Why do we bother trying to do fun stuff??

[survivingthechildren]

I am just so burnt out by this weekend.

I always look forward to having the weekend to spend with my DH and DC, but I have spent the entirety of this weekend disciplining, listening to whinging, breaking up fights, etc. It just feels like whenever we try and do something nice, someone is always playing up.

We went on a picnic lunch in the botanical gardens today - cue the teens sulking and moaning due to electronics withdrawal, they barely grunted at us the whole time, and snapped at their younger siblings. The younger ones begged/whined for treats the whole time, and fought the remainder of the time. Ended with DS4 pushing DD into the stream where she grazed her elbow.

The little ones are like this sun up to sun down.

I just feel so down. Why the hell do we even bother trying to do fun things together - it wasn't even an onerous activity!! And yes, we do deal out consequences for bad behaviour, we don't cave into tantrums, so I don't know why the bloody hell they are like this!!

How do you choose your fun activities? Do you let the DCs get involved with making suggestions and choosing?

Could you call a family meeting, lay out your gripes, listen to theirs, start a suggestion box and make a plan?

Oh commiserations to OP.

I get tonnes of this; if they choose they don't choose to leave the house at all, or rather their choosing = sit in front of a screen all day & bicker about that instead. It's quite draining.

We adults have resorted to taking turns to go out & doing our own thing! Luckily DC are getting older so all but one can be left alone at home, which helps a huge amount.

Holidays: I consult with them closely, I check & explain repeatedly. Sure enough, the eldest gets homesick 2 weeks before & begs to not go at all, then he'll spend the whole time away with nose stuck in book/at screen or clamouring to do something irrelevant (3.5 days in London a lot of time was taken up finding Games Workshops for him). Meanwhile The middle boy departs without moaning but complains the whole time he's there that it's nothing like he expected and is always ready with a pavement tantrum to hold us all up.

Or they get lost for hours when we go to big venues (Desert wilderness, Wildlife park, Science museum) which puts a sour taste on the whole thing.

Currently trying hard to get little one to go out on a cycle ride (he suggested it but not yet convinced)

Thanks all. Am feeling better having had the DC at school all day had a good night's sleep.

lljkk you're not wrong about the blooming bickering. They don't need to be out and about for it to happen!! Since I've got DC over quite a widen span of ages, I find it difficult to think of things that we can all do together, and often the older ones are taken along on an activity that is too young for them. With a picnic I figured there was eating for the teenage boys and the playground for the younger ones.

Will take them all back to the drawing board and see what they say! What do you guys do for family activities?

Yep. Family day to the zoo yesterday (chosen by DC)

DD was fine, DS spent the whole time asking for ice cream, even when warned he wouldn't get one if he didn't stop asking (he then started pointing out ice creams and shops that sold ice cream)

DD walked for twenty minutes then refused to walk anymore and had to be carried. I couldn't wait to go home

I know!! Bloody maddening isn't it Pantone363. We just can't please them!