How much time alone do you have?

[Anyoneknowanything1]

Hi all,

Feeling a bit down and thought I'd do a bit of research to convince myself that I should prioritise a bit of alone time. I have 2 DD, aged 5 and 1. Dd5 goes to the school I work at and DD1 the attached nursery. I do all drop offs and pick ups apart from once a week which is my later night working. The drive home that day is my only alone time where I am not responsible for another human all week.

I have friends that I admittedly need to book a dinner in with but I am really missing the ability to sit and read my kindle, in silence, alone without someone bloody needing me. I have struggled with PPD after both my children and am covering several roles at work so feeling quite overwhelmed.

How much time alone do you have? And does it count if you are in the house with everyone else? And what do you do with your alone time?

Thanks!
One tired Mum

My DC are 3 and 4. I work 3 days, 2 at home and 1 in the office. DC in nursery when I work. My only real alone time is if I wfh a day DH in the office. It's wonderful when that happens, even though I'm working. Otherwise, it's at night when DC asleep and DH in a shower. Then I often sit on couch, TV off, enjoying the silence. Alone time is hard to get, and something I often crave.

I'm alone in the house while the kids are at school. I spend most of it cleaning and tidying but I make sure I get at least an hour to watch tv/ read a book with a coffee. If the kids go to grandparents for a few hours I'll tidy up then lie in bed either reading or having a nap.

None - just work as I’m a single parent. If I had a partner I would probably try to carve time out in the evenings to go swimming or a fun class once or twice a week.

Sorry - ETA work is not alone by any means, but I’m just not responsible for caring for my kids!

Never. Lone parent. Ex not involved. No family help.

when my children were younger, barely any free time. when me and OH weren't working, we had the children with us.

the only free time we had, was in the evenings, when the children were asleep. i used that time to browse MN, read, watch a TV show or have. bit of pamper time.

now my children are both in secondary school, i can have more 'me' time. the early years are tough, but it does get easier.

Loads now as dc are teens but even when younger, I got some time alone and time with friends.
Dh would take dc out or stay in with them so I could go out. I encouraged him to take dc to his parents as well.
I was also working so got time alone during lunch and my commute but that was often stressful as I was either rushing to get to work on time or rushing to pick up dc on time.

I have an almost 2 year and work 4 days a week. I do all the nursery drop offs/pick ups, and then give her a snack, a bath and then bedtime. On the day I don't work, I still do all the bedtime routine and get up every night with her. I don't have family close by. The only time my husband does anything with her is when I can't, or don't want to, take her with me to walk the dog on a weekend for example if it's lashing down with rain. I sit down from tea at about 8.30 pm after sorting out clothes, lunch etc for the next day. The only time I actually get to myself is if I leave work on time on a Friday then I can have an hour in costa or McDonalds for a cuppa before I collect her nursery.....it's a shit existence at the moment, but I'm sure it'll get easier

I'm a sahm and I almost always have one or both dc with me. Probably a handful of times I've been out on my own for dentist appointments or to run a quick errand while DH watched the dc.

I have time to chill out when my DC2 is napping or when they are both in bed for the night. But then I use that time to do chores or eat, or sometimes travel (when DC2 naps in the buggy) so I can't always use it to relax.

I had a lovely period between DCs when DC1 was in preschool and before DC2 was born. So I had a fair bit of free time then. I admit I'm looking forward to when DC2 starts preschool and proper school and I'll have the school day to myself. I have a big backlog of tasks to do!

The only alone time I have is my drive to Work, and my office is in the same town so it's just a few minutes!! Life is a lot 😰