What to do with 9 year old boy...

[PolkSaladLucie]

Hi -

My cousin has recently asked me to look after her nine year old son for a few weeks (probably possibly longer than that) and I don't have a clue what to do with him at the weekends or after school. We've just been to the park a lot - but when the weather's bad I don't have many options. I also have a 14 week old daughter of my own, so need things where I don't need to join in...

Thanks guys xxx

Not sure about what you can do with them really, but hope you don't mind me asking why your cousin has asked you to look after her son when you have a small baby of your own? ?

Her partner has walked out on her and she has two year old twins (who she also asked me to look after) and is 8 months pregnant...

Oh dear - her partner=tosser!
It is very difficult to think of things that you can do with him that will not include you getting involved. Do you have any friends without kids, or with kids his sort of age that could help you out so you are not having to do it all alone? Where in Maidstone are you? I have a 10 month old and have only looked after my dp's 8 yr old dd and my ds once - it was testing to say the least! So I can't even begin to imagine it with a 14 week old. I'll try to have a think about what sort of things you could do.

Also, I know she is having a rough time, but please don't be tempted to also take on the twins - I really think it would be too much for you to cope with having to deal with toddlers, a 3 month old and a 9 year old!

Well, I've said I'll come with her when she goes to see her consultant at the hospital, and I can look after the twins then. She's asked me to have them when she goes into labour, and I've said only if my husband is around. I've looked after them all before, but at there own house - which makes such a difference. I'm sure I could do it, but not sure I want to .

Are you the only person that can help her out? Does she have any parents/siblings/close friends? Once the baby comes, she will need a lot of support and I don't think that only you will be able to offer that as it is too much for one person. Obviously help out when she is in labour, but in the long term she will need to work out some way of being able to look after them. Is her partner totally out of the picture? Is he planning to help look after the kids at all?

Just been having a think - do you have a car? If so, you could go to Groombridge Place at Tunbridge Wells where there are lots of things a 9 yr old would love, or to a swing park with climbing frames, or to Monkey Biz or such like (or is he too old for that?). Sometimes they have things on at the hop farm, or you could go to Wildwood or some sort of animal park. Just a shame that all these things cost money!

He's compleatly gone - but her ex (her son's dad) is a nice guy, so he might be able to help out more. He's in Liverpool though, so not exactly local.

My aunt died a few years ago, my other cousin lives in the US and my uncle is on a boat in the Greek islands!

I do have a car, so I can ferry him around, but did want to keep costs down, and don't want to take him to things too young/old for him... At the moment he seems happy with my husband's 360 and guitar collection!

I'm absolutely stunned to hear that he's completely gone! So he is just abandoning his two kids, and will never see his new baby. Feel so sorry for your cousin, and for you having to deal with all this - if you need any more help just let me know x