Can't handle another wet winter

[birdinhend]

I wfh part time.
Have spent the past few winters doing all the usual toddler groups and soft play..even though DS has just stated school I can't handle spending the weekend sat around the house as he's crap at independent play or doing the same treadmill of soft play and swimming etc and I've been in the house all week mostly asides the odd gym visit either working or doing housework. The weather forecast here is shocking for the next month.
Does everyone feel like this? I feel like I'm wishing time away for better weather or until he's older. We do the occasional play date but house isn't big enough or other people don't have only child so not as bothered.

I used to love days out at this stage. National Trust etc with a picnic.

Find a friend who you can swap a couple of play dates with? They can play with a friend much better than on their own. It doesn’t have to be for hours but even and hour or so it s a nice change.

Buy good outdoor clothes and get outside! You can enjoy woodland walks, the beach, barbecue lunches, etc whatever the weather. You can also walk around town and do scavenger hunt type things that you see. Find the biggest tree, the reddest leaf. The biggest puddle to splash in. Etc.

You live in the UK. It's going to rain for months.
Get some good wet weather gear and go outside more.

I need to take some of what they’re having 👆because I hate it too. Fucking miserable. Moaning, bored, cold kids. Fed up of being dragged to the park in the wind and rain. Can’t plan. No point in paying loads to do days out. Waste of money. And then it’s dark. Fab.

Yep. No one enjoys trudging round in the rain and then having to dry mountains of wet clothes. We get enough rain walking the dog every day.
I should have known I'd just get the wet weather gear lecture.

I hear you. It’s hard enough getting my kids arses off their tablets. Trying to tempt them out with layering up in waterproofs to get rain whipped… nah no chance.

I’m surprised no one’s mentioned hot chocolate yet.

Not really. Whole class parties at that age usually mean 1-2 a month. An activity per child each weekend. Then seeing friends/family. Leaves me longing for a quiet weekend round the house tbh!

I would start him in some organised activities like weekly football/ rugby. Even though it's still raining, they get into it and don't care so much vs if they're just trudging through the countryside.

Also, is there a climbing centre anywhere near you? My DC are older now, but there are always some quite young kids there. It's far less feral than soft play but normally keeps them engaged for a few hours.

Also, ignore the haters and get yourself a dry robe (or a primark knock off for 25% of the price). Game changer for waiting around in the rain. There is a reason they're becoming ubiquitous.

I'm agree with you, hate the rain and cold weather and no, I don't want to put on our waterproofs and go for a walk and "enjoy ourselves" when it's pissing down!

We've got an OC too, I'm planning on arranging some more play dates this year and hopefully they'll be reciprocated. You'll probably find your child will soons start being invited to whole class parties , that always breaks up the day. What about extracurricular activities like football , or take advantage of early morning cinema deals , our local cinema does cheap tickets before 12pm .

OP it really is soul destroying. I was lucky enough to know lots of Mums when my lot were toddlers which meant we spread out play dates ,dropped off and had a couple of child free afternoons! Are you near a train station? I used to take them on a train somewhere,even if just a couple of stops and then find a park / Macdonalds etc . It was a novelty for them and would take up an afternoon.
Agree ,that trudging around when it’s pissing down,convincing yourself it’s fun is actually depressing ! Feel the same about camping…bloody awful.

Thank you to the kindred spirits who get the fucking misery of traipsing round the park in the rain. Even DS doesn't want to do that.
He's just started football on a Fri night. Loves it.
Every day out or activity is so bloody expensive too.

Agree about camping. Why would you do something worse than your own home!

I agree it's miserable. I really cherish the cold but dry and crispy days when we get them.

My son is 3 so he's very much still into going to the woods/park etc and no amount of wet weather will stop him so it's waterproofs and wellies for us unfortunately.

We have a lot of friends with similar aged children though and play dates are an absolute godsend. I hate soft play.

I remember how soul destroying wet winters and springs were.
We had half of mountain warehouse and a decent buggy. But trying to get things dry in a tiny house used to drive me mad.

I agree it can be tough when you know they need to get out & expend some energy but it's chucking it down. We do go out throughout the winter, but even if draw the line at torrential rain etc.
Do you have access to any local free museums, aquariums, garden centres (especially around Halloween/Christmas/Easter etc), libraries, cathedrals, etc?
Keep an eye out for local activities trails & do those on dry days - cold is fine as you can wrap up.

I hear you too. Mine is 8 so it's easier but she does miss going out to scoot with her friend or to the park.
She HATES going out in the rain just as we do, it's bloody miserable even with all the right clothes.
We try and make the most of dry days no matter how cold so that the stuck in doors rain days don't seem as bad.
No advice but solidarity.

At school age we have plenty of indoor options. My primary aged DD has a weekend drop off activity on Saturdays and Sundays, and we have a few birthday parties every term. The rest of the time we rotate different soft plays, museum exhibitions, touristy/seasonal stuff (Halloween/Christmas events), swimming, play cafes, historic properties, theme parks, zoo, Christmas lights, theatre shows, concerts. We tend to have things booked all through November and December as there are always Christmas shows, panto, concerts etc. We never go out in the pouring rain but the weather tends to be fairly mild until autumn half term (we're in London) and we have playground days out (they can spend hours in a big playground like Diana Memorial playground and it feels like a proper day out as we don't go too often).

We are in semi-rural somerset where it's currently flooding and not as much as that available unfortunately.
We do swimming, soft play, any crap the local museum or library have on, that's about it for indoor.
We go to Bristol every so often but the costs are out of our reach now due to COL

Solidarity @OP
My dc are teens now, but i used to fear autumn and winter
I joined the National Trust a single parent, as there are a couple of estates nearby, with playground and cafes. If we ever went at a weekend with DH, we'd just pay him in.

I agree OP and I hate all the pps saying all I need is a parka and some wellies. The wet weather affects my asthma so I won't be jumping in puddles!

And our house is cold and damp with the ridiculous energy prices so it's a real joy.
14 days straight rain here. Yay

@birdinhend sorry to hear that - it must be a struggle. We didn't even get a summer this year

Solidarity OP. People can fuck off with their 'just put on wet weather gear" sanctimony. Nobody enjoys the pissing rain, and drying all the gear is a ballache. My two love a puddle and we do get out once a day regardless, but it is just so much hassle and the ease and joy of being outside is definitely less over winter. We're in London so thankfully we do have lots of free indoor options what with all the museums etc , but turning up to them soaking wet is still not much fun. Bring on spring!!!