I hate weekend parenting - anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

Oh give me a break! My kids are middle schoolers now, so we had no pandemic when they were toddlers. We rarely socialized with friends on weekends unless it was a birthday party. It was our “family time” - we went on hikes, activities, museums, out to eat, explored town, puttered around at home, went to the park and library. Yeah certain things have been closed during the pandemic, but not so much anymore. Staying inside all the time IS depressing, but that’s a choice you make, certainly not a requirement.

Half the stuff you mentioned doing CANNOT BE DONE during the past few years. What don't you understand about that?

Yes,the past two years have been rough. Op just hates weekend parenting, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

Oh give me a break! My kids are middle schoolers now, so we had no pandemic when they were toddlers. We rarely socialized with friends on weekends unless it was a birthday party. It was our “family time” - we went on hikes, activities, museums, out to eat, explored town, puttered around at home, went to the park and library. Yeah certain things have been closed during the pandemic, but not so much anymore. Staying inside all the time IS depressing, but that’s a choice you make, certainly not a requirement.

Half the stuff you mentioned doing CANNOT BE DONE during the past few years. What don't you understand about that?

Yes,the past two years have been rough. Op just hates weekend parenting, though.

Yes but has it occurred to you that she hates weekend parenting precisely because we don't have any of the options available to us that PP said got HER though the toddler years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

Oh give me a break! My kids are middle schoolers now, so we had no pandemic when they were toddlers. We rarely socialized with friends on weekends unless it was a birthday party. It was our “family time” - we went on hikes, activities, museums, out to eat, explored town, puttered around at home, went to the park and library. Yeah certain things have been closed during the pandemic, but not so much anymore. Staying inside all the time IS depressing, but that’s a choice you make, certainly not a requirement.

You should have stopped right there or, better yet, not posted at all!

You. Have. No. Idea. What parenting a toddler has been like. None

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Even with DH bring the main parent the weekend is still too much. I sign the kids up for things, arrange activities, and keep them out of the house as much as possible to get through it.

I am the default parent even though I make more money but job is more flexible (and stressful) but do the same. I sign my kids up for a ton of activities because they have an insane amount of energy and I’m too busy and tired to plan that much or exert myself that much on the weekend. People look at me like I’m crazy when I describe our weekends: swim, gymnastics, basketball, soccer. But my kids have boundless energy and need to burn it and I like to sit on the sidelines and read a book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

Oh give me a break! My kids are middle schoolers now, so we had no pandemic when they were toddlers. We rarely socialized with friends on weekends unless it was a birthday party. It was our “family time” - we went on hikes, activities, museums, out to eat, explored town, puttered around at home, went to the park and library. Yeah certain things have been closed during the pandemic, but not so much anymore. Staying inside all the time IS depressing, but that’s a choice you make, certainly not a requirement.

You should have stopped right there or, better yet, not posted at all!

You. Have. No. Idea. What parenting a toddler has been like. None

Completely agree. No offense, PP, but if you have tweens why on earth are you posting on a baby board? If your last experience with small children was more than a decade ago I’m sorry to say that your view/advice, pandemic aside, is going to be outdated. Your comment, while well meaning, is proof of that. Unfortunately, you don’t really understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t “weekend parenting” just parenting?

This thread has me confused too. Pretty depressing.

No it’s not like weekday parenting because on the weekdays someone else is taking care of the kids for most of the day. On the weekend it’s just mom and dad and that’s why it sucks.

JFC that is literally the point. “Someone else taking care of the kids” as you foist them off on other people is not parenting. You have to deal with your own kids two whole days a week? Boo freaking hoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t “weekend parenting” just parenting?

This thread has me confused too. Pretty depressing.

No it’s not like weekday parenting because on the weekdays someone else is taking care of the kids for most of the day. On the weekend it’s just mom and dad and that’s why it sucks.

then you shouldn’t have had kids! Parenting is hard at times, bit to say it sucks every weekend because they’re your responsibility is just sad. My daughter is adopted and I hope she never feels they way some of your kids must feel.

You have one kid. She’s probably older. You don’t have the physical difficulties of nursing a toddler or weaning and have never dealt with pregnancy and postpartum and the physical impacts of pregnancy on your body twice. Your situation is not comparable.

WTF? Even if she does have one older kid (which you have no idea if that’s true or not), do you think she sprang from the womb as a fully formed 12-year-old?

Wow. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

Oh give me a break! My kids are middle schoolers now, so we had no pandemic when they were toddlers. We rarely socialized with friends on weekends unless it was a birthday party. It was our “family time” - we went on hikes, activities, museums, out to eat, explored town, puttered around at home, went to the park and library. Yeah certain things have been closed during the pandemic, but not so much anymore. Staying inside all the time IS depressing, but that’s a choice you make, certainly not a requirement.

Half the stuff you mentioned doing CANNOT BE DONE during the past few years. What don't you understand about that?

Which of the things on her list “CANNOT” be done in any form *now?*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

I’m cracking up. You all are crazy!
Oh give me a break! My kids are middle schoolers now, so we had no pandemic when they were toddlers. We rarely socialized with friends on weekends unless it was a birthday party. It was our “family time” - we went on hikes, activities, museums, out to eat, explored town, puttered around at home, went to the park and library. Yeah certain things have been closed during the pandemic, but not so much anymore. Staying inside all the time IS depressing, but that’s a choice you make, certainly not a requirement.

You should have stopped right there or, better yet, not posted at all!

You. Have. No. Idea. What parenting a toddler has been like. None

Completely agree. No offense, PP, but if you have tweens why on earth are you posting on a baby board? If your last experience with small children was more than a decade ago I’m sorry to say that your view/advice, pandemic aside, is going to be outdated. Your comment, while well meaning, is proof of that. Unfortunately, you don’t really understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

I’m cracking up. You all are crazy!
Oh give me a break! My kids are middle schoolers now, so we had no pandemic when they were toddlers. We rarely socialized with friends on weekends unless it was a birthday party. It was our “family time” - we went on hikes, activities, museums, out to eat, explored town, puttered around at home, went to the park and library. Yeah certain things have been closed during the pandemic, but not so much anymore. Staying inside all the time IS depressing, but that’s a choice you make, certainly not a requirement.

You should have stopped right there or, better yet, not posted at all!

You. Have. No. Idea. What parenting a toddler has been like. None

Completely agree. No offense, PP, but if you have tweens why on earth are you posting on a baby board? If your last experience with small children was more than a decade ago I’m sorry to say that your view/advice, pandemic aside, is going to be outdated. Your comment, while well meaning, is proof of that. Unfortunately, you don’t really understand.

I’m cracking up. You all are crazy! You’re completely exaggerating how awful parenting is. Toddlers are tiring. It’s HARD to juggle work and babies. I am not downplaying that…but the idea that you don’t like spending time with your babies and toddlers is really shocking to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/01/pandemic-goodbye-casual-friends/617839/

The isolation, even without shutdowns, is real for everyone. We're all feeling the loss of community, but it's probably hitting many parents particularly acutely because this is, even without a global pandemic, already a difficult stage of life. It's made something already hard, psychologically even more difficult.

I do enjoy my kids, but I can certainly empathize with OP and you pp in calling weekends miserable. This is hard, and not laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's up with nobody being able to handle your kids?

Other than that this sounds like most parents' lives. You are kind of in a Groundhog day situation for now.

The toddler is in prime danger age - climbing but doesn’t realize he can fall, putting toys and non food substances stuff in the mouth and eating it, can’t walk down inclines or hills without falling, etc. This age to about potty training just stinks and right now he requires 24-7 attention. I am so tired of the couch climbing/bed climbing/slamming head into corners. And the 5 year old is much more independent but super high energy and needs to have tons of opportunities to run/bike/hike or we deal with bad behavior, jumping on furniture, tantrums, etc. because he’s unaware of his body and needs snacks, meals, water, bathroom breaks, etc. It’s two different ages with a lot of very different needs.

Wait are you potty training the one year old? Or did I misunderstand that. Neither of my kids were ready at one. My second child, a girl, wasn't potty trained till three and my first child, a boy, was trained at one. If potty training is causing a lot of continuous stress, stop for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so sad and indicative of how a lot of millennial parents feel about childrearing, including many in my orbit.

To the parents who complain about having to spend time with their young children: why did you decide to have children in the first place if you don't enjoy being around them? I'm genuinely curious.

Kids grow up so fast! Once they're 11 or 12, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. Enjoy your time together while you are still their world.

NP - parenting the last couple years isn't what parenting is supposed to be like! doing it alone in your house (maybe with a nanny) without mom friends and playdates and places to take your kids on weekends and the ability to have a babysitter to go out to dinner and family bbqs and visitors etc etc etc. Adults are made to spend endless hours alone with their kids and thats what the last couple years have been. I moved 2 years ago and have made exactly one friend b/c at school drop off we are expected to distance and shove our 3yos in the door, people have started going to play spaces again but no one is chatting etc. Weekends are miserable - not because i don't love my kids but because parenting in these isolated vacuums isn't normal!

Oh give me a break! My kids are middle schoolers now, so we had no pandemic when they were toddlers. We rarely socialized with friends on weekends unless it was a birthday party. It was our “family time” - we went on hikes, activities, museums, out to eat, explored town, puttered around at home, went to the park and library. Yeah certain things have been closed during the pandemic, but not so much anymore. Staying inside all the time IS depressing, but that’s a choice you make, certainly not a requirement.

Half the stuff you mentioned doing CANNOT BE DONE during the past few years. What don't you understand about that?

Which of the things on her list “CANNOT” be done in any form *now?*

Yes, because many/most things are open now, that MAGICALLY erases the stress of the nearly two years prior where NONE OF IT was available. Gee, I feel so much better.

I also LOVE the risk calculation I have to make for every little thing because my kid STILL CAN'T BE VACCINATED and people (probably including you PP) are carrying on like there is no pandemic at all. And also suffering under the most burdensome and impossible childcare restrictions.

There is basically no way a parent of older kids can relate at all to pandemic parenting of the youngest and toddlers so please stop trying.

[Anonymous]

Wow, lots of sanctimommies on this thread.

I hate weekend parenting too. I hated it when my kid was little because I was a single mom and working plus house keeping all week meant I was fried by Friday night, then I never got to relax on weekends.

Now, my kid is a teen so I listen to them scream at video games all weekend.

[Anonymous]

Weekend parenting?

You mean you hate being a parent.

Everything you listed is you BEING a parent on the days when you're responsible for the care of your kids.