Fed up

[HelloKittyFan]

Is anyone else just fed up? we don’t go out after 3pm all week as my kids are always “too tired” after school, now the weekend comes and they dont want to go out because a game of theirs is updating at a certain time!? I had a day out planned today and no one wants to go because of this, I can’t take one child as I have no one to leave the others with 😒

Who is in charge?

How old are your children? It's perfectly normal for kids not to want their free time to be organised by their parents once past a certain age.

8 and 11 yes I forced them out in the end but that isn’t the point it was completely miserable and no one enjoyed it so left wondering why I bother.

I’d have stuff planned in advance - tomorrow we are going …. We need to be ready to leave at … . It might be worth planning to be up and out in the morning before any computers have gone on then they can come home for some chill time later in the afternoon. I’m surprised dc of that age struggle to go out on weekday afternoons though. Most would have clibs/hobbies on or be out with friends. Also, surely you can leave the 11 year old for a short time while you take 8 year old out ?

They are both under assessment for autism so perhaps that plays a part as they need more down time than others after school. Anyway this event had been planned for months they knew it was happening but like I said it was a complete disaster anyway so won’t bother again.

It’s tricky as they might not want to do the same thing (the 8 and the 11 year old)

I have an 8 year old and I say to her the day before what do you want to get out of tomorrow? And if she says she wants to play on the iPad I say to her ok let’s mark that down on the pad. What after that? She then she has to think of something else! Say she says watch a film on tv I say ok - what else?

At the end of it we have a few things that include her iPad and the tv, but also non device things and then I add on some things I need to achieve like go to post office and I also add in (if it’s a weekend) lunch out or dinner out.

maybe something to try?

Also would both be up for ten pin bowling and the arcade machines that are usually located at bowling alleys etc? There’s also laser tag.