Activities drop off or wait around depending on commute

[Anonymous]

So our kids are old enough to drop off at activities and play groups, etc., they often have events or meetings that are kind of far from the house, like 20 to 30 minutes it could be worse in traffic.

The activities can run about two hours sometimes three, so basically I drive an extra hour if I go home to get one hour at home, for example.

Alternatively, I could just pop in to a coffee shop near the activity and wait two hours there.

What multiple do you drive back-and-forth 30 minutes each way or do you just wait around Rylan having to drive an hour round-trip?

[Anonymous]

That was a terrible Siri transcription

[Anonymous]

I wait around... I usually bring my laptop and do a hotspot from my phone... can get some work done, or just browse around.

Or if I need to grab something from the store, I may go somewhere nearby.

[Anonymous]

2 hours, usually stay nearby in a coffee shop and work or run errands.
3 hours, usually drive home. It's torture waiting around for that long especially since for DD it's practice and it means dropping off 10-15 minutes early and then another 10 minutes waiting for her to pack up and get to the car for a total of close to 3.5 hours.

[Anonymous]

Ah, welcome to the years of killing time while you're kids are in activities!

I usually stay out vs. going back home, and run errands. Or spend money I shouldn't be spending. Read (I keep a fold-up chair in the car and if it's nice weather I sit in it and read, otherwise in the car). If a good area for walking, I'll do that. Play on my phone. Go get a snack somewhere and enjoy the solitude.

[Anonymous]

If it’s not 90 degrees and humid I’ll go for a walk. If an activity was 3 hours long I would probably go home personally. That gives me 2 hours at home with your description.
2 hour activity I’d probably run errands or kill time closer.

[Anonymous]

At 30 min one way I'll stick around or close by. Work on my laptop at a library, take a walk, pick up things I need from Target or Trader Joe's, read, sit in the car and call people back.

15 min away or less, I'll go back home... unless the activity is only an hour or so. I won't spend more time driving back and forth than the length of the activity.

[Anonymous]

I go to the grocery store, a coffee shop to work or read, etc.

[Anonymous]

I wear my running clothes and get my exercise in for the day.

I try really hard to coordinate carpool so I only have to do either dropoff or pickup.

[Anonymous]

It really varies. Ideally, I will drop off and DH will pick up (or vice versa), worked around whatever errands we might have to run, or timed as efficiently as possible with other kid’s drop off and pick up time. Sometimes I stay and go for a run, or bring the dog and take her for a long walk.

[Anonymous]

I almost always find something to do close by: run/walk, errands, work, etc. A three hour activity would be pushing it, but it also depends on the length of the drive. I really dislike driving for long stretches.

[Anonymous]

One kid has a team practice 30+ minutes away. Practice runs 2-2.5 hours and I usually stay and watch and socialize with the other parents on the team. I may run a quick errand. Another kid has a team practice 10 minutes away that runs 1.5 to 2 hours. I do not stay. All other activities between the two are an hour or less and DH or I stay. DH actually tries to schedule calls with people in an earlier time zone sometimes for activities.

[Anonymous]

Bring my laptop and do work.
If weather cooperates, I’ll scope out a running route.
Or carpool

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the replies! My spouse thought I was crazy staying but now I know I’m at least rationale.

Yeah go for walks or gym are options I do as well.

Why recs for other Wi-Fi places besides Sbux, Panera, WF, library, and McDonalds? Esp in Bethesda and Tysons area…

[Anonymous]

I normally go for a walk, do my work on my iPad, run errands, get groceries, catch up with friends on phone or facetime, audiobooks etc. My DH inevitably takes a nap especially in winter. My kids participate in tournaments that can last for a whole day.

My minivan is fully stocked - camp chair, blankets, pillows, hats, parka, umbrella, cooler, reusable grocery bags, books. And no, I do not leave my kids and come home. I am always close by.