how much free time do you get?

[Natsku]

I get a fair amount. Maria goes to daycare two days a week so I have those days to myself. Don't usually have much time in the evenings as by the time Maria has finally fallen asleep and stopped shouting for fresh water, potty etc. I'm knackered and go to bed myself (but read in bed for about an hour to wind down).

I also used to go out two evenings a week (to play poker or pool or go round my friend's place) while OH looks after Maria but now I can't stay out longer than a couple hours because she won't sleep til I come home.

 

[mummylove]

I dont work so get a lot of free time. But that free time goes on cleaning the house washing etc.

 

[sequeena]

I'm not entirely sure I get any. My OH works nights so 7 days a week it's just me. Even when my OH helps out its a struggle because of my son's additional needs.

I do get to watch programmes and such when he's asleep or my OH has him upstairs or something so I guess that's my free time but I don't have hobbies or go out with friends.

 

[Snow Owl]

I don't either and am desperate to sort myself out!

I currently drop Eira at my mums and Dylan to preschool on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9am and then pick them up at 3pm. In between I'm at work. I then have a quick catch up with mum and then it's home to play with the kids / sort tea. Then bedtime etc. Normally by the time we've finished with bottles / dishes / other stuff it's 8pm. I then sit down to work for a few hours.

Wednesday the kids are at mums 9-6. I'm at work. I then go straight to my other job which is 7-10.

Thursday however I now have got both the kids into childcare 9-12 and I'm not going to work (I've promised this, but I can't expect it to stick). I plan to use this time to catch up on housework / run errands so that we have a bit more time in the evenings.

I also work Saturdays while OH has the kids.

I worked out the other day that I work 35 - 40 hours but only 16 of those are in the office when I have childcare. The rest is at home after bedtime...

 

[adrie]

Baby is 14 months, and I would say that I get a pretty good chunk of "me time." She is off to bed between 7-8pm each night, and then I get at least 3-4 hours of time to do whatever before I go to bed. I've been doing quite well with getting housework and things done prior to her bedtime so I'm not stuck doing all of that when she goes down. IMO, that has been the #1 contributing factor to not only getting things done in a timely manner, but also helps me to feel relaxed and less stressed. I pick up all day throughout the day, throw a load in the wash, collect trash, load/unload the dishwasher, sweep, etc., as often as needed. Clean the bathroom 1-2x per week, and make a more thorough job of the bedrooms (other than just tidying) when needed.

I only work 6 or so shifts per month, and I am SO grateful for the fact I don't have to go back in the capacity in which I was working (4-5 shifts per week). Our LO's dad is off on the nights I work, so he is here with her and wakes with her in the morning while I come home and sleep (I currently do shift work). Weekends are pretty good, esp. when I get my one shift done on the Friday night rather than Saturday, as it leaves the rest of the weekend open for us as a family, or for date night or for me or her dad to go out with a friend, etc.

 

[QueenMummyToBe]

My me time is three gym sessions a week and possibly an hour each night.

I get up with alma in the night, get up when the kids at stupid times in the morning, do everything including 3 school runs a day mon-fri, do all the cooking, cleaning, sorting, shopping, finances, paperwork, bags ready, make most of our plans a s appointments, bath times etc. I get amelia and Tristan to bed for 7 and alma usually goes down 30-60 mins later. I then do any tidying and housework, cook and have dinner, watch some tv or read a book whilst having dinner. Then it's shower and bedtime. When hubby is on early shift I carve time after the kids finish school to go to the gym. When he is on lates I go after taking the eldest to school.
If I had a job I would literally have zero time for myself but then that is because since I became a stay at home mummy, hubby has done less and less and less. Xx

 

[catty]

My me time is three gym sessions a week and possibly an hour each night.

I get up with alma in the night, get up when the kids at stupid times in the morning, do everything including 3 school runs a day mon-fri, do all the cooking, cleaning, sorting, shopping, finances, paperwork, bags ready, make most of our plans a s appointments, bath times etc. I get amelia and Tristan to bed for 7 and alma usually goes down 30-60 mins later. I then do any tidying and housework, cook and have dinner, watch some tv or read a book whilst having dinner. Then it's shower and bedtime. When hubby is on early shift I carve time after the kids finish school to go to the gym. When he is on lates I go after taking the eldest to school.
If I had a job I would literally have zero time for myself but then that is because since I became a stay at home mummy, hubby has done less and less and less. Xx

That doesnt sound very fair! do you think he would help you out a little more?

 

[catty]

So it sounds like most mummys get very little time to themselves unless their children are at school nursery and they dont work but even then yiu probably have cleaning etc

My friends are all still single and dont have children so I think they make it like oh im not coming out again. Not drinking or anything butI think they expect me to be free 1 night a week to have a chat etc. Thing is I only have 1 or 2 free nights a week and I like putting thekids to bed on them nights and actually getting a little time with OH, they just dont understand.
now that iv had a big clear out I actually feel like my insides are calm. Iv ordered 2 large storage units that are coming on monday

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Im lucky all my closest friends are mummys lol x

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Though i still class me+toddler days as child free lol. So easy with 1 x

 

[QueenMummyToBe]

My me time is three gym sessions a week and possibly an hour each night.

I get up with alma in the night, get up when the kids at stupid times in the morning, do everything including 3 school runs a day mon-fri, do all the cooking, cleaning, sorting, shopping, finances, paperwork, bags ready, make most of our plans a s appointments, bath times etc. I get amelia and Tristan to bed for 7 and alma usually goes down 30-60 mins later. I then do any tidying and housework, cook and have dinner, watch some tv or read a book whilst having dinner. Then it's shower and bedtime. When hubby is on early shift I carve time after the kids finish school to go to the gym. When he is on lates I go after taking the eldest to school.
If I had a job I would literally have zero time for myself but then that is because since I became a stay at home mummy, hubby has done less and less and less. Xx

That doesnt sound very fair! do you think he would help you out a little more?

We have had the same argument over and over since Amelia was born and we rented our first house together. He has been riddled with arthritis since he was 18 and has to take a lot of medication just to be able to move without being in too much pain so he sees him going to work as him doing his part. I disagree as if the tables were turned and I worked full time and he stayed at home I would still have so much to do because he hasn't a clue. His mum definitely babied him for far too long!
..
I have friends that are the same, or they moan that I don't get in touch often enough but I never have anything to talk about.. my life is that boring. I would suggest to your friends having a night once a month that you all meet up. They will one day realise how difficult it is to juggle everything. My friends don't understand why I spend my free time at the gym but it's the only regular time I get out the house to myself and they are all at work when I go so I couldn't see them anyway!

Xx

 

[smileyfaces]

Glad you are getting sorted catty.

 

[catty]

Though i still class me+toddler days as child free lol. So easy with 1 x

Yeh whilst OH has been off work I have been taking them out seperately and it was really nice, went to a little cafe with lucas and that definately felt like a nice break but would have never fit my double buggy in there if we all went

 

[Equreuil]

My free time goes by so quickly it doesn't feel like much. My son still takes a couple of naps a day (though sometimes it's more of a time out than a nap), so I split those between housework and "me" time. And after he's in bed, I clean up the kitchen, pick up his play area and I'm done for the day.

I live where I work, so even when I'm on the clock, I'm still also a SAHM, if that makes sense. The only difference is that his naptimes are when I'm able to get stuff like paperwork done. And those days I really don't get a lot of "me" time until after bedtime.

 

[tinkerbelle93]

I have A LOT more free time now then I used to. When DS was 1 me and DH lived in our place and I worked evenings as well as studied full-time with Open University. My son was also up a lot in the night so it felt like all my time consisted of was manic housework, laundry and keeping on top of running everything, reading for my studies and writing essays, looking after a hyper toddler and working evenings at McDonald's! I hated it.

Now, it's a completely different story. Me and DH have moved back in with my parents whilst we house-hunt, I don't work, I only study part-time now and my DS is 3 so no longer waking in the night/a lot more independent and easy to look after. My DH's parents look after him one day a week as well. I have plenty of time to watch TV/browse the internet/read a book every day. He also starts nursery 2.5 days a week this month! I'm making the most of it though as I am on the lookout for a part-time job, we're TTC number 2 soon as well as will probably be back in our own place in no time.

 

[loeylo]

Not read the whole thread (not got time - lol!) but this really struck a chord with me!

I feel like I have literally no free time. I'm up for work at 6am, I have my shower and dry my hair, chuck on some clothes and a bit makeup then take the dog a walk, then run to catch my bus. I get about 40 minutes during my commute to catch up on bbc news, Facebook, the internet etc, or do any work which needs doing (usually forward plans etc) then I get to work for about 8:30, grab a cup of tea and check my emails before I start at 9.

I get one 15 minute break and one 50 minute break per day. I spend at least 40 minutes of my break time setting up lessons, helping pupils etc. I finish at 3:30 on Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday and 3:50 on Wednesday. I do supported study on two of the early days until half 4. Then I need to set up my class for the next day, so I usually leave about 5:15 to catch the 5;30 bus, home for 6pm.

Then by the time I stick a wash load on, walk the dog, iron and lay out work stuff for the next day, do dinner it is usually about 8:30.

I then do about an hour or so work at night as we have new qualifications in place so there is a lot of planning to do!

I'm in bed by eleven. I get to spend about an hour a day on myself! And that includes catching up with my partner and tv - but I usually just vegetate to be honest as I'm always so tired!

 

[aimee-lou]

I get more time nowadays as hubby is studying away 5 nights a week, so I get to watch films/catch up with things on an evening. I like to read too but I have trouble concentrating a lot of the time as I'm knackered from the kids lol. I spend the day times, between school runs, trying to keep on top of housework and do jobs looking after the animals (dog and fish), laundry, sorting out clutter, garden tasks etc but try to spend the evenings more stationary lol. I do paperwork, meal plans, online shopping etc then and come on here. I would love to say I do a workout, tidy up or sort out, and sometimes I do get a task in my head and I have to do it otherwise I can't sleep. I speak to hubby every night too which is nice and I look forward to that.

 

[catty]

Things have been a bit better this week. I was off the weekend so managed to cook meal, make a big pot of soup and actually get nice healthy meals organised for Evie in the freezer. I tried to keep on top of all the housework, folding the laundry as soon as it came out the machine so that only about quarter needed put in the ironing basket rather than it all. Then I worked 2 nights in a row and suddenly the place is a shit tip again!
I am feeling much more positive though, im enjoying life, stress levels are low and the kids are really interacting and playing a bit. I guess the problem really wasnt not getring enough 'free' time it was simply just not getting enough time to do ANYTHING.