazingly adept at coming up with random games from not a lot. I also find it a bit boring but just throw myself in to it because I know he loves it (I have an only so he doesn’t have anyone at home to play with). If DS asks me to play with him I simply say yes and then let him lead. 9 times out of 10 it’s something random with his cars, but he’s happy so I don’t feel the need to do any thing special.

I hated it too-thankfully mine are a lot older and played with each other most of the time
we have a friend who’s dd is a sweet,polite,charming only child and if I hear her say ‘we need a plan’ one more time I will scream
oh and you’ll always get the shitty toy or be the shit part in the game-thems the rules

Half and half. I like playing with my son. We’re two peas in a pod. Wild, muddy, sporty, outdoorsy types. Somehow I, the feral tomboy, ended up with a girly girl for a daughter though and try as I will I just don’t enjoy the dressing up and make up or the dolly play or the make believe play she likes. Add that to when you do actually get her outside she doesn’t like getting wet or dirty, she cries at the slightest wee trips or tumbles (dangerboy is far more get up, dust yourself off and get back to it and will only yelp if it’s really bad) and she hates expending any energy at all. Really hope she grows out of it. But no, you’re not alone. Holidays are hell. We’re all geared up for Kayaking and she’s having a paddy coz “the waters cold and dirty” ugh!

Remember we’re in a heatwave right now and that might be a contributing factor. I think most parents are feeling like they have less to give. I did a puzzle with my daughter this morning and found it hard work. But on another day that would be something we would both enjoy.

Do you do anything with them at all?

Isn't that the reason to have a whole bunch of kids? There are like 5 years when my life was a blur (because I gave birth four times during that period), but once the youngest four got to be about preschool age, they pretty much wanted to play with each other. I'm always available for them, but in reality I am more of a chauffeur, cook, and ATM.

That said, because I have a large family, I'm sensitive to the need to spend one-on-one time with the kids, so that we have individual relationships and they are individuals, not just one of "the kids." But no, I'm not that great at playing dolls. So what I did (and continue to do) is to find ways to work in one-on-one time just in daily lifeif my younger daughter is doing homework, my older daughter and I fold the clothes together while she tells me about her day and who has a crush on whom and which teachers she doesn't like and all that kind of stuff. If one boy is holed up in his room, he gets nominated to be the one to go to the grocery store with me, and hopefully he will say more than 3 words in the car. Three of my kids are doing the same activity, and I just joined their class. One of the older ones, I taught him to cookand he's now in his first year at culinary school.

I knew that I was not going to be great at playing with trucks and dollhouses, but that isn't the only way to spend time with or relate to your kids. You just need to find what is natural and right and easy for you and yours.

I just joined Mumsnet. Why is half of my message Xed out? I didn't intend to do that.