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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want evenings to ourselves?

101 replies

relaxshesays · 20/04/2026 16:36

How do you navigate finding time to yourselves when you have older children?
We have 4 one is 11 two are teens and one has moved out but comes in a few nights a week.
We would like some time to ourselves sometimes but we never know when the eldest is coming over and the other 3 are down here until we go to bed every night.
Am I being selfish to want the odd evening just me and husband to chat between ourselves?
When I was a kid growing up I was either out or in my room as was my brother.
I don’t ever remember sitting in the living room all night, every night until bedtime as that was mum and dad’s space. I’m not saying I would like them to do the same but I would like to be able to have a conversation with hubby that isn’t a family discussion occasionally.

Maybe I am being unreasonable but I do sometimes feel all peopled out and miss the days when we could put the children to bed and then sit down together and relax.

OP posts:
likeafishneedsabike · Today 13:44

This. They won’t be teens forever. Sending kids away to their bedrooms sounds very, very strange. It’s their home! Don’t expect to see much of them when they are grown if they are made to feel they are in the way now.

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