Days out if you don’t have many friends

[Summermum123]

What do you do all summer if you don’t have many friends with other children? Do you has days out alone? I absolutely hate it and always feel surrounded by other parents with their friends, am I alone ??!

My favourite days out are the ones with just me and DC!

Hey, mum of one (newborn) here!
I suffer from quite bad social anxiety and therefore don't have too many friends.

I find to get out the house, I take my daughter and dog for walks, especially around my local village / walking trails or parks.
I have had strangers approach me and strike up conversation, and I feel a little more comfortable talking when I have a solid grounds for conversation (baby!).
It gets us out of the house, and can keep me from only performing baby talk for hours on end...

Not only this, but I'm sure if you have social media you could join local mum groups! I haven't tried this as I don't have anything like Facebook or anything, but I'm sure that's a possibility!!

Good luck!

@girlmom21 I love their company too! I just feel quite conscious and maybe a bit lonely ? Wish I didn’t though!

It's reasonable to feel lonely if there are no other parents around you can chat with. Could the grandparents come on a day out or do you have any siblings?

It was always just me and the kids in the holidays. We were always out and about. They would sometimes go to a friend's house to play but other than that it was the just the 3 of us. Enjoy it - they'll be teenagers before you know it and won't want to do it anymore...😔

I always used to take mine out on their own in the holidays too. Not that I didn't have any friends, but that I preferred it. Much easier to be spontaneous. To change plans due to the weather. To cut the day short if tantrums / bad behaviour happens. To be more flexible about eating - both times and what you have.
I very rarely went with another family - it just adds on layers of complication and stress.

It's much easier going out without friends! I've only done it a couple of times and have avoided it ever since as most of their kids are horrible spoiled brats and my dd has an awful time with them.
Only one friend has a lovely child who my dd likes spending time with, taken them out a few times but I do enjoy mum and daughter time!

I've never really enjoyed days out with friends and their kids. My heart sinks a bit when they suggest it! I'd much rather just go out with friends in the evenings without the kids so we can catch up properly.

I suppose if your kids are really good friends with theirs it might work but otherwise I think it's less stressful to go just with your own family. As PP said you're then in control of timings, activities, when to go home etc so I find it much easier.

I usually just go out with the kids - I find it a right hassle going with friends. Everyone turns up at a different time, everyone has competing needs, everyone prefers a different lunch time or nap if they're young, there's always the one mum who says yes to a pile of sweets or ice cream and then my kid is screaming because I won't let him have a calippo at 10.30am....

I'd rather have short playdates at someone's house or at the park with friends and save the days out for just us.

I’ve been thinking this lately... other people do seem to be in groups and it’s generally only me and my kids. Sometimes I feel like maybe me and mine are missing out but then sometimes it is easier without the extra kids to upset the Apple cart is to speak...

When they get older they make their own friends.

@Blippibloppi oh I wish I could think like you 🤣 like @Ilikecheeseontoast I too notice it a lot recently!

It's always me and my dd or her friend comes along too.

It's usually the CF friends who can't be arsed looking after their own kids who want to go out in a group as they rely on everyone else to look after them.

@Blippibloppi

I usually just go out with the kids - I find it a right hassle going with friends. Everyone turns up at a different time, everyone has competing needs, everyone prefers a different lunch time or nap if they're young, there's always the one mum who says yes to a pile of sweets or ice cream and then my kid is screaming because I won't let him have a calippo at 10.30am....

I'd rather have short playdates at someone's house or at the park with friends and save the days out for just us.

This - I found days out with friends really stressful because of exactly this.