Anonymous
07/07/2025 14:36
Subject: Those who itch to get out more
I guess you guys don’t have work full time and have a couple of kids in travel sports.
I was always taking the kids on ‘adventures’ when they were little because I hated staying home, but now I crave some downtime and not having to go anywhere for a bit!
I was always taking the kids on ‘adventures’ when they were little because I hated staying home, but now I crave some downtime and not having to go anywhere for a bit!
Anonymous
07/07/2025 07:46
Subject: Those who itch to get out more
You need to make social friends who also like to go out. This isn’t an easy task. There are moms who can’t/wont go out for dinner because their baby, toddler, kid needs them or their husband can’t handle the kid(s).
When we had one baby, DH and I used to take turns. He may go out to a bar to watch football with some friends. I would get brunch or early dinner with friends.
Now we have 3 kids who are less needy, but require rides to their sports and activities. I have many friends who like to hang out with and without kids.
When we had one baby, DH and I used to take turns. He may go out to a bar to watch football with some friends. I would get brunch or early dinner with friends.
Now we have 3 kids who are less needy, but require rides to their sports and activities. I have many friends who like to hang out with and without kids.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 06:55
Subject: Those who itch to get out more
Reason a million and one that I live in a walkable city with zero reliance on cars.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 06:52
Subject: Those who itch to get out more
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids are all young adults now, but I was in that position, and I still got out a lot.
I'd just pack a picnic lunch and tell my kids to get in the minivan and we'd set off somewhere for a little hike, or even just go to a far away (like an hour or two drive) playground.
We got a membership at a Science museum that had reciprocal agreements with other science/children's museums and plan day trips around visiting them.
National Park "America the Beautiful" passes are a great deal too--It's $80 for an annual membership and you get in free to National Parks/sites. There are so many within a few hours drive of DC.
I didn't "get out" like I used to in my early 20s--like going to clubs and bars, if that's what you meant though.
Any hints on getting the tweens/teens to go along with this? I did this a lot when my kids were younger. We’d pack a picnic to the park, explore trails, creeks or distant playgrounds. Now they’re 11, 13, 15 and generally not interested. One might be but the others want to just stay home. They’re busy during the school year but have a had a pretty chill summer and still don’t want to get out. I still want to though but am struggling with ideas. I know exploring playgrounds are out but trails and chilling at the creek should still be fun!
NP. Mine are 11 & 15. The 11 yo is still interested, but the teen less so. Some things that have helped:
1. Having them invite a friend helps a lot.
2. Letting them choose the destination.
3. My teen is competitive, so he gets bored with our usual hikes, but loves a challenging hike with more mileage.
4. He’s more likely to go if it’s somewhere new, like he can add a new state park to his list, for example.
5. Bribery with stopping for a meal or treat they like afterwards can also help.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 00:16
Subject: Those who itch to get out more
I’m one of the PPs who’s always desperate to get out and want to clarify that I live in a very, very walkable neighborhood. Yet I am totally constrained by work and the needs of others in my family so it’s not like I can just pop out for a stroll whenever I get twitchy.
The suggestion by a PP that their location is the cure for this feeling sort of misses the point. It’s more about the question of whether you miss the freedom to just leave on a whim. And sometimes it’s even worse to have enticing things right out your door that you can’t even enjoy. And even my interesting neighborhood is just wallpaper after 13 years that makes me wonder what’s two neighborhoods over, or three. Or four.
The suggestion by a PP that their location is the cure for this feeling sort of misses the point. It’s more about the question of whether you miss the freedom to just leave on a whim. And sometimes it’s even worse to have enticing things right out your door that you can’t even enjoy. And even my interesting neighborhood is just wallpaper after 13 years that makes me wonder what’s two neighborhoods over, or three. Or four.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 00:00
Subject: Those who itch to get out more
I’d kill to be able to get out of my house and into my backyard right now. I can go weeks without walking around my half acre property. In a few years I guess the kids will be bigger and won’t need to be directly monitored 100% of the time.
Anonymous
07/06/2025 21:09
Subject: Those who itch to get out more
Yes. My mother disdainfully calls it itchy feet. I just take my kids out.
Anonymous
07/06/2025 21:00
Subject: Re:Those who itch to get out more
My husband and I try to go out alone about twice a month to get out. Who doesn’t miss their twenties? I’m an introverted homebody and even I miss being young and carefree!