My lovely DC are 1 and 3.
I've been thinking about how many activities with them feel tiring and like work, when the same activity done by myself or with a friend would feel like fun. Example, a leisurely stroll in our local woods, by myself or with a friend would feel relaxing, restful, would give me a boost, "refill my cup". The same activity with my children is tiring, draining, I almost want a break afterwards. This doesn't mean it was necessarily bad, I might have enjoyed it but ultimately feels like it has drained my energy not given me more energy. Same could be said for going swimming, out for lunch somewhere, days out , holidays etc.
Before kids, I often used to do days out with my own mum and I assume she found that relaxing and pleasant not an energy drain. I remember going on walks, holidays, trips with my parents as a child/teenager and having genuine fun and feeling buoyed afterwards...and now I wonder whether my parents felt the same or whether it was often hard work for them and they quite looked forward to getting home.
So, if you have older children, is there a point when doing "fun" activities with them, started to feel genuinely fun and relaxing or does it always continue to feel quite hard work until they are maybe adults?