Got kids - How do you cope without family???

[Guest covfan71]

Hi everyone, we are due over next year and was just wondering how those of you with children managed to get some free time to yourselves. I have 2 little girls and in my job we have always lived away from family and friends so at the moment we are used to not having them around to be able to drop the kids off whenever we like. We haven't had a night to ourselves for months so will probably won't find it as hard to adjust in Oz than some. The scary thing though is knowing that we will never be able to get the chance now to even see family at weekends even if we wanted to have a break from the kids.

How do you manage in Oz. I know a lot of socialising in done at home, but if you are like my wife and won't leave the kids with anyone how have you found it??

Hope that makes sense?

Mark

[jo_marnes]

You will get that chance eventually - when you get to know people who can help you out. Up until then, you can't! We have people over for BBQs etc and all the kids are welcome - especially meet ups with fellow brits - everyone is in the same boat then! I guess it really depends on how often you are used to going out. We haven't noticed it really as we didn't go out that often in the UK anyway. I've been out with the girls here while hubby stays home etc - have to take it in turns. Not a big deal really

 

Jo xx

[HEAPS GOOD !!!]

Alot of the socialising here is done with the kids, we never invite friends around and say no kids.

 

Once you find your feet and you get to the point where you make some great friends as we have you can have that little bit of time out, and your new friends help out, its swings and roundabouts.

 

I dnt think me and the mrs have had that much time out, which makes when you do get it all the more special.

 

We never went out that much in the UK to be fair so we cope with it pretty well.

 

hope this helps

 

HG

[Guest georgie and steve]

Hi. we have been here 3 weeks, we have tom 4 and bob3, tomorrow will be our second night out without kids. we use a babysitting service called dial an angel. there are about 10 of these services in SA.

 

They are childminders basicaly, they cost though, a $25 ( £12) booking fee each time then about $13 hr. just buy a cheeper sofa when you get here and have more nights out.

 

We used random babbysitters alot in uk as we didnt benefit from much family support, so we are used to leaving them with random carers, we do understand that not everyone is happy doing this.

 

Anyway, lets remember that when we used to go to pontins, our parents used to leave us in chalets then the security guards used to page our parents in the bar if they heared crying. The chalets used to be named after cigarette brands too.

 

if you want to meet up when you get here the babysitting fees remain constant for uner 5 children, so throw em in with ours.

 

georgie and steve.

[jo_marnes]

just buy a cheeper sofa when you get here and have more nights out.

 

We used random babbysitters alot in uk

 

Good to know your priorities!

[Riponian]

I am glad someone asked this I was wondering?? I used to relay on my MIL but since we have moved down south I have found it tough but I can do it. I ahve to say I will be using somesort of babysitting service once we get settled for those nights when we need to get out but we don't do that much now so it won't be a problem and like you say you can just take your kids with you.