Thanksgiving alone with 3 kids, WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. i didn’t even know that Groupon was still a thing I do solo parenting often when DH is on business trips but this is usually combined with work, school, activities and planned outings. This situation is a last minute change of plan for 5 days. I am definitely planning to get a neighborhood teen to help for a couple of hours so I can get a break.

For the PP who is used to doing this, good for you i guess! I wish you had more constructive advices, it is not a competition !

There is really nothing to advise. It’s five days. What would you be doing if your husband was home? Just so the same.

DP - if you have zero compassion for someone who handles a situation differently than you, why post at all? Dumping on people who don’t have your skill set isn’t helpful.

Good luck, OP! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend.

I’m not ”dumping”-I’m being practical.
Spending time with your older kids for a few days shouldn’t require hiring help.
And the extremes in advice is bizarre. One poster suggesting that Op’s 8 year old still needs help feeding, dressing, and using the toilet-while other posters suggesting op take the kids to water parks by herself!

No, you're not. Being "practical" in this case would be offering helpful suggestions. You're being smug and rude.

I did offer a helpful suggestion and I am not being smug nor rude. You are being defensive and are name calling.

The helpful suggestion is to just do whatever you would have done if the husband was home. You don't need to hire a mother's helper to spoon food your 8 year old or help him use the toilet. You also don't need to drag 3 kids to NYC or Great Wolf Lodge by yourself--especially if you are incapable of just existing with them in the house for five days without the help of a middle school girl. That would be a disaster!

I was going to suggest kalahari. My kids are all better swimmers than I am. They have taken swim lessons since preschool and did swim team since kindergarten. My kids are well behaved and good travelers.

Some parents have kids who seem very difficult. Others are easy.

I have friends who travel to Asia by themselves with 3 kids since kids were babies. Going on an outing or short trip to a close by city isn’t that big of a deal.

According to at least one poster in this thread, OP's kids are at an age (5-8) where they still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing. With three kids that are that dependent, there is no way anyone should be taking them to a waterpark on their own. It's way to dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. i didn’t even know that Groupon was still a thing I do solo parenting often when DH is on business trips but this is usually combined with work, school, activities and planned outings. This situation is a last minute change of plan for 5 days. I am definitely planning to get a neighborhood teen to help for a couple of hours so I can get a break.

For the PP who is used to doing this, good for you i guess! I wish you had more constructive advices, it is not a competition !

There is really nothing to advise. It’s five days. What would you be doing if your husband was home? Just so the same.

DP - if you have zero compassion for someone who handles a situation differently than you, why post at all? Dumping on people who don’t have your skill set isn’t helpful.

Good luck, OP! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend.

I’m not ”dumping”-I’m being practical.
Spending time with your older kids for a few days shouldn’t require hiring help.
And the extremes in advice is bizarre. One poster suggesting that Op’s 8 year old still needs help feeding, dressing, and using the toilet-while other posters suggesting op take the kids to water parks by herself!

No, you're not. Being "practical" in this case would be offering helpful suggestions. You're being smug and rude.

I did offer a helpful suggestion and I am not being smug nor rude. You are being defensive and are name calling.

The helpful suggestion is to just do whatever you would have done if the husband was home. You don't need to hire a mother's helper to spoon food your 8 year old or help him use the toilet. You also don't need to drag 3 kids to NYC or Great Wolf Lodge by yourself--especially if you are incapable of just existing with them in the house for five days without the help of a middle school girl. That would be a disaster!

I was going to suggest kalahari. My kids are all better swimmers than I am. They have taken swim lessons since preschool and did swim team since kindergarten. My kids are well behaved and good travelers.

Some parents have kids who seem very difficult. Others are easy.

I have friends who travel to Asia by themselves with 3 kids since kids were babies. Going on an outing or short trip to a close by city isn’t that big of a deal.

According to at least one poster in this thread, OP's kids are at an age (5-8) where they still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing. With three kids that are that dependent, there is no way anyone should be taking them to a waterpark on their own. It's way to dangerous.

Waterparks require vests. What exactly do you think is going to happen while waiting in line for a water slide? I have been taking my kids to the pool solo since they were toddlers. At young ages, they would wear puddle jumpers. There are shallow areas.

If OP and kids can’t swim and not comfortable, that is fine but I do not think unable to go on outings with elementary kids is hard. It doesn’t have to be a water park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you new to the area? You don't know how to be a parent to your kids alone? Weird question. Do what you normally do.

This is an anonymous forum, but I hate people like you who can’t take a second to respond constructively and kindly to a stranger who requested additional ideas… are we in a competition to be the best mommy? Is my inconvenience nulled because you’ve done “better”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. i didn’t even know that Groupon was still a thing I do solo parenting often when DH is on business trips but this is usually combined with work, school, activities and planned outings. This situation is a last minute change of plan for 5 days. I am definitely planning to get a neighborhood teen to help for a couple of hours so I can get a break.

For the PP who is used to doing this, good for you i guess! I wish you had more constructive advices, it is not a competition !

There is really nothing to advise. It’s five days. What would you be doing if your husband was home? Just so the same.

DP - if you have zero compassion for someone who handles a situation differently than you, why post at all? Dumping on people who don’t have your skill set isn’t helpful.

Good luck, OP! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend.

I’m not ”dumping”-I’m being practical.
Spending time with your older kids for a few days shouldn’t require hiring help.
And the extremes in advice is bizarre. One poster suggesting that Op’s 8 year old still needs help feeding, dressing, and using the toilet-while other posters suggesting op take the kids to water parks by herself!

No, you're not. Being "practical" in this case would be offering helpful suggestions. You're being smug and rude.

I did offer a helpful suggestion and I am not being smug nor rude. You are being defensive and are name calling.

The helpful suggestion is to just do whatever you would have done if the husband was home. You don't need to hire a mother's helper to spoon food your 8 year old or help him use the toilet. You also don't need to drag 3 kids to NYC or Great Wolf Lodge by yourself--especially if you are incapable of just existing with them in the house for five days without the help of a middle school girl. That would be a disaster!

I was going to suggest kalahari. My kids are all better swimmers than I am. They have taken swim lessons since preschool and did swim team since kindergarten. My kids are well behaved and good travelers.

Some parents have kids who seem very difficult. Others are easy.

I have friends who travel to Asia by themselves with 3 kids since kids were babies. Going on an outing or short trip to a close by city isn’t that big of a deal.

According to at least one poster in this thread, OP's kids are at an age (5-8) where they still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing. With three kids that are that dependent, there is no way anyone should be taking them to a waterpark on their own. It's way to dangerous.

Waterparks require vests. What exactly do you think is going to happen while waiting in line for a water slide? I have been taking my kids to the pool solo since they were toddlers. At young ages, they would wear puddle jumpers. There are shallow areas.

If OP and kids can’t swim and not comfortable, that is fine but I do not think unable to go on outings with elementary kids is hard. It doesn’t have to be a water park.

I don't think so either. Like I said from the beginning, I thought since OP's kids were older it shouldn't be hard--but OTHER posters are the ones saying that 8 year olds still need help feeding themselves and using the toilet. And that it was necessary to hire a local middle school girl to help out.
If OP really NEEDS the assistance of sixth grade Sadie next door to spoon feed her 3rd grader, then taking three children to a water park by herself is ridiculously dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. i didn’t even know that Groupon was still a thing I do solo parenting often when DH is on business trips but this is usually combined with work, school, activities and planned outings. This situation is a last minute change of plan for 5 days. I am definitely planning to get a neighborhood teen to help for a couple of hours so I can get a break.

For the PP who is used to doing this, good for you i guess! I wish you had more constructive advices, it is not a competition !

There is really nothing to advise. It’s five days. What would you be doing if your husband was home? Just so the same.

DP - if you have zero compassion for someone who handles a situation differently than you, why post at all? Dumping on people who don’t have your skill set isn’t helpful.

Good luck, OP! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend.

I’m not ”dumping”-I’m being practical.
Spending time with your older kids for a few days shouldn’t require hiring help.
And the extremes in advice is bizarre. One poster suggesting that Op’s 8 year old still needs help feeding, dressing, and using the toilet-while other posters suggesting op take the kids to water parks by herself!

No, you're not. Being "practical" in this case would be offering helpful suggestions. You're being smug and rude.

I did offer a helpful suggestion and I am not being smug nor rude. You are being defensive and are name calling.

The helpful suggestion is to just do whatever you would have done if the husband was home. You don't need to hire a mother's helper to spoon food your 8 year old or help him use the toilet. You also don't need to drag 3 kids to NYC or Great Wolf Lodge by yourself--especially if you are incapable of just existing with them in the house for five days without the help of a middle school girl. That would be a disaster!

I was going to suggest kalahari. My kids are all better swimmers than I am. They have taken swim lessons since preschool and did swim team since kindergarten. My kids are well behaved and good travelers.

Some parents have kids who seem very difficult. Others are easy.

I have friends who travel to Asia by themselves with 3 kids since kids were babies. Going on an outing or short trip to a close by city isn’t that big of a deal.

According to at least one poster in this thread, OP's kids are at an age (5-8) where they still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing. With three kids that are that dependent, there is no way anyone should be taking them to a waterpark on their own. It's way to dangerous.

Waterparks require vests. What exactly do you think is going to happen while waiting in line for a water slide? I have been taking my kids to the pool solo since they were toddlers. At young ages, they would wear puddle jumpers. There are shallow areas.

If OP and kids can’t swim and not comfortable, that is fine but I do not think unable to go on outings with elementary kids is hard. It doesn’t have to be a water park.

Also, no not all waterparks require vests for every patron. I just looked at Great wolf lodge and it says those under 48 SHOULD wear vests, but it doesn't say it's required. And it's not about what happens "waiting in line for the water slide"-it's what happens as you go down the slide/get dumped in the pool. They aren't going to let an entire group of 4 all go down in one fell swoop. At some point the kids will be in the water, out of mom's sight.
The lifeguards aren't going to put up with multiple kids from the same family needing to be rescued every time they go down the slide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. i didn’t even know that Groupon was still a thing I do solo parenting often when DH is on business trips but this is usually combined with work, school, activities and planned outings. This situation is a last minute change of plan for 5 days. I am definitely planning to get a neighborhood teen to help for a couple of hours so I can get a break.

For the PP who is used to doing this, good for you i guess! I wish you had more constructive advices, it is not a competition !

There is really nothing to advise. It’s five days. What would you be doing if your husband was home? Just so the same.

DP - if you have zero compassion for someone who handles a situation differently than you, why post at all? Dumping on people who don’t have your skill set isn’t helpful.

Good luck, OP! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend.

I’m not ”dumping”-I’m being practical.
Spending time with your older kids for a few days shouldn’t require hiring help.
And the extremes in advice is bizarre. One poster suggesting that Op’s 8 year old still needs help feeding, dressing, and using the toilet-while other posters suggesting op take the kids to water parks by herself!

No, you're not. Being "practical" in this case would be offering helpful suggestions. You're being smug and rude.

I did offer a helpful suggestion and I am not being smug nor rude. You are being defensive and are name calling.

The helpful suggestion is to just do whatever you would have done if the husband was home. You don't need to hire a mother's helper to spoon food your 8 year old or help him use the toilet. You also don't need to drag 3 kids to NYC or Great Wolf Lodge by yourself--especially if you are incapable of just existing with them in the house for five days without the help of a middle school girl. That would be a disaster!

I was going to suggest kalahari. My kids are all better swimmers than I am. They have taken swim lessons since preschool and did swim team since kindergarten. My kids are well behaved and good travelers.

Some parents have kids who seem very difficult. Others are easy.

I have friends who travel to Asia by themselves with 3 kids since kids were babies. Going on an outing or short trip to a close by city isn’t that big of a deal.

According to at least one poster in this thread, OP's kids are at an age (5-8) where they still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing. With three kids that are that dependent, there is no way anyone should be taking them to a waterpark on their own. It's way to dangerous.

Waterparks require vests. What exactly do you think is going to happen while waiting in line for a water slide? I have been taking my kids to the pool solo since they were toddlers. At young ages, they would wear puddle jumpers. There are shallow areas.

If OP and kids can’t swim and not comfortable, that is fine but I do not think unable to go on outings with elementary kids is hard. It doesn’t have to be a water park.

Also, no not all waterparks require vests for every patron. I just looked at Great wolf lodge and it says those under 48 SHOULD wear vests, but it doesn't say it's required. And it's not about what happens "waiting in line for the water slide"-it's what happens as you go down the slide/get dumped in the pool. They aren't going to let an entire group of 4 all go down in one fell swoop. At some point the kids will be in the water, out of mom's sight.
The lifeguards aren't going to put up with multiple kids from the same family needing to be rescued every time they go down the slide.

Well if they are not good swimmers, they should wear a vest. My 6yo can swim laps and has been able to for quite some time. I have not thought about swimming problems since they were 5. Learning to swim was a priority for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. i didn’t even know that Groupon was still a thing I do solo parenting often when DH is on business trips but this is usually combined with work, school, activities and planned outings. This situation is a last minute change of plan for 5 days. I am definitely planning to get a neighborhood teen to help for a couple of hours so I can get a break.

For the PP who is used to doing this, good for you i guess! I wish you had more constructive advices, it is not a competition !

There is really nothing to advise. It’s five days. What would you be doing if your husband was home? Just so the same.

DP - if you have zero compassion for someone who handles a situation differently than you, why post at all? Dumping on people who don’t have your skill set isn’t helpful.

Good luck, OP! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend.

I’m not ”dumping”-I’m being practical.
Spending time with your older kids for a few days shouldn’t require hiring help.
And the extremes in advice is bizarre. One poster suggesting that Op’s 8 year old still needs help feeding, dressing, and using the toilet-while other posters suggesting op take the kids to water parks by herself!

No, you're not. Being "practical" in this case would be offering helpful suggestions. You're being smug and rude.

I did offer a helpful suggestion and I am not being smug nor rude. You are being defensive and are name calling.

The helpful suggestion is to just do whatever you would have done if the husband was home. You don't need to hire a mother's helper to spoon food your 8 year old or help him use the toilet. You also don't need to drag 3 kids to NYC or Great Wolf Lodge by yourself--especially if you are incapable of just existing with them in the house for five days without the help of a middle school girl. That would be a disaster!

I was going to suggest kalahari. My kids are all better swimmers than I am. They have taken swim lessons since preschool and did swim team since kindergarten. My kids are well behaved and good travelers.

Some parents have kids who seem very difficult. Others are easy.

I have friends who travel to Asia by themselves with 3 kids since kids were babies. Going on an outing or short trip to a close by city isn’t that big of a deal.

According to at least one poster in this thread, OP's kids are at an age (5-8) where they still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing. With three kids that are that dependent, there is no way anyone should be taking them to a waterpark on their own. It's way to dangerous.

Waterparks require vests. What exactly do you think is going to happen while waiting in line for a water slide? I have been taking my kids to the pool solo since they were toddlers. At young ages, they would wear puddle jumpers. There are shallow areas.

If OP and kids can’t swim and not comfortable, that is fine but I do not think unable to go on outings with elementary kids is hard. It doesn’t have to be a water park.

I don't think so either. Like I said from the beginning, I thought since OP's kids were older it shouldn't be hard--but OTHER posters are the ones saying that 8 year olds still need help feeding themselves and using the toilet. And that it was necessary to hire a local middle school girl to help out.
If OP really NEEDS the assistance of sixth grade Sadie next door to spoon feed her 3rd grader, then taking three children to a water park by herself is ridiculously dangerous.

I think you are the only poster who keeps mentioning that OP kids "still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing." You obviously has too much time on your hands, go get a job!

[Anonymous]

I’m the one who mentioned the water park. I don’t even like waterparks. I just suggested as an option to go somewhere. I thought a hotel connected to a waterpark with other activities would be fun. I guess it is logistically difficult for many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could you swing an overnight stay at a hotel with a pool?

Honestly this is so unnecessary. And probably more stressful than just staying home.

I wasn't suggesting it because it was necessary. I was suggesting it because it would be fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. i didn’t even know that Groupon was still a thing I do solo parenting often when DH is on business trips but this is usually combined with work, school, activities and planned outings. This situation is a last minute change of plan for 5 days. I am definitely planning to get a neighborhood teen to help for a couple of hours so I can get a break.

For the PP who is used to doing this, good for you i guess! I wish you had more constructive advices, it is not a competition !

There is really nothing to advise. It’s five days. What would you be doing if your husband was home? Just so the same.

DP - if you have zero compassion for someone who handles a situation differently than you, why post at all? Dumping on people who don’t have your skill set isn’t helpful.

Good luck, OP! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend.

I’m not ”dumping”-I’m being practical.
Spending time with your older kids for a few days shouldn’t require hiring help.
And the extremes in advice is bizarre. One poster suggesting that Op’s 8 year old still needs help feeding, dressing, and using the toilet-while other posters suggesting op take the kids to water parks by herself!

No, you're not. Being "practical" in this case would be offering helpful suggestions. You're being smug and rude.

I did offer a helpful suggestion and I am not being smug nor rude. You are being defensive and are name calling.

The helpful suggestion is to just do whatever you would have done if the husband was home. You don't need to hire a mother's helper to spoon food your 8 year old or help him use the toilet. You also don't need to drag 3 kids to NYC or Great Wolf Lodge by yourself--especially if you are incapable of just existing with them in the house for five days without the help of a middle school girl. That would be a disaster!

I was going to suggest kalahari. My kids are all better swimmers than I am. They have taken swim lessons since preschool and did swim team since kindergarten. My kids are well behaved and good travelers.

Some parents have kids who seem very difficult. Others are easy.

I have friends who travel to Asia by themselves with 3 kids since kids were babies. Going on an outing or short trip to a close by city isn’t that big of a deal.

According to at least one poster in this thread, OP's kids are at an age (5-8) where they still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing. With three kids that are that dependent, there is no way anyone should be taking them to a waterpark on their own. It's way to dangerous.

Waterparks require vests. What exactly do you think is going to happen while waiting in line for a water slide? I have been taking my kids to the pool solo since they were toddlers. At young ages, they would wear puddle jumpers. There are shallow areas.

If OP and kids can’t swim and not comfortable, that is fine but I do not think unable to go on outings with elementary kids is hard. It doesn’t have to be a water park.

I don't think so either. Like I said from the beginning, I thought since OP's kids were older it shouldn't be hard--but OTHER posters are the ones saying that 8 year olds still need help feeding themselves and using the toilet. And that it was necessary to hire a local middle school girl to help out.
If OP really NEEDS the assistance of sixth grade Sadie next door to spoon feed her 3rd grader, then taking three children to a water park by herself is ridiculously dangerous.

I think you are the only poster who keeps mentioning that OP kids "still need help lifting a fork from a plate to their mouth, using the toilet, and putting on every day clothing." You obviously has too much time on your hands, go get a job!

No, the poster at 15:37 yesterday said that kids that age still need help.

[Anonymous]

The zoo is open on Thanksgiving Day. You will have the place to yourself!

[Anonymous]

We used to take kids to their school playground ( I don’t recommend if your school is at a very quiet area for safety) during winter, the lowest was probably 40 degrees but bring some hot cocoa would power them up ( that’s what we do when go ski). Stacy Sherwood community Center and cub run rec center have good outdoor park and playground and it’s safe. You can also bring bikes and some snack as you can use their restroom if they are open.

Another suggestion is get some cheap small craft set from target, also gingerbread house kit, prepare some board game to keep the kids busy. My ES school aged kids also loves to go shopping at places like target, ikea, dollar tree or even lidl, and we allow them to get a few small things they can eat or play with.

You can consider taking kids to see drive through holiday light at bull run ( depend on the days it could be a long car line) or flying pan farm. Have kids go to restroom before leaving house would make things easier. Meadowlark botanical garden has beautiful holiday lights you can walk around and see, and it should be safe enough for a parent with 3 kids.

Maybe a family movie night if kids agree that you can choose what to watch.

[Anonymous]

Do what you normally do. No need for a bunch of outings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to take kids to their school playground ( I don’t recommend if your school is at a very quiet area for safety) during winter, the lowest was probably 40 degrees but bring some hot cocoa would power them up ( that’s what we do when go ski). Stacy Sherwood community Center and cub run rec center have good outdoor park and playground and it’s safe. You can also bring bikes and some snack as you can use their restroom if they are open.

Another suggestion is get some cheap small craft set from target, also gingerbread house kit, prepare some board game to keep the kids busy. My ES school aged kids also loves to go shopping at places like target, ikea, dollar tree or even lidl, and we allow them to get a few small things they can eat or play with.

You can consider taking kids to see drive through holiday light at bull run ( depend on the days it could be a long car line) or flying pan farm. Have kids go to restroom before leaving house would make things easier. Meadowlark botanical garden has beautiful holiday lights you can walk around and see, and it should be safe enough for a parent with 3 kids.

Maybe a family movie night if kids agree that you can choose what to watch.

Also cun run rec center indoor leisure pool ( like a small water park but it’s local), non swimmer kids can put on life jacket, there’s life guard but you maybe want to pay attention to your kids your own when it’s crowded.

[Anonymous]

As a long-time SAHM, I'm baffled why everyone keeps suggesting she take them somewhere, especially somewhere new, far, and overwhelming. Just do all of your normal stuff, hit some parks, throw in a few extra movies and takeout, have a PJ day (or two) and call it a weekend.