How do you break up the monotony of parenting/working life?
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Anonymous
I recognize that this sounds ungrateful, and I do regret that. We have good jobs, wonderful kids, a great neighborhood, and I do feel very lucky. But I'm also just really getting bored with the same tired routine day in and day out and feeling like I need to bust things up a bit. Usually I'm a bit excited for the school year to start, because at least that represents something new, but I'm kind of dreading it. Feels like every single day, we just get up, get the kids off to the bus, go to work, come home, make dinner, get the kids to an activity, help them with homework, go to bed. Over and over and over. I guess maybe that's just life? Anyone else feeling antsy to mix things up? Or have suggestions for seeing the bright side of things? Thanks for anything - even if it's just to tell me to be happy with my boring life 
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Anonymous
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By tickets in threes. Three concerts, three theatre productions- whatever. Have one night be parents night out and take a class together. Plan a three day weekend away every other month.
Walk backwards to the bus on Thursdays. Get a dog. Learn how to make maki rolls. Rearrange your kitchen. Rearrange the furniture on every room of the house - a different room each week. Have another child Take up sky diving Join a house of worship....... |
Anonymous
| Did you have turmoil in your childhood. Some people are not comfortable with a good life because their childhood was a mess. |
Anonymous
| Anonymous sex. |
Anonymous
Np. I had a delightful childhood but totally get it. -have people for dinner -take local "vacations" on the weekend (I guess try not to sign your kids up for activities...) |
Anonymous
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I always try to plan a fun family outing on the weekend to look forward to. There are so many options in the DC area. Pick a museum or park and go!
Have theme night dinners where you cook a certain type of food, maybe wear a silly hat or talk about a certain topic. It could be to gear up for an upcoming trip, a new movie coming out or do different nationalities. Plan date nights and weekends away when you can. |
Anonymous
| For me, spending time with friends both with and without my kid is really important. And I'm in an activist group that is mostly people who don't have kids-it's fun to spend one night a week in a totally different world than my usual one (and do a bit of good work in the process). |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
| Pretty sure this is what vacations are for. |
Anonymous
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I don't know but I am right there with you. Content but so bored I could cry.
I'm going to start by taking a class. |
Anonymous
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Plan for fun.
We do tie-dye as a family once a year, then take great joy in wearing it. Buy a kit on amazon, some packs of white t-shirts, more rubber bands and that special soap, have fun. Go apple picking and make apple butter in your crock pot, freeze most of it for winter, be proud of the tasty thing you made. Pick out some of your favorite childhood books to read at night to your kids--or something special you know they will enjoy. Lots of opportunities to liven things up. |
Anonymous
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We make an effort to spend time w/friends, sans kids. Get a sitter 1-2x/month and go out w/friends or just the two of us.
Otherwise, I look forward to vacations. I enjoy planning vacations, the whole family enjoys going on them. Exploring local stuff is great also. Parks, venues, etc. |
Anonymous
| My life is like this. We're definitely in a rut, especially during soccer season when most of our free time is spoken for. But in my case, I'm a single mom with a decent coparent, so I get to have a little non-mom fun on the nights he has her, plus the occasional weekend off with friends. And I have a hobby (running) that energizes me, and I occasionally pick up new skills to keep life interesting. (stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and soccer this last 3 years.) |
Anonymous
| Do something for YOU. not anymore for your kids or husband. Train for a marathon, take up yoga, start a book club, start crossfit, have girlfriends over for dinner, do movies in your yard etc. I have done or been invited to do all of these. I understand the monotony but a lot of that is putting eveyrone and everything ahead of you. |
Anonymous
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This is why it's good to have kids older, I'm too tired to want much more than to get my kids to bed, have an occasional date night and some great conversation/private time with my husband. Lunch with friends on workdays is my social outlet (occasionally )
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