Enjoying time with young children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 kids (4, 2, and 4 months). All boys. Older two are very active, curious, and physical. They do not like to sit and draw or sit and play for any meaningful amount of time.

What makes things fun for me is consistency and low(er) stress activities. I’ll take them to the zoo or museum with dad but, alone, it’s all about parks and the pool. They can get their energy out and there is not much to break. I can look on and jump in if I have to but mostly stay on the sidelines and watch them enjoy themselves. At these ages I think it’s mostly fun watching them have fun and giving them some independence so your not micromanaging or needlessly stressed.

Always bring snacks everywhere, keep a good sleeping/eating schedule, and don’t over schedule yourself. If it takes 20min to get to the pool instead of 5 because the kids find a bug on the way let go of the impulse to rush things along.

How do you manage three kids alone in the pool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 kids (4, 2, and 4 months). All boys. Older two are very active, curious, and physical. They do not like to sit and draw or sit and play for any meaningful amount of time.

What makes things fun for me is consistency and low(er) stress activities. I’ll take them to the zoo or museum with dad but, alone, it’s all about parks and the pool. They can get their energy out and there is not much to break. I can look on and jump in if I have to but mostly stay on the sidelines and watch them enjoy themselves. At these ages I think it’s mostly fun watching them have fun and giving them some independence so your not micromanaging or needlessly stressed.

Always bring snacks everywhere, keep a good sleeping/eating schedule, and don’t over schedule yourself. If it takes 20min to get to the pool instead of 5 because the kids find a bug on the way let go of the impulse to rush things along.

How do you manage three kids alone in the pool?

Yeah, I’m not sure I would feel safe NOT micromanaging a 2 year old and 4 month old at the pool. I have one 4 year old and I’m always with him at the pool. I can’t imagine two of him AND an infant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m finding such joy in just playing at home with my kids. I’m a SAHM but I rarely (ever?) play with them. When I do, it’s completely delightful.

They don't beg you to play with them? What are their ages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 kids (4, 2, and 4 months). All boys. Older two are very active, curious, and physical. They do not like to sit and draw or sit and play for any meaningful amount of time.

What makes things fun for me is consistency and low(er) stress activities. I’ll take them to the zoo or museum with dad but, alone, it’s all about parks and the pool. They can get their energy out and there is not much to break. I can look on and jump in if I have to but mostly stay on the sidelines and watch them enjoy themselves. At these ages I think it’s mostly fun watching them have fun and giving them some independence so your not micromanaging or needlessly stressed.

Always bring snacks everywhere, keep a good sleeping/eating schedule, and don’t over schedule yourself. If it takes 20min to get to the pool instead of 5 because the kids find a bug on the way let go of the impulse to rush things along.

How do you manage three kids alone in the pool?

Yeah, I’m not sure I would feel safe NOT micromanaging a 2 year old and 4 month old at the pool. I have one 4 year old and I’m always with him at the pool. I can’t imagine two of him AND an infant.

I had a one year old and a non-swimming 4 year old at a lake this summer at it was one of the most stressful chapters of my motherhood, actually possibly even worse than the first week home with my first baby which was pretty bad due to baby blues, latch issues and a somewhat traumatic childbirth. Never again two nonswimming kids, one adult in the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing fun with young children. Just get through the day and enjoy the alone time hour at the end of the day.

I hope this is sarcasm
Otherwise wow I feel sorry for your family

I’m pregnant work for home a demanding job just like my spouse and have a 3 year old that is defiant doesn’t nap and just tantrumed at the park and in the car for an hour. And we’ve been locked in since last March. No, it’s not sarcasm. I have no memory of fun. And don’t worry we’re all feeling sorry for ourselves enough.

OP needs to be realistic that it’s not fun or thankful for the moments of fun that she may have that others don’t.

Real talk, this doesn't sound healthy or normal.
And why do people keep being dramatic and saying we have been locked in since last March.
You just said you went to the park where your kid had a tantrum.

Because at the end of 2019 I moved to a rural forest area where I had no family or friends and we couldn’t afford to get sick. Then I got pregnant. And park is an empty playground. Maybe your situation is different but I am too scared to get sick or for my husband to get sick with no one here. Don’t assume people are living their lives. I do hikes empty playgrounds yard forest walks and driving around the streets to see things. Only deliveries or take out food. It’s a combination of bad luck and anxiety and not being blessed with family nearby or a calm kid or not having to work at all hours.

I do have family here and they have been F all help during two childbirths (one c section) and a medical crisis with DH when I had two kids (5 day hospital stay with gallbladder and pancreatitis). So I guess count knowing you don't have help as a crappy blessing.

I have wondered what happens to kids when their parents get sick with covid, because the kids are probably covid positive too.

Find somebody else who is in the same chapter of life and watch each other's backs. It's ok to feel sorry for yourself but make something positive out of it.

[Anonymous]

I get you, OP. Here's what I do with my 5-year-old son and 1.5 year old.

Ymca ( They go to childcare)

Urban air

Swimming at the YMCA

Train trips to NYC from Philadelphia
We go to outdoor parks play in water fountains.

I enjoy reading to them at home.

Here's what I don't do

Restaurants
Movies
I really shouldn't take them to the grocery store, but I do.
Music classes
Storytime
Disney World
Zoo

[Anonymous]

One on one time is much more enjoyable. Try to schedule that everyday especially with the older one. Doing things outside but close to home is better: walk around block, sidewalk chalk, bike ride. Help Set up play then you take breaks, ie, build some legos and then let them take over while you prep food.

[Anonymous]

Spending time with young children is rarely fun or enjoyable. There are some people who enjoy it, but most do not. It’s why wealthy people since the beginning of time have had other people take care of their children! It’s why so many UMC moms return to work.

Best thing is to have low expectations. When you think it’s going to be fun is when it’s a huge disappointment. Try to set aside your own time to do things that are actually fun. Make sure to still spend time with friends and have your own career. Both help tremendously.

[Anonymous]

What helps me have more fun is to have breaks from my children. I go on a weekly date night with my husband. I make plans with friends. Also find that hanging with other families is usually fun since the kids entertain each other in a way that siblings rarely do.

Start going to dinner on the weekends with your spouse. Have a night each week where you either hang with a friend, go to a bookstore, get a manicure etc.

People should be more honest about how terrible it is to have kids.

[Anonymous]

I kicked the 4 year old out of the baby seat on my bike and onto his own bike and put the 1 year old in the baby seat and took them to the park. That was a 3 out of 10, not bad. lol

[Anonymous]

LOL it sounds bad but I can sympathize, I also have a 4 and 1 year old. Part of it is the 3 year age gap. Things that are fun with my 4 year old are a pain in the ass w my one year old, like going to the beach for example or going to restaurants. We do really simple things as a family unit… go to the park, walks and bike rides, go have a picnic etc. Then we will plan occasional outings with just my 4.5 year old bc honestly when it’s just her and me or her and my husband it’s a lot of fun. She’s like a small adult a lot of the times. I think it’s the one year old that makes it challenging to do things as a family. We keep saying o when the little one is 3 or 4 family outings will be more enjoyable. Or at least we won’t have to spend every waking moment making sure she isn’t sticking her finger in an outlet or climbing up the stairs…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that age I loved going to museums and splash pads with the kids.

Also people say travel with kids is terrible but one good thing about it is that it forces you to find fun things to do with them. It was actually easier to have fun with my kids while traveling than it was at home.

The playground and the pool are definitely stressful for me. A 2/3yr old that thinks she’s 12. Lots of desire for dangerous activities without the ability to see them through. The splash pad has been a saving grace. No drowning risk, just fun!