I agree with all of the above. I would also add that it’s ok to plan downtime at home and work that into a routine.

We tend to be rather busy on Saturdays and Sunday mornings, but Sunday afternoons are when we relax! We watch tv, read, play video games. The kids (6 & 4) do crafts, color, play, watch movies, do puzzles (they used to fit a nap in there too). Both my husband and I are introverts and need this time to recharge for the work week and because we plan for it and the kids know what to expect, it generally works well. It’s become our family’s time to reconnect and enjoy being with each other. It’s my favorite time of the week!

Ditto to having something planned. It may be a chicken and egg situation, but among the parents I know, those who struggle the most with weekends have much less planned (outings, play dates, classes, etc) compared to those who do have at least one thing each day planned. It’s hard at first if you haven’t been doing them, but you’ll get into a groove.

My 5 year old has been “benched” from activities for about 6 weeks because of an injury. The first weekend it was kind of nice to not have to get up and go, but most weekends have been more draining than they used to be. I cannot WAIT for the new year and extracurriculars to start up.

4yo at the playground, minimum 2 hours. Guaranteed they’ll nap if tired enough!

Don’t feel you need to entertain your kid. Keep a similar structure to preschool. It’s not a big deal if 4 year old doesn’t nap. Have some quiet down time together. Read together.

Have him help you with something around the house, raking leaves, washing plastic food storage items.

I’m a SAHM of 3 kids now but I used to be a working mom of 2. We lived for weekends. We went to museums, shows, zoos, festivals. We would eat out with friends or just us. We invited friends over to bbq or watch football. One person would stay home with napping child while other would take older child out.

You shouldn’t expect a 4yo to nap. Both my older kids stopped napping at 3. My youngest is now 2y 9m and still naps. DH often takes older kids out when she is home napping.

We outsourced most of the housework so we had minimal to do on weekends. I know some people clean, do laundry and meal prep on weekends.

Anonymous wrote:You just need more practice. SAHM’s do this everyday and often with more kids.

You can’t seriously want to put your 4 year old in weekend daycare?

Yes, the idea of weekend "daycare" is insanity. Involve your 4 year old in what you are doing. You could wear the baby around. Take turns caring for both kids at the same time with your husband.

We take turns so that we each get at least a few hours alone time.

You just need more practice. SAHM’s do this everyday and often with more kids.

You can’t seriously want to put your 4 year old in weekend daycare?

It's a slog. 4 and 2 year old. Activities have been helpful for us (ballet and swim for the older one, gymnastics for the little one) bc that is lower parental involvement time. They watch 1 hour of TV in the AM on both days and one of the days my DH will take them for breakfast. Even with all that it's just...a slog. I look forward to Mondays.

^^also, have enough stuff at home that when the older one complains about being bored, you can say, hey, go build with Magnatiles, legos, whatever. It's good for kids to be bored. If you as the parent can tolerate their complaints and help steer them towards safe activities, I've found it pays dividends in having older kids who can occupy themselves.

I have three: 8, 6, 3.5. I echo a lot of what's been said in terms of getting out of the house, trying out new playgrounds, etc. I often--especially when mine were younger--tried to have at least one playdate scheduled each weekend at a playground. I usually took them solo so DH could chill, then I had my alone time separately. And the playdate was with a parent I really liked, so it was fun for me. Plan some fun things for you, too, if possible, and do a mix of whole family vs. splitting up vs. one parent takes both. At least, that's what works best for us. I have more of a need to get out of the house than DH, and am happy to take the kids out solo if it means I get a long workout to myself later.

I also love the preschool teacher's suggestion to involve your oldest especially in regular household tasks. Activities don't have to be--and I would argue shouldn't be--focused on entertaining kids all the time. Real people have to buy groceries, do laundry, etc. I'll take a kid or two grocery shopping and let them pick out a special snack to share with the other two. Or one of the older two helps me match socks or sort laundry, etc.

Save screen time for later in the day, and it's totally fine to have some. I also look forward to getting take out or something easy to heat up on weekends!

Similar boat here and the weekends can be grueling, especially because my baby is still not napping well. I find that it's actually easier if we leave the house for the day. Hikes, breweries, road trips, festivals, museums, whatever it takes. It's the hours at home that get to me. Constant messes, bored kids, tired parents, snacking, the baby refusing to nap, the toddler freaking out... so annoying. Maybe it's our personalities but every single member of our family is happier if we are out and about.

Other tip is babysitters! Once a month or so we have a sitter from 5 to 8 on Saturday. It really cuts the day off (in a good way), and we come home to a quiet house and enjoy a drink and a movie.

My day goes better if i have a schedule/plan that includes both parents. Even if you don't stick to exact times i think it makes the day easier and more enjoyable. Example: both up when kids get up. Whoever helps baby get dressed etc, other one makes breakfast. Go out together in the morning for an activity. Lunch at home or out. Nap/movie. One parent runs errands if need be, other parent does laundry, tidies up, whatever needs doing. After nap, do stuff with the kids in the house, puzzles, play a game, craft, color etc. Dinner together, one parent does showers/bath and other gets kids dried off in jammies etc.

I hear you OP! We have a 1 and 3-year-old who is suddenly refusing naps and the weekends are HARD. We try to get out in the morning.

One of us usually naps while the baby naps. Other will either watch a movie or go out with the older. We order groceries online. Usually do lunch out. We need more date nights but really can't swing it financially much with two in childcare. Now, more than ever, I wish we had local family so we could get a break.

We have an almost 5 year old and a 2.5 year old. Mornings we tend to get out of the house to do something fun, then lunch out. Home for little one to nap, big one does homework (cutting out pictures, occasional worksheet) and then gets screen time. DH and I will nap/do stuff around the house/solo errands/whatever. When the little one gets up, we will play outside/bike ride or occasionally run an errand.