Anyone else rubbish at being home with toddler?

[Needaholidayplease]

I work part time and I love doing stuff with my toddler. But I know that we can't be 'doing' stuff the whole time, he'd be knackered. I struggle with afternoons at home with him- he entertains himself a bit and we can do bits and pieces together but his concentration isn't great. I always end feel like a bit of a rubbish mum because the day drags so much/ I feel antsy and get a bit down.
Is anyone else rubbish at staying home? I guess the answer would be to work more, but I really do enjoy going out with my son and being there for him. I just don't like being at home!

I'm exactly like this too and didn't know it was a thing other people felt! I go out all the time - even just supermarket (toddlers love looking at the kids magazines), "big shops" where they can wander looking, parks, library, coffee shops , soft play . It's a long and boring day at home and I also end up feeling down! Best just to accept that's how you feel and stay busy out the house.

Currently on mat leave with 3mo DD2, do at home with her and DD1 who’s just turned 3. I’m used to working full time, and she’s used to constant stimulation at her grandparents (who play with her ALL day) and nursery.

You’d think as a primary teacher I’d have loads of ideas to keep us entertained….nope. Can’t bear being stuck at home with DD1 wanting me to play doctors etc all day. We do something every morning, usually a playdate or soft play, then home for lunch and either a walk into the village in the afternoon, or make full use of Disney+ if raining. I find that she gets much more from me if we’re out, e.g. we can chat and practise some maths/phonics etc while the baby naps in the buggy.

Funded pre school hours start at 3, so at least they’ll get lots of stimulation that way!

I feel like we’re in a habit of watching tv when at home... too much, I think! We go out a lot too, but now I feel like DD just doesn’t know how to play in the house 🙈

I'm crap at being at home, had to wait in for a parcel last week and I was on my 5th cuppa by about 11am. It's boring and so much harder than being out, and if I'm in I want to crack on with chores that need doing but these kids just don't let me.

Ds is ok at home more if he is ‘helping’. He never plays alone or even much with us.

So ideally out twice a day. Right now it’s dark early so afternoons he wakes around 3pm, I try and get him out for a quick walk before it’s too dark. 4-6pm he helps me clean, helps prep dinner, has early bath, FaceTime grandparents, potter around doing other bits with odd 10 mins here and there building duplo or whatever.

He was in his element this morning with kitchen fitter came to measure and he spent ages playing with a tape measure, scribbling on paper false measurements.

I have just upgraded sling to toddler size so we can still get out in the woods over winter. He’s now at the point of being able to walk a good 50% of the time, but nowhere fast

I am so glad other people go to a big supermarket as toddler entertainment