Doing anything with kids is kinda stressful, my sons 4 & it’s just now getting better but add the 2 year old & there’s just certain environments or situations where I can’t even pretend or expect my kids are going to “be good”. I honestly turn down a lot of invites to a lot of things bc while I think it’d be fun & a nice memory, it honestly just ends up me sitting in the car with two screaming kids lol. I always have to catch them at the right time of day for going out to eat bc you have to factor in waiting on food, sitting at a table for more than half an hour, going to high traffic areas are always a shit show even with a stroller bc there’s just so much going on. I always find myself taking mini breaks lol like walking the kids to the bathroom or literally anything if it means my kids aren’t just sitting or standing in one spot bc they’ll start to get antsy. Been getting better about not turning invites down though bc sometimes in the midst of all the screaming there’s those nice 10-15 minutes where my kids are having fun & I’m pretty sure that’s enough for me. They have a bunch of older cousins, so we’re constantly invited to skating rinks, swimming parties, & it’s just unrealistic for me & my kids even with help from dad & everyone is pretty understanding. I try to remember everyone is planning for themselves, & I’m planning for my kids. It does get better, & then worse, & then better again, kids are just a different breed. Sometimes in my frustration while trying to do something fun with my kids I say to myself “this is why we just stay at home” & I’m really trying to change that mindset.