Average Week?

[healthyobsessions]

Random question but what does your week usually look like in terms of time spent with your DC? What do they do when they get back from school on a weekday? Do they play on their own or in their rooms? What does an average weekend look like? Do you have set 'family time' and if so, what do you do?
I'm asking because I feel so so guilty if I don't do something 'fun' with my DD EVERYDAY :( I'm scared she perhaps watches to much TV and I'm scared if she spends to long in her bedroom playing.... I'm just generally so scared of becoming a bad mum and not noticing :( also, she's just started Reception so going here there and everywhere isn't feasible through the week anymore....

[maddiesparks]

I have three DC, a toddler (21 months), a 5 year old just started in year one and a teenager. I work three days a week but am usually home by 4.30 to pick up from childminders and out of school club. On the days I work when we get in I usually put the tv on while I cook tea for everyone. The toddler usually plays with his trains or something happily while his big brother watches something. Teenager does his own thing, out with friends most weekends, playing football or at training etc. After tea I put the two youngest in the bath together, put toddler to bed and then spend some time with middle child either treading a story, playing cards or he does some reading to me or DH before he then goes to bed. On the days I don't work when we pick up middle ds from school we go out in the garden, occasionally meet friends in the park after school. Weekends tend to be family time but the two older boys do a lot of sports so our days are a little dictated by football matches. We usually have an afternoon out as a family of we can and visit grandparents and /or cousins for a couple of hours on a Sunday. Not always a lot of time to do days or trips out during term time to be honest.

[healthyobsessions]

Thank you so much for sharing that with me, I feel a little more normal now! I'm just terrified of getting the balance all wrong!

[maddiesparks]

Sounds like You're doing fine, it's good for them to be able to entertain themselves for a while - during the summer holidays I often felt I should be doing something with them when I was at home with them but to be honest they were often quite happy pottering around the house often doing their own thing. They soon let you know when they are bored!

[Misty9]

I've got a nearly five year old who just started reception and a 2.4 year old. I work part time and so does dh. After school we seem to be mostly in the garden at the moment but I imagine they'll play together indoors too. DD is really missing her playmate and comes to life when ds comes home! I don't really play with them directly very much as they entertain each other. Had a day with just me and dd today and we spent the day in town wandering and shopping. It's good for kids to learn how to occupy themselves :)

Most weekends we spend one day at home and go out for the other day. Maybe to the park or beach or something like an attraction. Or out for lunch quite often. Again they play with each other mostly, although dh is more hands on playing when he's with them but I get bored

I'm sure you're doing fine and, from one over-worrier to another, the worrying can affect DC more than the thing you are worrying about

[healthyobsessions]

Thanks ladies! That has reassured me tremendously as it sounds very much like the type of things I do. And your right, I am very much an over worrier!! And over analyser!

[rosesarered9]

DS1 (12) just sits in his room all day. On the upside, he does seem to get 90% of his knowledge from the internet and not from school.

[healthyobsessions]

Thanks for sharing

[Northend77]

I have twins who will be 2 in just over a month and my husband and I work full time so we get very little time with our girls in the week. They get up at 6:30 and we leave the house an hour later so the morning is generally taken up with a piece of toast with the TV on (they love Spongebob) whilst I get ready, then I get them ready and we head off to nursery for 8am. I pick them up at about 5:30, home at 6pm and they play for half an hour which I make sure I spend with them either in the garden, singing songs (as they are doing the actions more now) or another activity. Then they have some tea, bath and a story, by which time they are usually ready for bed at 7:30pm. So it's pretty much half an hour a day that we get with them!
Because of this I make sure that weekends are reserved for family time only - housework and shopping is banned (I have to do housework in the evening and any shopping at lunchtime and I do online food shopping which I collect on the way home once a week). We are usually at a park or indoor play area or pool (soon to be regular swimming lessons) at 9am and we generally stay out, with a picnic lunch or we stop off somewhere. They will then nap in the car on the way home and are put straight into their beds. In the afternoon it's back out, regardless of the weather, to some woods or to friends or playing in the garden. Sundays are usually arts and crafts (especially if we have birthday cards to make!), dog walking, baking. Basically anything where I can spend quality time with them - Pinterest is my best friend for ideas!!

[healthyobsessions]

Thank you so much for sharing that, sounds like the time you spend with them is full of fun things which is just lovely! Quality over quantity comes to mind... perhaps that's the attitude I should adopt rather than worrying over the actual number of hours I've spent playing etc....