How much time 'off' each evening?

[Olive30]

Just wondering how typical i am. I generally stop and sit down after working, cooking, putting kids to bed, tidying up etc...etc...at around 9pm. Feeling a bit peeved tonight that it's so late. Hour's downtime before bed at 10pm.
Not sure what i am expecting and welcome to the real world but just wondering if i should count myself lucky or try to work out how to squeeze in a bit more time somehow... what is your situation?

@oblomov21 well I don't think we're doing it because we love it! It would be great to hear your advice about how to get it all done and still have downtime.

• Food all over the floor that needs clearing each day

No. I cleared it up as Ds2 and then Ds2 was actually in the high chair.

• baby that needs breastfeeding to sleep and then putting down oh-so-gently.

Yes. I did this.

• tonnes of washing generated by wearing, potty training, messy play etc

I put a load on every day and hung it out.

• long bedtimes when your toddler won't sleep.

No. I didn't have this admittedly.

• toys to put away and sort

Why? I did this during the day. Got ds's to help me as part of their end of day tidying up.

• mopping the floor because the baby is crawling and puts everything in its mouth

This can be once once in the morning, when both dc are with you.

7pm if I'm putting DC to bed, or 6.30 if DH is doing bed time. Can't be arsed to do much in the evening!

@Chocolatebuttercream

I think the fact that you have teens may be the key factor here, *@oblomov21* ! So no:

• Food all over the floor that needs clearing each day
• baby that needs breastfeeding to sleep and then putting down oh-so-gently
• tonnes of washing generated by wearing, potty training, messy play etc
• long bedtimes when your toddler won't sleep
• toys to put away and sort
• mopping the floor because the baby is crawling and puts everything in its mouth

Etc etc.

I agree , even when ds was a tiny wee thing, everything stopped when he went to bed. In fact I was more organised then than now and he's at uni!

* I mean I agree with @oblomov21*

I'm not martyr, DH and I have demanding jobs (wfh admittedly) that can often see us work unexpectedly long hours (often 7 until 7) we have two children in primary school with homework and clubs and playdates, two dogs that need walked and cared for. I want to actually spend time interacting with my children so that means playing Barbie or Minecraft with them which is technically down time but isnt something I actually want to do so I don't class it as such.

I get to do what I want once the kids are in bed an accept that I will get more time to myself once they are teenagers.

"playing Barbie or Minecraft with them which is technically down time "

Err no. It's not.

Down time is time for YOU.

When we just had fosterling No. 1, 16 months, I was off from 6.30/7pm most nights. Now we have fosterling No. 2, 15 weeks, I am not off at all except when I go to bed once they are asleep.

*"playing Barbie or Minecraft with them which is technically down time "

Err no. It's not.

Down time is time for YOU.*

I just mean I'm not working or doing housework/life admin. I do go on to say I don't count it as downtime