How do you....?

[Geordiebabe85]

I've got a 3 (nearly 4) yo and a 1 (nearly 2) yo. I'm not a single mum but might as well be. I just need help with how to do certain things with both kids.

1. Playgrounds. We can tackle the small local playground ok but I'm talking about a much bigger one at a large park. How do you keep an eye on both at once? Do you just avoid them? And the same with soft play. I feel like I can't leave the 1 yo and then 3 yo just goes off.

1. Bedtime. Do you read the youngest a story and get them settled and then go to the oldest? Both kids still want me in the room with them until they're asleep.

1. Something like a farm / zoo. If I were alone with both kids I'd want to keep the youngest in his buggy but that seems really unfair.

Any tips I'll gladly take!

I had 2 years between my three children. Playgrounds and softplays I just found ones that I knew I could do alone hall type softplays and toddler groups were a godsend. Parks and local trail walks etc where it was more enclosed or I knew eldest could do all the equipment.

Days out I would take buggy, at this point I would have youngest holding hand and expect the 3/4 year old to be able to stay close by or hold the other hand. One warning and whoever doesn't listen has to go in buggy and they soon learnt to stay close.

Rope in friends and family. We'd do something with the kids to tire them out then go sit in a cafe or pub for lunch after. It did help that my friends had kids around the same time as me though. Or we'd all meet at one house, kids played together and we chatted.

You're not on your own so it's a bit insensitive to post here. Maybe say why your partner isn't bothering, but at the end of the day you're in a relationship so don’t have to dealing with being utterly alone night and day.
You can learn to manage two kids on your own. Many do. Or are forced to.
Rope him in to face his responsibilities.

Ooh I like the idea of just taking the buggy and using it if they don't stay by you. Thank you!

I apologise for any offence caused. As soon as I can get everything in order I will be a single parent.

What you say is also insensitive. You could rope in your ex. You have no idea of op's circumstances, her partner could be an abusive, volatile twat for all you know.

Also, if she'd told you she was single you'd have been none the wiser, so maybe just take it at face value.