Question about families hanging around at evening hours at playground on weekday?

[Anonymous]

This is op. It does matter to me because I am jealous how could other family manage to do this. I have never taken my kids to playground on weekday late afternoon or evening, and yesterday was the first time ever. They were overjoyed, and that's why I wonder how could they do that.

I took off work early yesterday, or otherwise normally I pick up my kids from daycare/school between 6 - 6:30pm straight from office. Then, we go home, cook dinner, eat dinner, too dark and too cold to get out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. It does matter to me because I am jealous how could other family manage to do this. I have never taken my kids to playground on weekday late afternoon or evening, and yesterday was the first time ever. They were overjoyed, and that's why I wonder how could they do that.

I took off work early yesterday, or otherwise normally I pick up my kids from daycare/school between 6 - 6:30pm straight from office. Then, we go home, cook dinner, eat dinner, too dark and too cold to get out.

You find a playground with lights and dress them for the cold. 6-630 is also a really late pickup time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. It does matter to me because I am jealous how could other family manage to do this. I have never taken my kids to playground on weekday late afternoon or evening, and yesterday was the first time ever. They were overjoyed, and that's why I wonder how could they do that.

I took off work early yesterday, or otherwise normally I pick up my kids from daycare/school between 6 - 6:30pm straight from office. Then, we go home, cook dinner, eat dinner, too dark and too cold to get out.

Sometimes your soul just needs take out dinner at the park. Swing through a drive through before pick up, go right to playground, eat and play, skip baths, and soak up those fleeting moments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. It does matter to me because I am jealous how could other family manage to do this. I have never taken my kids to playground on weekday late afternoon or evening, and yesterday was the first time ever. They were overjoyed, and that's why I wonder how could they do that.

I took off work early yesterday, or otherwise normally I pick up my kids from daycare/school between 6 - 6:30pm straight from office. Then, we go home, cook dinner, eat dinner, too dark and too cold to get out.

Well there's your issue. When my kids were little I worked from home and way able to pick them up from daycare/preschool several days a week to meet friends at the playground before dinner. Or in the summer go to the pool after a quick/early dinner. If I didn't walk in the door until 6:30pm that wouldn't have worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:who cares?

Op cares. People come her to ask questions, get answers. If it bothers you, go away.

[Anonymous]

We get home around 5-5:30 on a good day. Weekdays are usually quick dinners, so we're done eating by 6-6:30. On nice days we'll walk to the playground after dinner, then we head home at 7-7:15 to start 7:30 bed time routine.

If you want to take your kids to the playground in the evenings, you'd have to shift your schedule. 6-6:30 is too late to accommodate it until daylight savings time starts.

[Anonymous]

We eat at 6/6:30. But short or no commute and i cook so there are leftovers. Home at 5 so we can play before dinner. In summer i take oldest out after dinner while her little sister goes to bed. Its fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday was Read across America Day and many schools had pajama day as a treat, so those kids were probably wearing the pajamas that they had on all day. Mine put on clean pajamas in the morning for school and then new clean pajamas for bed.

Yep, came to post this.

My youngest wore PJs to school and played in them after school, too. There was no need to put on "real" clothes when she got home from school just to go outside and get them dirty. The PJs were already dirty from the day!

[Anonymous]

PPs are correct that your late pickup is the crux of the issue. If you get to the playground by 6:00, you have an hour or two to play depending on your kids' bedtimes. And pizza, packed sandwiches, or takeout is key for playground nights. And yes, wipe your kids down, but then send them to bed sweaty. Though my kids tend to pretend play games and not flat out sprinting for an hour around like some kids do. We skip bath on playground nights until it becomes sunscreen and bug spray season, then we leave earlier to allow time for a 5 minute shower before bed.

[Anonymous]

Op, if you want to do this, have a quick snack for your kids when you pick them up and then have them play. Or go home, eat dinner, then go back to the playground-- though with the timing you have, I can see how that would be hard.

I think the issue you have is you are home pretty late. Can you move your schedule to pick them up at 5:30 sometimes?

[Anonymous]

I often pick my kids up from school and daycare, we eat dinner in the wagon as we walk to the playground. Especially on nice days. My kids are asleep before 8pm.

[Anonymous]

I take my toddler to the playground most days after daycare unless 1) I have an evening work thing to attend to, 2) we have evening plans, 3) the weather is horrible or 4) she's in a bad/cranky mood. I pick her up around 5:15-5:30 and we normally eat at 6:00pm. We end up eating slightly later if we go to the playground, but usually not a crazy amount later. She has an early bedtime -- 7:00 or 7:30.

The key is having a regular schedule but with some flexibility built in.

[Anonymous]

oh and OP I wish my daycare closed later but it doesn't. 5:30 is the latest I can pick up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. It does matter to me because I am jealous how could other family manage to do this. I have never taken my kids to playground on weekday late afternoon or evening, and yesterday was the first time ever. They were overjoyed, and that's why I wonder how could they do that.

I took off work early yesterday, or otherwise normally I pick up my kids from daycare/school between 6 - 6:30pm straight from office. Then, we go home, cook dinner, eat dinner, too dark and too cold to get out.

As PPs have said, other families may have earlier pick ups, or a SAHP, or helpful grandparents, or whatever else allows them to do this. Also, don't assume that because a family is there one day, they do weekday evening playgrounds regularly. It's not worth beating yourself up over, OP. Find a way to do it once in a while, and let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids must get really unusually sweaty if they need a shower after playing at the playground.

this is a cultural thing around dirt, my husband is asian and he would get grossed out if the kids didn't bathe and change after they came home plus no shoes in the house, since we've moved to th suburbs though he has calmed down. still no shoes in the house though but in winter we dont shower every single day.