Home is where the boredom is.
July 20, 2011 5:19 AM Subscribe
I need your ideas for fun nights in, or general fun that does not require too much walking around.
So, my mom's visiting me and she's got some health issues which make her less mobile than she is used to.
I don't have a car and rely on walking and public transport to get around, and I live out in the sticks far away from anything fun.
This means we can't go out to museums, musicals or cinemas because she gets tired out from all the walking involved to get to and from the places in question. Taxis are cripplingly expensive.
The medical side of the issue is being addressed and hopefully is only temporary but for now, I need some ideas of ways to entertain a guest who is not hugely mobile. What are some fun things we can do together which we can do at home? It seems that most of the things I/we do "for fun" tend to be outside things - home is where we go at the end of the day to sleep so there's not much to really do.
We've got DVDs, cooking and eating covered. She doesn't do computers. I do not own a Playstation, Xbox etc.
So, my mom's visiting me and she's got some health issues which make her less mobile than she is used to.
I don't have a car and rely on walking and public transport to get around, and I live out in the sticks far away from anything fun.
This means we can't go out to museums, musicals or cinemas because she gets tired out from all the walking involved to get to and from the places in question. Taxis are cripplingly expensive.
The medical side of the issue is being addressed and hopefully is only temporary but for now, I need some ideas of ways to entertain a guest who is not hugely mobile. What are some fun things we can do together which we can do at home? It seems that most of the things I/we do "for fun" tend to be outside things - home is where we go at the end of the day to sleep so there's not much to really do.
We've got DVDs, cooking and eating covered. She doesn't do computers. I do not own a Playstation, Xbox etc.
Make an activity out of looking at old family pictures. If they're not organized, buy some photo albums to put them in. If they are organized go through them and fix any that have fallen or are starting to fall out.
Conversation flows pretty well around old pictures, and that is always entertaining.
If there are pictures from your mom's youth, get her to tell you about them and the stories surrounding them.
I plan to do this someday with my parents -- there's so much about them I don't know.
posted by MustardTent at 6:02 AM on July 20, 2011
Conversation flows pretty well around old pictures, and that is always entertaining.
If there are pictures from your mom's youth, get her to tell you about them and the stories surrounding them.
I plan to do this someday with my parents -- there's so much about them I don't know.
posted by MustardTent at 6:02 AM on July 20, 2011
my mom is serious about card games. Canasta, poker, etc. If we gamble, we do it with pebbles or candy. It's usually LOTS of fun!
posted by Tarumba at 6:02 AM on July 20, 2011
posted by Tarumba at 6:02 AM on July 20, 2011
How about a project you can work on and finish together? A beautiful object you've made together might something to cherish. (Of course this should be something both of you would enjoy working on. I would be furious if I were trapped by ill health and made to work on a quilt!)
posted by tavegyl at 6:02 AM on July 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by tavegyl at 6:02 AM on July 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Plan to cook a really great meal together. It would be really great to ask to learn how to make an old family favorite or two.
posted by goggie at 6:25 AM on July 20, 2011
posted by goggie at 6:25 AM on July 20, 2011
"She doesn't do computers"
Perfect. Take her on a tour of the Internet. Show her how one can lookup old friends, investigate subjects of interest, play checkers, etc.
I don't mean teach her how to do it. Just let her sit there and watch you run through it. I bet she's been curious.
Explain to her that it's not really about computers, per se; that it's about going places and doing things. Sort of like how using telephones or televisions doesn't require require technical skills even though there's lots of complicated technology under the hood.
posted by Quisp Lover at 6:29 AM on July 20, 2011
Perfect. Take her on a tour of the Internet. Show her how one can lookup old friends, investigate subjects of interest, play checkers, etc.
I don't mean teach her how to do it. Just let her sit there and watch you run through it. I bet she's been curious.
Explain to her that it's not really about computers, per se; that it's about going places and doing things. Sort of like how using telephones or televisions doesn't require require technical skills even though there's lots of complicated technology under the hood.
posted by Quisp Lover at 6:29 AM on July 20, 2011
If there are pictures from your mom's youth, get her to tell you about them and the stories surrounding them.
Write down the stories from your childhood and her life - maybe you can be on the computer while your mom looks at pictures. Your mom won't always be around and it's amazing how many stories you forget as time passes. It would be nice to have a book of family stories/recipes to share with your children and/or to look through in your later years.
posted by jacindahb at 11:18 AM on July 20, 2011
Write down the stories from your childhood and her life - maybe you can be on the computer while your mom looks at pictures. Your mom won't always be around and it's amazing how many stories you forget as time passes. It would be nice to have a book of family stories/recipes to share with your children and/or to look through in your later years.
posted by jacindahb at 11:18 AM on July 20, 2011
If you're at all inclined, cooking together can be fun. Making cookies is an unbeatable way to spend a few hours.
Listen to audiobooks.
If you can afford to spend a little bit of money ($100 - $200), would you be willing to consider buying a transport wheelchair? Like your mother, I'm very limited in the distance I can walk. I recently bought myself this wheelchair, so I can go on outings with a friend. It was surprisingly not very expensive, and it's a pleasure to use. People can be touchy about using a wheelchair, but it really can make your world suddenly larger and more interesting.
It might even be possible to rent or borrow one; if you don't want or need to keep it forever, it would make a great donation after your mother's visit.
posted by Corvid at 12:05 PM on July 20, 2011
Listen to audiobooks.
If you can afford to spend a little bit of money ($100 - $200), would you be willing to consider buying a transport wheelchair? Like your mother, I'm very limited in the distance I can walk. I recently bought myself this wheelchair, so I can go on outings with a friend. It was surprisingly not very expensive, and it's a pleasure to use. People can be touchy about using a wheelchair, but it really can make your world suddenly larger and more interesting.
It might even be possible to rent or borrow one; if you don't want or need to keep it forever, it would make a great donation after your mother's visit.
posted by Corvid at 12:05 PM on July 20, 2011
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posted by xingcat at 5:35 AM on July 20, 2011 [1 favorite]