first week, only 5 to go

cte1111

LondonDiva wrote: »

Without meaning to be rude, this bit of your post had me slightly perplexed.

If that week the kids are having swimming lessons in the morning, isn't that the 'treat' or 'thing for the week? Why would you then need to come up with additional activities to 'fill the afternoons'?

Surely having been occupied and busy in the morning they should have time to rest / chill / veg out / entertain themselves for a few hours after an active morning?

Lunch with a parent used to be a highlight all its own rather than something added to a crammed itinerary to fill every hour for the kids.

I think you are being rude TBH. I've made it quite clear that I do expect my kids to occupy themselves for part of the time.

However, as swimming finishes at 12, I don't expect them to occupy themselves without any input at all for the 6 hours until we start doing baths and beds, for 5 days straight. Therefore I try and have something to do, including on one day the treat of having lunch with my husband at the shopping centre near where he works. If you're on an agenda to attack 'parents of today' who overschedule their children, then I think you could find someone else to target.

Janepig

On the ironing thing, I don't bother doing the kids clothes any more, or most of mine tbh. DH likes his t-shirts ironed (although I tell him not to bother) so he does his own, and he does his own work trousers because stupidly I'm useless at getting the crease right (double crease - fail!!). I iron him a shirt for every day for work though. School uniform generally dries flat too. Once all the kids clothes are dry they get put away and then if they need a quick press before wearing then I'll run the iron over them then, but mostly they're fine.

It's a huge time saver.

Jx

cte1111

Bennifred wrote: »

I'm a bit surprised that so many parents seem to resent their own parents for not taking on childcare, or only "on their own terms".
I didn't realise it was a grandparent's obligation rather than a possible choice.

I specifically didn't say I resent my Mother for doing childcare on her own terms. In fact she does not childcare for us and never has. I pay a friend to babysit for us if we want to go out. I was trying to help the OP come to terms with her disappointment with her parents.

This thread has evidently attracted older people who are desperate to have a dig at parents. If you haven't got anything constructive to add, then maybe find something else to post about.

cte1111

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

No offence to anyone but this is the problem these days - kids expect 24/7 entertainment. We just used to 'play' and if we said we were bored, mum would soon get a list of chores written up for us.

No offence to anyone, but this is the problem with old people on MSE, they are obviously so bored with their lives than they spend their days criticizing younger people. When I'm old, I'm sure that I will have such a splendid active life that I won't have time for such negative behaviour.

Ah the good old days....

mcja

Hmm...I'm 34, have 2 children and live 2.5hours away from grandparents. I live in a city where many people have their parents on the doorstep and not once have I complained about not having sitters on tap. We have done it on our own and we are proud of that.

Op did imply that they resent their mum for her lack of help and support. They either have to accept that or talk to her. My FIL is having the children for me for 2 hours next week so me and SMIL can go food shopping for our holiday, that's the first time in 9 years!!

MCJA (& kids)

valk_scot

I'm "old" by many folk's standards, I'm 55. My youngest is still only 11 though so I'm not actually that far out the young child parenting loop. And many folk who are even older than me (!) can still all too vividly remember how they coped with the demands of a young family. It is possible to both be old AND a parent, you know...;)

Bennifred

cte1111 wrote: »

................................

This thread has evidently attracted older people who are desperate to have a dig at parents. If you haven't got anything constructive to add, then maybe find something else to post about.

Hypocrisy?
Many of us "older people" are parents too, and have years of experience we are willing to share - pity you are too defensive to appreciate that. Good luck with changing that "negative behaviour".

delain

Annisele wrote: »

I'll let you into a secret - you can wear clothes that haven't been ironed.

even cotton shirts don't need ironing if you hang them on coathangers when damp!

my lot (oh included) are just happy to get clothes back from the washing pile, i think my iron gets out twice a year if that

and no ones arrested me yet!

2gorgeousgirls

I have a 13 and 10 year old and have 5 weeks off in the summer with them and its not enough.

I'm very conscious that the 13 year old will prob not want to be seen with me next summer so am trying to make the most of this one.

When I get stressed, which we all do over the summer holidays, I remind myself that this is a short time and a time to spend with the girls that I will never get back again.

I am lucky in that my husband will take the girls for a cycle or walk in the evenings or round to granny's for an hour and I relish that hour. I literally sit in front of the telly.

I also have a far more relaxed attitude to housework in the summer. As long as the bathrooms and kitchen are clean, then I ignore the dust and untidiness (which to anyone who knows me is a shock as I am usually very fussy about having the house clean and (fairly) tidy). Enough time for that when the girls are back at school and the weather has turned.

I actually find that at their age there is very little "minding" to do. They are both old enough to amuse themselves, get themselves snacks etc and also having a friend around occasionally which keeps them amused. We also live in a quiet town and I have no qualms about letting them go to the shops, cinema, library, pool etc by themselves so again can get a couple of hours to myself.

They have also both been invited to sleepovers, luckily on the same night so I had a full 24 hours "off duty". Although we had a sleepover in return so no sleep that night!

Honestly, you will get through this. Try to relax and enjoy the time you have with them, it won't be long until you're looking back wishing they were children again.

cutestkids

cte1111 wrote: »

This thread has evidently attracted older people who are desperate to have a dig at parents. If you haven't got anything constructive to add, then maybe find something else to post about.

cte1111 wrote: »

No offence to anyone, but this is the problem with old people on MSE, they are obviously so bored with their lives than they spend their days criticizing younger people. When I'm old, I'm sure that I will have such a splendid active life that I won't have time for such negative behaviour.

Ah the good old days....

cte1111 wrote: »

I think you are being rude TBH. I've made it quite clear that I do expect my kids to occupy themselves for part of the time.

However, as swimming finishes at 12, I don't expect them to occupy themselves without any input at all for the 6 hours until we start doing baths and beds, for 5 days straight. Therefore I try and have something to do, including on one day the treat of having lunch with my husband at the shopping centre near where he works. If you're on an agenda to attack 'parents of today' who overschedule their children, then I think you could find someone else to target.

I think that these quotes are all very rude nobody is attacking you personally just showing different views so why do you feel the need to get all defensive and be rude to people.

To suggest that someone finds something else to post about on a public forum is very rude.