Weekend Time - is it Family Time?

[Anonymous]

"We have friends who don't seem to know what to do with their kids other than call us on Saturday morning at 7 a.m. for playdates. They don't seem to do a lot as a whole family, but rather trade the kids back and forth between them so one or the other has solo time."

11:16 here: Are these fathers so clueless that they can't figure out how to entertain their kids without going to other people's houses? There is so much to do around here, even with small kids. I can think of 5 things off the top of my head that we used to do with my 2 year old and it wasn't just a trip to the playground.

OP honey - you just got to get out of this rut! You are entertaining guests every weekend. You think this lady is going to change her M.O.? Fat chance. I would try in a very direct way when they called to say, "Hey, let's get together at your house. We've hosted so much lately. This week we were really busy and I just don't have the energy to have everyone over here. Let me know if I can bring dessert."

You know what the answer will be!

You are not too harsh. Then just get busy. It's May in DC and every weekend has an event somewhere. Go out and have fun together. It isn't your job to fix her family life. Your absence will do more to wake them up to their issues than enabling them to continue this pattern of manipulation of you and her family.

[Anonymous]

We try to have family time, couple time and time for both parents to pursue individual activities each weekend (plus chores of course). Doesn't always work that way, but that's our goal.