FT mums, do you feel the same?

[Soupforoneplease]

I have an unexpected day off today. I dropped my DS at preschool and then went home. The whole day to myself... it felt so strange. Nearly all my annual leave is booked to look after the DC's and usually we would go on holiday.
I can't believe this is life for some people. Going home, pottering around, exercise! Even doing the washing up whilst listening to a podcast uninterrupted! DD even has a play date after school so I have until 6pm to myself.
How many days like this do you have per year and how do you spend them?

Once every 2 weeks as I arranged compressed hours to do it. It’s fabulous. So I take kids to school, go to the gym, get a coffee, sort laundry, quick housework and maybe try to squeeze lunch out in.

I have mondays off and due to the ages of my kids and bloody Corona virus despite youngest being nearly six I've only had about 10 genuine child free 9-3 days ever.

I must admit that they are great and i get loads done. The other week I did drop off, went for a quick walk with a friend then jumped on the tube into town to do some shopping for myself for the first time in person in yonks then back home, quick lunch, then off to the pool for a swim on my bike. Picked up the kids from school, went to the park after school for 40 mins. Home, made dinner, bit of play and mess around. Bath and bed. That was a particularly hectic day I must admit.

I am starting to feel slightly guilty about not working it now though. But have promised myself I won't make a hasty change in the middle of covid. The extra money we don't need but it would be useful and work would be easier if I was full time. But I do like to have a day to get stuff done with no distractions.

I’ve been a SAHM since my children were born and I’ve had the happiest years of my life. It took me a long time to have them and I didn’t want to miss a second with them...and I haven’t! They are 7 and 9 now and doing fantastically in school. They are top of the class and on track to get scholarships to their next school thus saving us a lot of money. I have time every week to spend with them doing homework, extra projects and extra work at the weekend. Saturday and after school is a flurry of clubs and play dates whilst Sunday is time for family days out. My children are thriving having me physically around and not having to rush about due to work.

My DH works full time so I do everything out. We have meal plans, our admin is all digitalised, house is spotless. I have time to do all the day to catch chores like take the cars and dry cleaning in, plan and book holidays etc. Everything just runs smoothly with no stress or arguing.

So today for example I have booked the children into all the clubs they want to do over the summer holidays, booked all our days out, paid and finalised the summer holidays, done next week’s meal plan and the online shop, found out the nearest Tudor house to go to as my child’s topic after half term is tudors, been to hobby craft to get materials to make Tudor house, wormed the dog, cleaned the house and done a kitchen deep clean, purchased the workbooks for the children to do over the summer and lots of books based on their topics next years, been to the library to return books and collect a new set. This leaves me completely free after school to take my children to their 2 clubs after having dinner as soon as they get in (cooked in the day) and then spend some quality time with them chatting and reading to them before they go to bed at 7.30.

Life is organised and as easy as I can make it. I’d never change it for the rushed, stressed life I see my working friends have. And I believe my children and relationship benefits from it massively.

I was a sahm for 12 years and looking back now I wish I'd planned in more days like the one you've described. I kept myself busy constantly once the dc were in school and now that I'm working full time I wish I'd taken more time just to potter and chill out.

I’ve been working FT for 3 years (worked school hours before that) and have always only taken annual leave when the kids were on holiday. I pretty much never have a day when the kids are at school and I am at leisure.

However this year I haven’t used my annual leave so much as I’m working from home so I took last Friday off and it was bliss! Walked the dog, played tennis, went shopping for clothes and met my mum for afternoon tea in a posh cafe.

I could quite happily fill my time without working.

@BluebellCockleshell123

I’ve been working FT for 3 years (worked school hours before that) and have always only taken annual leave when the kids were on holiday. I pretty much never have a day when the kids are at school and I am at leisure.

However this year I haven’t used my annual leave so much as I’m working from home so I took last Friday off and it was bliss! Walked the dog, played tennis, went shopping for clothes and met my mum for afternoon tea in a posh cafe.

I could quite happily fill my time without working.

Yes I'd easily fill my time too! I have a huge list of books I'd like to read, I completed couch25k while DH was furloughed but haven't been able to keep it up, I'd go to a yoga class, I'd make my house look lovely etc. Sigh.

1. 3 kids, one a baby, off on mat leave at the moment but I work as a childminder. Lucking if I get an hour to myself at the moment to go to the gym.

So today for example I have booked the children into all the clubs they want to do over the summer holidays, booked all our days out, paid and finalised the summer holidays, done next week’s meal plan and the online shop, found out the nearest Tudor house to go to as my child’s topic after half term is tudors, been to hobby craft to get materials to make Tudor house, wormed the dog, cleaned the house and done a kitchen deep clean, purchased the workbooks for the children to do over the summer and lots of books based on their topics next years, been to the library to return books and collect a new set. This leaves me completely free after school to take my children to their 2 clubs after having dinner as soon as they get in (cooked in the day) and then spend some quality time with them chatting and reading to them before they go to bed at 7.30.

You've planned Summer already! I've not even fully paid for all half term stuff due to covid cancellation policies.

I’m at home all the time atm while I’m daughter is at school. Unfortunately I’m spending most of it with my head down the toilet with morning sickness. But my partner had Mondays off so we book daughter into after school club and get to spend the whole day together. We usually go out and do something different each week.

I haven't had a child free day in 8 years! Unless you count the between labour and giving g birth. I'm due some days off. 2 years to go and you gest starts school!

I don’t work and haven’t for over 15 years. I never feel like the day is my own though, it’s all tidying, washing, ironing, cleaning, weeding the garden, mowing when the weather is nice, shopping etc. There’s rarely a day when I have”free” time. I’ve no idea how everything woukd get done if I did have to work though!

I work 4 days and have done since going back from my second mat leave. Both mine are at school now and I have no intention of going full time. One has sen and on my day off I do all house admin and sen admin / meetings and housework - and we have a weekly cleaner. My job is stressful. At home and at work I constantly feel the need to explain why I'm not full time. I'm beyond caring. I cherish those 5 hours a week I get during term time. It keep me sane, keeps me a good parent and good at my job. When they were at nursery I did the same - no regrets!

@FreeButtonBee. I’m surprised they let you into the pool with your bike