What to do in the evenings?

onlyroz

Something arty/crafty, e.g. making greetings cards, place mats, etc which could be sold on eBay.

Photography or film making - modern digital photo and video editing software is a doddle to use these days, and you could have fun making some family films, or mini-documentaries about your local area, which could be shared online with friends and family. In our household hubby takes the photos and I take the film, and these can be combined together into one project.

Cooking - it's always fun to increase your repetoire, and also to generally improve the family's diet and health - and it's something that everybody can get involved in together.

Exercise - either by going out to classes, buying some home equipment (exercise bike, rowing machine), or getting some DVDs or console fitness games.

DIY - maybe some of your decor is getting a little tired, or you just might fancy a change of colour scheme? Or if you're anything like us there will be an accumulating list of odd jobs (fix that dodgy curtain rail, or the leaky tap, or put up those shelves) that need doing but you haven't got around to yet.

I know you don't want more "screen time" but there are plenty of computer-based activites that can generate a bit of extra money and be fun in themselves, e.g. online surveys, match betting, review-writing. Or if you have the skills there are sites where you can bid for small software projects (e.g. freelancer.com), do user testing for websites (e.g. usertesting.com), or bid for writing projects (e.g. Textbroker).

heartbreak_star

Could you get a "learn salsa" DVD or something? Dance can be great fun and salsa doesn't require much space

HBS x

Errata

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Well.. we don't celebrate Christmas (Jewish..) and planning Hanukkah isn't especially hard (buy toys, light some candles, eat doughnuts)

Kids are 2 and 4. I work from home, so discussing my day is boring. Wife works 3 days a week (and when she does, she's not home till 9pm).

I think a glass of wine might be the best idea!

I think you're right, but do develop some separate interests outside the home otherwise you'll bore each other to death, and everyone else too.

**professor~yaffle**

Melaniep101 wrote: »

How bout taking up chess?

That reminds me, we've got a game of backgammon in the cupboard Haven't played it for ages! (I'm rubbish at chess :rotfl:)

[Deleted User]

Errata wrote: »

I think you're right, but do develop some separate interests outside the home otherwise you'll bore each other to death, and everyone else too.

I was actually planning on joining our villages photography club next week. They have a 'computer users' club too, but I think that might be too much nerd-city

HeadAboveWater

No harm in trying

minimoneysaver

How about the Open University? They have both long & short courses.

LEJC

How about both of you writing a wish list of things that you would each like to do/achieve in the next 10 years or so...

You say your wife hasnt been involved in hobbies ...is that because shes not found what she wants to do...or is too busy with work...similarly what hobbies did you have or interests before the children came along.


By both compiling something you will be able to see what common things may run through both lists and it gives you a conversation or starting point to see whether they are ahievable
Thing might include places you want to visit, experiences you would like to have,holidays you want to take...it might even unearth a desire for a hobby that neither of you knew you had...ie growing your own veg or keeping chickens!

What do you do at weekends...is there aspects of those that you could extend into the weekday evenings?

planning and talking about the future or even just dreaming together can sometimes be a great way to have a conversation and pass a few hours in an evening.

Forgive me if im on the wrong tangent...but you say that your wife isnt home until 9 three times a week and has seemed disinterested in things you've suggested ie starting a business to spend time together or the fact that baking will make her fat(she could always take the cakes to work for her collegues to eat if she's that worried about her figure)...is it her that wants the hobby...or really you that wants the hobby...
Potentially if you work from home you might not be getting the full person to person interaction that your wife is having by maintaining an out of home job...and I wonder if the idea of a joint hobby is more driven by you rather than her.

[Deleted User]

LEJC wrote: »

Forgive me if im on the wrong tangent...but you say that your wife isnt home until 9 three times a week and has seemed disinterested in things you've suggested ie starting a business to spend time together...is it her that wants the hobby...or really you that wants the hobby...
Potentially if you work from home you might not be getting the full person to person interaction that your wife is having by maintaining an out of home job...and I wonder if the idea of a joint hobby is more driven by you rather than her.

I want her to be interested in anything. She's lovely, but the kind of person who will say 'i'm bored' and never utter a suggestion. Her 'best friends' live too far away for her to see. She's spent so much time doing 'kids' things that now they are at school, she's getting bored and down.

Frankly, I'm just trying to find a way to keep my wife entertained. You could leave me with Netflix and a pile of books and i'd be happy.

LEJC

you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink....if she's not genuinely interested in doing something then "anything" you suggest will probably get a luke warm response or a reason not to do it...

Try asking her to write a list of dreams and aspirations...at least that comes from her rather than you trying to second guess what she wants...

Its really difficult to start up something new if you feel that you already have a lot on your plate...best friends can live miles away...a few of mine do...but we manage to stay intouch and spend evenings chatting etc etc...

I do sympathise with you and I think its good that you are trying to find things for her to do...but if she says shes bored...she needs to say what she might like to do as well rather than you be expected to make suggestions which she skirts round

Sometimes people say they are bored because they genuinely are...and other times its a pre cursor to a more deep rooted type of boredom...unhappiness.
You havent said much in this thread...so a lot of what I'm replying to is either implied or picking up on the small things youve said...ie her best friends live miles away....does that mean that actually she's bored with the geographical location shes in and actually would like to move closer to her friends...
Is it possible that the boredom is not about what she can do when shes home...but that actually shes bored of being where she is?