Life is good ... let's chill

pinkladyof66 · 31 July 2012 at 2:31PM

hi benben do you try and do something every day with ds to keep him occupied in the holidays i feel guilty if we have a stay at home day and not going out or spending money. Money is real tight for me at mo and so i cant spend lots of money. My son seems quite happy to stay in and play however when i see and hear other mums doing expensive wonderful stuff it makes me feel as if i am a horribble mummy. What do you think. Thanks

Daisy78 · 31 July 2012 at 3:43PM

pinklady - every day last week we did something and by the Friday my 2 girls were asking can we stay in (I don't think us parents can win either way).
This week though Monday & Tuesday have been stay at home days, but we are out the rest of the week.
We do the kids am cinema, which is £1.50 each and changes every week.
Our library has a story and craft session one afternoon per week, which is free.
We go to the park & take a picnic/snacks/drinks with us.
Next week we'll make cakes and paint the large pebbles we got from the beach. Can't think of anything else off the top of my head right now.

I'm sure your son is having a fab time just being with his mummy whatever you are doing.

benbenandme · 31 July 2012 at 7:03PM

Sorry PL, we were out and about this afternoon, nowhere particularly exciting though

We went to Sainsburys and then to Mums

I definitely don't think its a good idea to do something with them every day, kids need to learn to amuse themselves and they have plenty of fun playing indoors or in the garden. Think back to when we were kids, not sure about you but we pretty much amused ourselves for hours on end in the holidays; playing ball, skipping, painting, building dens, keeping a scrapbook of the holidays, making 'perfume' from rotten petals

, having a matchbox competition (see how many things you can fit into one matchbox, we got to about 50 I think (blade of grass, paperclip etc ...). Lots of happy memories and hardly a penny spent

I think its nice to have the odd nice day out but they don't have to cost lots (a picnic in the park, a treasure hunt etc), they become more memorable because they are treats, do them every day and the kids get bored

I'm sure your little one is having a whale of a time, as a mummy it can get tedious sometimes, but please don't beat yourself up about not spending enough money, kids have no concept of it and therefore don't fret on that one

I have been out and about much more than normal recently, purely because of the arrival of Mr S in our lives. Other than Sainsburys yesterday and today have been nsd's and ds has still enjoyed them just as much

dangers · 31 July 2012 at 8:57PM

Pinklady - how about visiting all the local parks - Phoenix, Merlin, lake grounds, c'don, n'sea, nigthtingale rise. All free! I c/minded three days last week and we visited c'don twice for the scooter park - got there before 9.30 so not too busy although I appreciate your LO may not be at that stage yet! Wsm has that new park on the front - think there's a charge to go in though.

benbenandme · 2 August 2012 at 11:51AM

Morning all, I had a lovely birthday yesterday, Mr S came round the night before and gave me my pressies before I took him to work (a gorgeous bracelet, watch and choccies)

then I went out for lunch with ds and my best mate, then we went to Dads home where Mr S had organised a birthday party for me and one of the residents there, and we had a Grease singalong and he sang a few songs, best bit him singing Hopelessly Devoted To You :smileyhea then we had birthday cake then went home, showered and out for dinner with ds, Mum, Mr S, his parents and sister

I had far too much to drink, Mum had ds for the night and I stayed with Mr S

It was a fabulous day, I am one very happy bunny right now