I hate weekend parenting - anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Hiking is great for older kids. But I can’t exactly go hiking anywhere beyond the woods near my house in cold weather because there’s zero places to change a poopy diaper in the woods and I’m not making them freeze. Summer is a different story but not now.

[Anonymous]

This is exactly what I used to say. It will pass in a few years but until then, misery unfortunately

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hiking is great for older kids. But I can’t exactly go hiking anywhere beyond the woods near my house in cold weather because there’s zero places to change a poopy diaper in the woods and I’m not making them freeze. Summer is a different story but not now.

Alright, listen, stay home the whole weekend then, and complain about how god awful it is to spend time with your children. Who BtW will never be sweeter or cuter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hiking is great for older kids. But I can’t exactly go hiking anywhere beyond the woods near my house in cold weather because there’s zero places to change a poopy diaper in the woods and I’m not making them freeze. Summer is a different story but not now.

It's not cold right now if you're in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hiking is great for older kids. But I can’t exactly go hiking anywhere beyond the woods near my house in cold weather because there’s zero places to change a poopy diaper in the woods and I’m not making them freeze. Summer is a different story but not now.

Alright, listen, stay home the whole weekend then, and complain about how god awful it is to spend time with your children. Who BtW will never be sweeter or cuter.

Cuter? Maybe not. Sweeter? OMG it gets so much better than a young toddler! Hang in there OP. Give it a year or two. Weekends won't always be miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hiking is great for older kids. But I can’t exactly go hiking anywhere beyond the woods near my house in cold weather because there’s zero places to change a poopy diaper in the woods and I’m not making them freeze. Summer is a different story but not now.

It's not cold right now if you're in the DC area.

Totally agree - I am from Upstate New York and we are outside all winter. Just get appropriate clothes for your kids. I took my baby in a carrier (in snow pants, hat, etc) when they were like 6 months out on a walk when it felt like 0 degrees in New York during Christmas. They loved it. We were outside for maybe 30 minutes and it was good for them (and the older kids) to get some fresh air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hiking is great for older kids. But I can’t exactly go hiking anywhere beyond the woods near my house in cold weather because there’s zero places to change a poopy diaper in the woods and I’m not making them freeze. Summer is a different story but not now.

I am with you that February during COVID *sucks.* But I really think finding safe things to do, even if less than ideal, are better than staying home all day. Go on short hikes. Bring a changing pad and a blanket. Or explore different parks/playgrounds. Or go somewhere like Great Falls, where you really only have to walk a couple of minutes to see the waterfalls and then can hang out at picnic tables near bathrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hiking is great for older kids. But I can’t exactly go hiking anywhere beyond the woods near my house in cold weather because there’s zero places to change a poopy diaper in the woods and I’m not making them freeze. Summer is a different story but not now.

Alright, listen, stay home the whole weekend then, and complain about how god awful it is to spend time with your children. Who BtW will never be sweeter or cuter.

Cuter? Maybe not. Sweeter? OMG it gets so much better than a young toddler! Hang in there OP. Give it a year or two. Weekends won't always be miserable.[/quote

Damn. I can’t believe how cold some of you are. To your OWN children. And it does even seem to be in jest?! You are really not enjoying them. All I can say is that I’m sorry. My advice is to try to lessen your load so you can enjoy family more. And go outside & live a little. That’s all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hiking is great for older kids. But I can’t exactly go hiking anywhere beyond the woods near my house in cold weather because there’s zero places to change a poopy diaper in the woods and I’m not making them freeze. Summer is a different story but not now.

It's not cold right now if you're in the DC area.

Totally agree - I am from Upstate New York and we are outside all winter. Just get appropriate clothes for your kids. I took my baby in a carrier (in snow pants, hat, etc) when they were like 6 months out on a walk when it felt like 0 degrees in New York during Christmas. They loved it. We were outside for maybe 30 minutes and it was good for them (and the older kids) to get some fresh air.

NP. Agree it’s not actually cold but I’m pretty sure the person said they didn’t want to change their baby’s diaper outdoors in this weather which I don’t think is unreasonable the last couple of weekends. Where in the DMV can you only go outside for 30 minutes and still go “hiking”? Even getting to rock creek park takes me the better part of the morning (and I wouldn’t really call that hiking). I have plenty of neighborhood walks my toddler enjoys and we go out in all weathers but I don’t think someone who’s sick of the same walk she’s done every weekend for the past three months is wholly unreasonable.

[Anonymous]

OP I am not into hiking at all, but a walk around the neighborhood does wonders. You may want to reappraise your risk tolerance for COVID balanced with your sanity.

[Anonymous]

I’m also confused by childcare disruptions with a nanny? We were out for covid/illness and weather for 4 full weeks so far this year…? It sucked. We use daycare. Isn’t a nanny supposed to be less disruptive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m also confused by childcare disruptions with a nanny? We were out for covid/illness and weather for 4 full weeks so far this year…? It sucked. We use daycare. Isn’t a nanny supposed to be less disruptive?

We pulled out of daycare for this reason. But a nanny at home with the toddler is disruptive as well, tantrums in the background, getting accosted by crying toddler who wants mommy and daddy and runs down hall and tries to come in crying when you’re in there, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m also confused by childcare disruptions with a nanny? We were out for covid/illness and weather for 4 full weeks so far this year…? It sucked. We use daycare. Isn’t a nanny supposed to be less disruptive?

Maybe OP will let us know, but I'd guess the problem is managing two wfh schedules with kids that scream in a normal or small home. If calls and meetings are variable, then the kid schedule may need to be also change daily too so that the kids are doing something nanny knows will result in quiet time (eating a little early or late, doing playground at a different time, etc). Nanny wouldn't know the work schedules, so OP and her spouse would have to step in and coordinate with her.

[Anonymous]

If I were OP, I’d enroll the kids in daycare and aftercare. This should be cheaper than a nanny and you’ll have peace and quiet during the day. Then use the money you’re saving by by paying for a babysitter on the weekends for a few hours or for additional help, like a cleaning service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I am not into hiking at all, but a walk around the neighborhood does wonders. You may want to reappraise your risk tolerance for COVID balanced with your sanity.

+1. We’ve been doing indoor playdates since summer 2020. Indoor activities/classes since spring 2021. Walks around the neighborhood and short hikes since forever. Flights and vacations in summer 2021. The only thing we don’t do are indoor play areas and trampoline parks. Unless you’re high risk, you’re insane to put all these restrictions on yourselves.