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Tips for how to enjoy family life

23 replies

Notoironing · 02/04/2022 16:28

I have dc aged 9,6,3. Both work and life is so draining.
I so want to enjoy life when everyone is home at the weekends etc but it’s just not enjoyable at all. Spend all the time picking up after them, cleaning, making food, no one seems to know how to entertain themselves without making a huge mess.
My oldest is at an age where she doesn’t want to go outside and play. She’s always been really creative but seems less interested in the things she used to like doing at home.
Please can I have best tips for how to enjoy things?

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florianfortescue · 02/04/2022 16:53

My kids are younger - 3 years and a newborn - but I find the only way is to go out as much as possible. Even a morning at home is enough to have me climbing the walls. We do lots of day trips out or an activity in the morning, home for lunch then out again.

Sometimes the excursions are simply to the supermarket, park, car wash, anything really, as long as it's out of the house!! (Other times we do fun things like swimming or the local petting farm or soft play, but we can't always afford it.)

Notoironing · 02/04/2022 17:32

We used to always be out, but I think a combination of the lockdowns and my older ones getting older means it’s a huge struggle now to get them all to go out. I also find it not as enjoyable as it used to be. They all like different things and it can be expensive to do the things they actually like. We need them to be able to keep themselves occupied at home. We don’t do iPads but I sometimes wonder if the key to a harmonious household is more screen time as I don’t know any other families with primary aged kids who don’t have games consoles and tablets!

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JennySpanner · 02/04/2022 17:39

Don't beat yourself up about screen time and don't put pressure to "do something" every day. If they want to have the odd chill out day at home occupied on their screens whilst you get some peace and also a chance to recharge then you'll all have more of an appetite to get out and do other things together on occasion.

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Stonemattress · 02/04/2022 18:14

I so want to enjoy life when everyone is home at the weekends etc but it’s just not enjoyable at all. Spend all the time picking up after them, cleaning, making food, no one seems to know how to entertain themselves without making a huge mess.

Yes, can totally relate to this. Organising a day out seems like a big effort (similar aged children) and youngest dc is in defiant mode. Weekends seem largely home based (and chore based). Weekdays when dc are at school/pre-school is more of weekend for me and as I don't currently work, I make sure this time is largely for me and I am usually out of the house. I have reversed things around a bit so that I get chores done at the weekend then have (some) weekdays as a bit of down time.

I have booked a few low-key things for Easter hols for dc but there again I am not racing to go away/big trips out and have not yet booked a family holiday. Not sure what the answer is op, watching this thread with interest. I do feel some guilt about this but I am also hugely peri-menopausal which is not helping the situation.

ItsReallyOnlyMe · 02/04/2022 18:22

Unfortunately what you describe seems to come with the territory with those age children.

One thing I did find worked with my children at similar ages was making pizzas together. Everyone can do it, at least 1 meal is made and everyone can join in tidying up when the pizzas are cooking.

Only 1 idea - hopefully you'll get more.

BigGreen · 02/04/2022 18:24

Ugh I'm in the same place too. Life seems such a drudge. I think 2 years of lockdowns and a total news doom and gloom isn't helping. I feel like running away but I know it will be same shit, different place!

Notoironing · 02/04/2022 18:25

Thanks for the replies. Stonemattress, have you always not worked … wondering how does it compare as I currently work 4 days and dh is 70 hour weeks and I would like to give up on employment, maybe freelance or at least reduce my days. There is a tonne of stuff which just never gets done and there are piles of stuff everywhere which is not conducive to a relaxing atmosphere!

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DogsAndGin · 02/04/2022 18:27

Read about mindfulness. If your life involves cooking and cleaning, for example, then try to find a way to make those things meaningful and enjoyable

gingerhills · 02/04/2022 18:37

A bit of structure helps.
Saturday morning - do a couple of hours household jobs. One of you takes the youngest one to the supermarket while the other two stay home and 'help' polish, dust, sort laundry, strip beds, do hoovering etc.

After that do something fun all together, like a board game and have lunch then go out to do something DC enjoy like going to the park, swimming, walk in the woods, cinema etc.

Get a sitter in the evening so you and DH can go out together.

Same sort of thing on Sunday - spend half a day doing stuff with DC and half a day doing jobs. But take it in turns to have half a day off doing your own thing, so you each have a chunk of time at weekends where the other one has DC and you get to go shopping/ to the gym/ get your hair done/ catch up with friends etc to recharge.

We had a lot more fun when

Notoironing · 02/04/2022 19:26

Thanks everyone, all good ideas.

I actually think I just need an extended break from work. I am burnt out since the pandemic, not just homeschooling, plus working with three small kids which was basically impossible but since September there has been so much illness and absence so I feel I’m always behind on everything. I might ask if I can either take a sabbatical or significantly reduce my days for a few months so I can get back on top of things and go back refreshed. I’ve become a bad and grumpy parent and I don’t like it.

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Stonemattress · 02/04/2022 21:26

Op, I have worked in the past - both full-time and part-time in corporate positions. We live fairly simply and an inheritance means I am able to take a break from work. I have not ruled out returning to work but the peri-menopause (I have had dc later) is playing havoc with my state of health (I can't take HRT). But having said that, I often wonder how I would manage to juggle dc and work and everything else with the peri aside. I have engrossing hobbies and a project I am working on so I am never bored. I am also able to fit in a bit more exercise which I find invaluable as I gained a fair bit of weight over lock-down. Overall, I feel my mental health has improved but then some people really thrive in their work and take pleasure from it so what is good for one person might not be for the next.

I think having some sort of structure would help (as previously mentioned) - I'm currently looking into swimming lessons for dc.

There are things I like to do with the dc - read to them, bake with them, watch films together, so I tend to do these sorts of things. I also take them to the local park when the weather is okay. The weather being not too great at the moment doesn't help things either. Also, husband will take them to the park/out on scooters/bikes - usually at my suggestion.

Autumn42 · 02/04/2022 21:38

We’ve got children of different age ranges and tend to find best thing is taking them out separately, sometimes on their own, sometimes with the sibling closest in age or some things we can all do bar the youngest e.g. crazy golf. Often it means one of us staying with the other children but sometimes arrange childcare so we can enjoy that family time together.

Autumn42 · 02/04/2022 21:40

Ps reading your further posts, yes definitely reduce your hours if you can too, your not going to enjoy family life if your burnt out with the current combination of work and family commitments

duvetdayforeveryone · 02/04/2022 21:45

Don't focus on the quantity of time spent together, but instead focus on the quality of time. We sit and eat breakfast together, then go off on our screens for a few hours :)

Solasum · 02/04/2022 21:48

First off, I’d make everyone really muck in with the house. Write a list of what needs to be done. Sit down all together and agree who will do what. 9 and 6 year old are both old enough to run a hoover round and pick up after themselves. Even three year old can ‘help’, put their dirty clothes in laundry, make bed etc. Emphasise that you are a team. It is not YOUR job to be a servant.

Be honest and say it is getting too much for you. Encourage the children to sort through their stuff and get rid of things they don’t want anymore. If they sell it on eBay they can keep the money etc.

Ask them what they want to do for a day. Have a day each where they can each choose exactly what to do. We have had some lovely simple pleasures like this. A midnight feast went down very well and DC often ask to do it again.

Food wise, again, get them on board. Ask them to come up with some ideas, from books or internet if they can’t think of anything. Ideally things they can help make. My 8 yo can make carbonara start to finish apart from draining boiling water for example. Have a themed day, if DC are studying Greece try and make some Greek food for example. It doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.

The thing I have found with DC is that time spent together when really focussed on each other, no devices, is really valued by all of us.

We like ‘reading days’ when we all get blankets/picnic rugs depending on time of year, then curl up with our own books and lots of snacks, just together.

We have also got into board games.

Margotshypotheticaldog · 02/04/2022 21:56

If your life involves cooking and cleaning, for example, then try to find a way to make those things meaningful and enjoyable
But they are not enjoyable. Well, cooking might be if it wasn't a necessity 7 days a week. Housework is a thankless drudge, it's a pain in the ass but it has to be done
I get up early on a Saturday, do some cleaning, all the laundry, and cook 2 dinners,then get out of the house for the rest of the day. Same thing on sunday, except dinner is already cooked. I drag the kids with me to their hobbies and my hobby, ignore any and all complaints. I also have a cleaner who comes around once a fortnight.

Margotshypotheticaldog · 02/04/2022 22:15

I also go to bed early and get up at 5.30/6am weekdays. I couldn't do that though until my 2 were better sleepers, so even at 3yr old the youngest was wandering the halls at night and I was like a zombie. I found those toddler years just so unbelievably stressful with work and family life. I look back on it now with horror still. Things do settle down a bit and become more enjoyable, but I know exactly where you are coming from.

Stonemattress · 02/04/2022 22:49

I agree about the sleeping aspect. My youngest dc often wakes in the night and/or wakes early and this doesn't help the situation at all.

scrivette · 02/04/2022 22:59

I have DC of a similar age and know how you feel.

Sometimes it is easier being out of the house with them, then I don't feel that I should be endlessly clearing up after them.

It doesn't have to be expensive, often a walk in the woods is great as the eldest run off and climb trees and the youngest often rides her balance bike so she can keep up a bit better. Taking a picnic/lots of snacks lengthens the time out too and I find that walking and being in the fresh air makes me more relaxed.

Notoironing · 03/04/2022 09:23

I think getting out is the answer. I am going to plan things to do outside for every free day and for the time we are at home I’m going to plan film and pizza nights.
I think with the lockdowns and then quite a lot of illnesses we have got used to being forced to stay in. We do have sports every day of the weekends but perhaps need to have a budget and plan for extra fun stuff.
Thanks everyone

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Notoironing · 03/04/2022 09:23

And yes a chores rota too!

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Spinakker · 03/04/2022 11:05

Maybe invite some friends over? Either one of the kids friends/more if you have space or even your friends. Having some different people around can change the atmosphere. Or divide up so you or dad take the ones who want to go out somewhere and the other ones stay at home chill/do chores.

EmmaInParis · 04/04/2022 14:56

Could you stick some headphones in and listen to a podcast or audiobook while you’re doing the housework? I’ve started doing that and honestly I look forward to it now 😂 it takes my mind off the drudgery and makes it an enjoyable bit of time where I get to enrich my mind a bit

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