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If you're a FT working mum, what's your routine after work?

44 replies

threeisacharm18 · 18/08/2022 19:14

I feel my DD who is 6 gets too much screen time. I have 2 other nursery aged kids.

First thing in the morning while I get the kids ready, there's something on YT playing. After that on the way to school DD 6 has screen time.
When they get home around 5.30/6pm it's screen time dinner and bed.

I feel terrible but I'm tired and don't have the energy to do much beyond a bit of painting, play dough. Neither sustains her interest for long. Then the kids gets a bath and read 2-3 books b4 bed.

Everyone is asleep by 8pm. Then I do it all over again.

Anyone got suggestions for how else to structure the day?

OP posts:
Kathy34 · 19/08/2022 00:06

Daughter to a ft mom. All I wanted was time w my mom, not screens. I totally get your scedule. Cam your daughter help w dinner? Would your kids eat biscuits or any of those other pisbury products where u just pop and peel? This could be a great start. She can work with u while leaving independence

PatientlyWaiting21 · 19/08/2022 05:55

threeisacharm18 · 18/08/2022 22:26

Of course I feel bad not playing with her. It's why I try to get her to be more independent. Nothing works. I give her crafts, paints, play dough, stickers etc... none of which she will do alone. At the weekends we do stuff together, go to the park. Shopping, all her favourite activities etc. she's bored so easily.

The toddlers play with toys alone which helps.

I know I sound resentful of her.. and maybe I am. I don't know. I'm conflicted between wanting to give her more time but struggling to juggle it all.

Because she wants to play with you! Give her 10 minutes of your time, every day, not just the weekends.

TwittleBee · 19/08/2022 06:08

We wake up at 6am, have breakfast together in front of the TV. Then we all go up stairs (I have a 5 and 2 Yr old) to get ready. 5 Yr old gets himself dressed and then joins me in doing hair and make up (DS sometimes does mine for me or he will just mess about with his hair). DS2 likes to sit on my lap and be breastfed whilst this is happening. I then get DS2 dressed and we all bundle into the car for childcare drop off at 7.30am

In the evening I pick them up at 6pm. DS2 has a breastfeed as soon as we are home and DS5 will tell me about whatever he has been up to (often acting it out as a play). They then either play or watch TV or help me make dinner, it different every night. We have dinner at about 6.45pm round the table. After dinner is done, we play together. Last night was play dough, night before was Knights, sometimes we like to get the building bricks out. Bed time at 7.45pm which currently involved 1 Peppa Pig book for DS2 and then 1 chapter from Harry Potter for DS1. We like to do that all in one bed, then I transfer them to their beds once asleep.

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Casarossa · 19/08/2022 06:16

I do understand how tiring it is and sympathise with you - its tough. I would be trying to reduce the screen time though.

When my DS was that age, I was exhausted also but would always try to do one of these in the evening:

  • Extra curricular activity
  • Quick walk straight after dinner (20 mins max)
  • Play a childrens board game with him - great one on one time with the comfort of sitting down! Doesnt take too much energy and generally over quickly. Monopoly junior, cluedo jnr, kids scrabble etc.
  • if really exhausted, have a movie evening where we cuddle with a movie after dinner.

Does your DD play with toddlers? My DS is 8 now and my toddler Is 3 and they play together now which is great because they keep each other entertained when Im making dinner etc which means less screen time.

Hope I am not coming across as judgemental, just trying to help with the things that got me through similar tough times.

Oblomov22 · 19/08/2022 06:19

I can't really see the problem, generally it's not horrific amounts. But, a 6 year old shouldn't need screen time in the morning. More importantly she should be able to play alone. Minimal help getting ready. You need to teach her to be independent, and play alone.

Goldencup · 19/08/2022 06:22

PatientlyWaiting21 · 18/08/2022 20:12

Just play with her, even if it’s for 10 mins, she won’t always be asking and you’ll regret it. If you need some quiet morning time then get up earlier!

This, I would add make sure you go to sleep on time (9:30 ish) to give you more morning energy. Not drinking helps.

Oblomov22 · 19/08/2022 06:22

Why is 6 year old having milk. Then pecking at her breakfast? I'd stop that. My 2 (years ago admittedly) used to down 2-3 weetabix because they were hungry!

RitzyTitzy · 19/08/2022 06:41

Op please go easy on yourself. 2 to toddlers and a 6 year old who prefers to play with you than alone? How else are you supposed to get everything done in the morning and evening? Ok there are other ways to do it but why make life harder for yourself? My 8 year old is very like your 6 year old, she has always needed me to be doing something with her. In the week, I can't. I'm sorting everything for her and 2 others to get ready and get us all out on time for school and work. She's on the ipad watching the same YouTube videos she would be if the TV was on. 10 yo will do similar but for a lot less time while she's getting dressed. She has ASD and is very routine based. No way am I taking the ipad off her. My 12 yo was similarly obsessed with the ipad but is growing out of it now. Phases pass. Do what you can to get by Flowers

girlmom21 · 19/08/2022 06:53

We get up, breakfast and out.

On an evening we get home, kids plays with toys, have tea, dog walk and park (Theresa a park on our dog walk route), home, play and bed

dandelionthistle · 19/08/2022 06:57

Tea and sympathy to you Brew sometimes you just have to do what gets you through. You can always, always deal with the 'rod for your own back' later, once it really matters and/or you have more energy to deal with it. Beating yourself up makes you feel worse and parent worse. (Voice of experience on that point!)

I am a lone parent working full time with a 10 and 5 year old. They each have a 45 min daily limit on the tablet - 10yo uses his up every day, sometimes entirely before school, other times split across (pretty much never all after school). 5yo can go a week or more at a time without bothering to pick it up, but she does watch more TV.

They both need to connect with me every day somehow. I have found that really short bursts of this can work well - even 5 mins for the 5 year old. She likes it to be her imaginative games which is often really easy for me even though 'playing' doesn't come to me naturally - she likes me to be the grandma while she brings her babies in the buggy to visit, I have to dote on the numerous babies, help tuck them up for bed, and just engage quite reactively with her play conversation. Just five mins. Makes such a difference. I can carve out five mins undivided attention for her at least once a day, and then I can also play along a bit whilst also sorting packed lunches etc, or I can get her involved in helping me cook the dinner.
The 10 year old gets his 1-1 time with me after she's in bed. A board game or vegging on the sofa together watching TV. It means sometimes there's a tricky balance of enough sleep and enough connection, but it levels out over a week or two as best we can.

Honestly in your shoes (and I really have been there) the only change I would start with is finding five minutes in the morning where you really focus on her. I know how hard that is especially with smaller children needing you too. And I also think you can put limits around it eg I refuse to do most things for my children (barring real needs, and excluding cuddles in bed) before I've had my coffee! But if you give her your attention proactively she really will start to back off as her needs are better met, i think. Don't choose activities which require significant prep or tidying up. Dont focus on the screen time or the overwhelm. Just find her five minutes.

Final thing to add is that this week we've all been cooking dinner together when we get home. I've avoided that approach for ages as it feels knackering and slow, but it's been SO much nicer than me in the kitchen while they sit with screens. I'm sticking with it, although I definitely need to collect a few recipes which are quick, easy, and have clear jobs for both kids. This might not be where you're at yet though - now my youngest is a bit older it really has opened up more possibilities for how our family life functions.

I think you have to balance recognising for yourself that it's impossible whilst making a good show of enjoying life for your children. I try to think about what childhood I want them to remember. They'll never have me picking up at 3pm and going to the park then coming home to paint etc as I might wish, but they can remember us being a reasonably cheerful team together and playing a little bit.

Fluffruff · 19/08/2022 06:59

Could you a couple of nights a week have a ready meal (lasagne/pizzas) or make pasta and sauce the night before so it just needs to go in the oven or microwave? Sympathies as I know it’s hard. Then those couple of nights a week you could do one on one time doing art/board games or something. Check out the huge range of audiobooks on Spotify or on borrow box from the library or Yoto players are really good as there are lots of podcasts and stuff available (for the car drive I mean)

LearnedAxolotl · 19/08/2022 07:11

Why are you feeling so much angst over screen time? Outside of Mumsnet literally everyone lets their child play on an ipad. Lots of adults use games as a way to relax. If it keeps her occupied on the way to school, who cares? Put some educational games on there and let her crack on.

Stop beating yourself up. You're doing fine.

LearnedAxolotl · 19/08/2022 07:13

Oblomov22 · 19/08/2022 06:22

Why is 6 year old having milk. Then pecking at her breakfast? I'd stop that. My 2 (years ago admittedly) used to down 2-3 weetabix because they were hungry!

Some people eat more than others.

1AngelicFruitCake · 19/08/2022 07:25

I think some posters are being quite harsh! You’re a single mum of 3 working full time and you’re looking to improve things.

As others have said, get rid of morning screen time. Your daughter sounds like mine, constantly wanting me to do things with her because she doesn’t like playing on her own. I could be with her all day, the minute I go upstairs and she wants me to play with her. It’s an uphill struggle but you need to persevere with this, even if it’s putting a timer on and seeing if she can play on her own for 10 minutes. Lots of praise when she manages it.

When I’ve been at work all day I need time to come round sometimes. What about getting in and having special time after tea, toddlers in the bath and you and your daughter doing a sticker book in the bathroom together or similar?

Doremisofarsogood · 19/08/2022 07:25

FT working mum to 9 year old....DH is out from 7 till 7 so all down to me:
Up 7 ish, breakfast, DD gets dressed
She plays in her room or TV/iPad while I get ready
Pick her up 3.20, home, do spellings, homework etc
If it's nice we go to the park, she might have a friend over or go to a friend's
She helps feed the pets and sometimes with dinner
Extra curricular clubs 2 x a week
Once a week we go to a friend's for dinner or they come to us so the kids play together then (usually Roblox!)
No iPads,.YouTube etc after dinner, we might play a game or watch 'normal' TV
Bath / shower then read in bed, bedtime around 8, she can read or colour for a bit but aim for lights out by 8.30 usually more like 9 though
Then I go down and do washing up, sort lunches for next day etc as DH has more than likely fallen asleep on sofa after eating his dinner (see my other thread!)

I'm conscious of my DD being an only and don't want her feeling lonely but equally she has to understand there are times I have stuff to do. I get her to help quite a lot but she's also very good at entertaining herself and will colour / draw / read etc. I try to make sure we do at least one activity together after school even if it's only 10 minutes

Finchgold · 19/08/2022 07:30

Audio books are my saviour. Highly recommend.

PlinkPlonkFizz · 19/08/2022 07:31

threeisacharm18 · 18/08/2022 19:37

Youngest kids wake up at 5.45-6.15. They get a bottle
6.30-6.45 - dd, 6 wakes up and has milk. She will always ask me to play with her which I honestly find really irritating. She never plays alone. Ever. So to avoid that I give her the iPad .

She pecks at breakfast - then we're out the door by 7.30pm. Drive is 20-25m . Yes I should say no to screw time but honestly I just need the quiet first thing in the morning. Otherwise I'll be forced to sing songs or into chatting about general kids stuff.

Home time I have more energy so no screens in the car but once we get home she immediately wants me to do stuff with her but I need to get dinner ready. I occasionally spend 10-15 m sitting beside her doing painting etc but like I said she won't do it unless I'm sitting beside her. That's why she gets screentime while I sort out dinner and tidy afterwards .

It sounds very relentless and hard for you. I wonder what would happen if you left her with a selection of small toys; does she just wander back to you? I found DS needed "training" at weekends in how he could solo-play. I started out by giving him "doing" things to play with or toys he hadn't seen in ages, but did it by saying that I'd be in to play with him in 5 if he left me do XYZ for those 5. Then I'd play properly with him for 15 mins. Obviously you have to do this at weekends and gradually build up to getting her used to playing alone, but it defer worked for me and DS was a limpit!

Timeturnerplease · 19/08/2022 07:32

DH and I both work full time, and I’m a teacher which means I have to do three hours on the laptop after the children are in bed too. It’s bloody hard work to juggle and I fully sympathise - eldest DD (3.9) cannot entertain herself for ten seconds without a screen. My MIL looks after them/does preschool runs and plays with them every second of the time she has them so they’ve never had to play themselves.

However, for the last two years I have taught a child who sounds like your DD. Cannot do anything herself, and she’s now reached the point of being so desperate for attention that she is losing friends and messing about in class so she gets the extra attention to catch up. This is not because she’s always been in childcare - I’ve taught plenty of well adjusted children who have been - but her parents just fob her off with screens all the time. She’s constantly on our class blog trying to get others to interact with her.

Knowing this girl has focussed my attention on involving DD1 (DD2 still happy to potter about) with jobs and engaging in mindless chatter to ensure she doesn’t need to seek attention. It’s exhausting, and DH and I are knackered come 7pm, but it’s an investment in her future.

If you can, maybe just force yourself to do the chatting in the car? And maybe let her help with dinner? She might then become more independent once she has dedicated attention at other times?

CharlesIsQueensHorcrux · 19/08/2022 15:41

Also @threeisacharm18, interacting with your kids will get easier with practice, you will tune in and it won’t feel like an insane effort

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