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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

Hate the weekends

19 replies

NightTimeRain · 10/12/2023 16:34

Do any other single parents hate the weekends? My kids never want to go anywhere so spend most weekends stuck in the house. They don’t see their father so no free weekends like most single mums. Just feel trapped sat in every weekend can’t even nip to the shops too young to be left alone

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Hmmmbetterchangethis · 10/12/2023 16:37

Tell them you’re all going out and go to the park/a walk/library/look round local garden centre at the Xmas displays/pets for sale etc, depending on age.

If they’re too small to be left at home alone, they’re too young to dictate what happens.

contactus · 10/12/2023 16:37

how old are your kids?

i book things and then we go. Sometimes they aren’t enthusiastic. But they don’t have a choice. We go. They enjoy.

and if nothing booked… they will come on a long dog walk. again, some things unenthused but always does them good

10 and 14

Original poster

NightTimeRain · 10/12/2023 16:39

I was told forcing them to go to things if they don’t want to is child abuse on a parenting group I’m on!

OP posts:

BCBird · 10/12/2023 16:42

Wat a load of nonsense re group. If u want to go somewhere and they are too young to be left then they go with you.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 10/12/2023 16:42

NightTimeRain · 10/12/2023 16:39

I was told forcing them to go to things if they don’t want to is child abuse on a parenting group I’m on!

🤣🤣🤣

contactus · 10/12/2023 16:43

NightTimeRain · 10/12/2023 16:39

I was told forcing them to go to things if they don’t want to is child abuse on a parenting group I’m on!

leave that rather bizarre sounding parenting group

unless they are meaning getting the child in a head lock and dragging them

contactus · 10/12/2023 16:43

do you never ever make your children do anything Op?

LilyThePinksDealer · 10/12/2023 16:43

Being a lone parent myself with their fathers not involved - mine spent plenty of weekends at the park when money was tight, or save for trip to the kids club cheap cinema tickets and popcorn out the pound shop. Making a Sen in the front room with pillows and blankets and hot chocolate.

No point hating when you can make a change.

contactus · 10/12/2023 16:43

that they say they don’t want to?

and how old are we talking here?

DGPP · 10/12/2023 16:44

So funny that anyone would think it’s child abuse to get kids off screens, going for a walk, seeing things outside, experiencing new things. Most people would call it good parenting

TomatoSandwiches · 10/12/2023 16:45

NightTimeRain · 10/12/2023 16:39

I was told forcing them to go to things if they don’t want to is child abuse on a parenting group I’m on!

Well.... that's quite ridiculous, you do know that... don't you?

SecondUsername4me · 10/12/2023 16:46

If they are too young to be left home alone then they are young enough to he told "we are going out. Shoes on"

Ok so the first few times they do it they'll be whingey fuckers, but if they get used to the fact that you always do a walk once a weekend, and they can do screens and stuff when they get back, then it'll get easier.

Are there any local things you can drop them at for a few hours? A dance class? There's a small town farm near us does a two hour animal feeding slot £5 per dc, and you drop and collect.

idontlikealdi · 10/12/2023 16:47

How old?

LemonNLime99 · 10/12/2023 16:48

NightTimeRain · 10/12/2023 16:39

I was told forcing them to go to things if they don’t want to is child abuse on a parenting group I’m on!

You're doing what people on a random parenting group tell you to, which is to allow your child to do nothing you tell them to. Stop being daft, make plans, and tell your kids what plans are for the weekend. If they don't like it that's just tough.

MintJulia · 10/12/2023 16:52

Don't talk any notice of the 'forcing them to go anywhere is child abuse'. That's rubbish.

My ds wanted to give up karate lessons because he couldn't be bothered to get off his bottom.. That's 5 years ago and now he's training for black belt and enjoying it. Equally he didn't want to carry on with swimming because he wanted to play Minecraft all day instead. Now years later he's a club swimmer with a social life.

As a mum I know the difference between my ds just being lazy, and when he really doesn't like something.

I always told him he had to do two things per weekend. I didn't mind what - his choice - but staying in all weekend wasn't happening. Use your judgement.

skyeisthelimit · 10/12/2023 16:55

Their age is important here, but at the end of the day you are the parent and they should do what you want, not the other way around. I would make plans to do things that me and DD would enjoy and then tell her what we were doing.

If it is because of gaming that they don't want to leave the house, then the biggest favour you could do them would be to switch the game off and get out.

It is not child abuse to make them do things, it's just life.

Original poster

NightTimeRain · 10/12/2023 17:28

11 9 and 6

OP posts:

FlowerBarrow · 10/12/2023 18:09

No they are young enough to go where you say. The 11yr old may be able to be left for a short time if you’re taking the younger ones nearby.

dreamingdays · 10/12/2023 18:11

Book an activity club for them on a Saturday. Just to get out the house for a couple of hours makes such a difference.

Or maybe work a treat into an outing. E.g. visit the museum, grab a milkshake on the way or something.

Even if you drag them round the supermarket it makes a change from being stuck in.

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