can't get out of the house in the morning

[Anonymous]

i'm finding it really hard to get my toddler dressed and out of the house on weekends....hard during the week too (but he goes to school every morning) but i'm so exhausted from the battling, corralling him on weekdays that on weekends that i tend to just not get out in time to be back for lunch/nap. when he was younger it was so much easier to take him out we used to be out by 9 every sat/sun morning. now he's happy as a clam staying at the house. should i feel guilty? often we end up not leaving the house until after he takes a nap and then only for a walk around the neighborhood. maybe when it's warmer this all won't seem so overwhelming....

[Anonymous]

Don't beat yourself up too much. He gets out during the week to go to school, so a little at home time on the weekends doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

Just go with the flow. I have a toddler as well and he pretty much dictates going out every day since otherwise he goes pretty stir-crazy. I would sometimes LOVE to just stay in and relax on the weekends!

I do think it will be easier to get out in the spring/summer. I personally can't wait for the warm weather!!

[Anonymous]

My advice is as follows and I have a toddler who is "spirited"--when I go into her room in the morning-I immediately pick her up and change her and as I am changing I immediately put on her clothes for the morning. I have found that when I pick her up and change her diaper without getting her out of her pjs and into day clothes, and then feed her and play, I get off track and it becomes too taxing to get her organized to go back upstairs to change and then out. Also, before I go to bed I get my diaper bag together--snacks are already in bag as is water and a bottle of juice. I leave a sippy in the fridge for milk. This also makes it easy to just get out. As for me..esp on weekends, I am a mess--I just put on jeans and a sweater and then wash my face and put deodorant on --that's it. Now maybe I may be scaring people with my look but once I am out, I am happy because I do think that being housebound can make anyone feel anxious.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Just let sleeping tots sleep. They need their down time. We have such hurried lives, they need at least one day with no plans.

[Anonymous]

I have a 3 year old and I'm having the same problem - feeling a little guilty that I can't be bothered to get him out the door before naptime. Sometimes we don't go out all day. He's content to play with his toys, or we read books together, and yes - even watch TV. He seems happy with this down time and fewer transitions and I really need this down time too. I try to get out with him once during the weekend eg a birthday party, play in the park, and that's enough for me anyway.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely do not feel guilty! We spend many winter weekend days inside -- sometimes not leaving the house at all. I agree with the PP who commented that our kids don't get enough downtime, so you certainly shouldn't feel guilty for giving them some, esp. if he's a toddler who goes to school each weekday. Between books, puzzles, coloring, listening to music, and just goofing off, it's easy (and a nice change) to pass away a day just playing inside instead of rushing around on errands, to birthday parties, etc.

[Anonymous]

I have my kids get dressed for the day when they wake up, before breakfast or coming down stairs. It is easier that way for me. To go back up after eating to get dressed would take ages in this house. too many distractions,

[Anonymous]

I guess my rug rats are not so disciplined. On a weekend day they sometimes spend their whole day inside in pajamas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess my rug rats are not so disciplined. On a weekend day they sometimes spend their whole day inside in pajamas!

I live in a small townhouse in Alexandria, there is no way I am spending the whole day inside, It really must be blizzard conditions b/4 I am willing to stay indoors, I have to get out of the house or I will go crazy , they seem to love going too, I do let them sleep in, but then its up and dressed for the day.

[Anonymous]

yeah, I think I'm antsy mother too, because I always feel like I have to be doing something on the weekend. The thing is, I think my child does better when we do have activities on the weekend, even small ones or errands, because otherwise after a while he gets bored (and so do I!) or we watch TV, etc. Especially in the winter.

I do get my daughter dressed first thing when she wakes up, so there's no question of when we're gonna do it later. That does help. But then I have to get dressed and that can be hard!