Desperate for ideas

[Lahri]

Hi all,

Hope you have all had a good Australia Day long weekend, I am one of those people who gets bored out of my brains if I am not constantly doing something.

On the weekend all my dh wants to do is play on his computer and pretty much do nothing all day. When it comes to our little one being a bit grumpy all he has to say is "she is grumpy today isn't she" or "it gets tiring doesn't it" or something to that effect anyway. I spend all day entertaining her in this stifling heat and suffer big time whilst he sits still and plays.

It is too hot to go for a walk or do anything particularly outside, shopping costs money, what can we do as a family that I could get him to join in with. He is lazy :laughing: but I need some adult interaction and some help with our daughter. I love her to bits but she is extremely active and although very good demands lots of attention at certain times during the day.

She has two naps of about an hour and a half during the day so that is then the only break I get. I go out a lot during the week, any ideas for the weekend?

You should see him when I ask him to help me for a second he gets all huffy :D as though I have asked him to commit a crime. Oh well, that is me just making out that my dh is abusive (he most certainly is not please don't think that) and no help whatsoever. I don't work during the week at all so I suppose I can't complain too much.

Any ideas of how I can get him to do something together that can interest him as well?

Sorry for the whinge.

[Melmc]

Wow! Jenna...you've really got me thinking. I can't think of anything straight away...I'll be back though!

[Lahri]

:laughing: it makes me think we are terrible not to be able to think of something to do. Maybe it is just me being silly and we do exactly the same as everyone else on the weekends - nothing!!

Not too worry was just putting it out there.

[Alisonp]

Jenna - Don't feel silly it's a good question. At this age babies are (I think) the hardest to amuse and sometimes thinking of something to do can get really tiring. Once they start crawling and then walking they seem to amuse themselves a lot better. Then you will constantly be saying "Maddison no!!! :p"

We go to the markets every saturday (food markets) and instead of being a chore it is actually enjoyable. My DD is now 3 and she knows all the stall holders and she is treated so nicely by everyone always giving her treats and little presents.

We don't have family where we live so it is harder trying to think of things to do, compared to those people who just go to visit their mum etc.

Another suggestion is that you could all go to the swimming pool. That's a nice family activity and most babies love swimming.

We also have a vegetable garden and as soon as DD could crawl she used to "help" in the garden. The other things we started from an early age was reading books together (and visiting the local library) and singing nursery rhymes. You can buy some really good little CDs from the ABC shop and sing along to them. My DH has a shocking singing voice but DD always loved to hear him sing:yes:.

That's all I can think of for now.:)

[Melmc]

Wow Alison, what great ideas. Bridie is going to start swimming lessons soon on a saturday...she loves the water!

The library will become a nice place to go in the future too.

Do you spend all your time with Maddison? You really need to have a couple of hours off and it might be nice for her and her daddy to have some one on one time, without you...

Good luck anyway xxx

[Lissa7]

Pool is a great one girls love it when daddy takes them for a swim
Also maybe a indoor playcentre most of them have areas for babies and you and your DH can have a coffee and chat
Even a nice walk on these balmy nights

[Lahri]

Hi all,

Thanks for that, sorry was just having one of those blank moments. I do a lot with Maddison, she has my attention most of the time and I don't tend to struggle for ideas of how to entertain her. (worked in child care :laughing:)

It was more of a case of how can I get my dh motivated to do activities as a family that he could enjoy. No idea why I thought you would all know what he would like. :rolleyes:

I have enrolled Maddison into swimming lessons now she is 6 months old (couldn't do that before) and we will go to the pool every Sunday for a family swim so he can get involved that way.

Once it cools down a bit I don't think it will be as much of an issue as we can go out together without it needing to be indoor activities.

Thanks once again.