to be really enjoying not o being in thrall to my DC all the time, and sometimes choosing to stay late at work because I am enjoying it?

[OrmIrian]

I've had 11 yrs of running around like a blue-arsed fly geting DCs dressed, fed, clean and to school/CM/nursery with all their bits and doing the reverse at the end of the day, my job being crammed somehow inbetween those 2 immovable objects. Now I take to school but DH does the pick-up and does all the after school faffing (lunch boxes, evening meal cooked, playdates and the like). And it has just struck me that I can stay late at work if I need to, or just if I want to. It is such a huge weight off my shoulders - child-related things happen these days even when I'm not there! It's a bloody miracle.

I can see why so many men stay late at work. Tis very tempting. And I always have enough to do to justify it TBH.

I feel so guilty. Am I not supposed to be desperate to get home to my family?

Should just mention that DH's last words to me this morning were 'Are you going to be home on time tonight?'

All the time he worked long hours I never once complained. Ho hum.

I booked to shopping to be delievered when i was at work for ages before he twiged on. Not a great idea though, they ate all the nice stuff before i got home!!

YANBU - or if you are I am too. I secrely enjoy late time in the office when I can crack on with stuff w/o having to cope with a tired and grzzly dd at home .

slackrunner - are you a runner?

That is the one thing that I don't like about it. If I stay late at work I can't get over the guilt about going out running in the evenings .

YANBU.

I actually quite enjoy leaving early sometimes - walking out of the house when the DC are still asleep with just me and my stuff - no stressing about spellings not learnt, no toddler demanding to be carried - shame it has to be 5am to accomplish that, but still (and also a shame that I have to negotiate days like that with DH as neither of us has regular, school-compatible hours!)

, OrmIrian.

YANBU
I feel like this, Mon, Tues, Wed I do drop off and pick up to chilminder and it's hellish. Thur work from home which is okayish, but I've definately had enough by time OH comes home at 6.30 and then Fri, OH at home and me just getting up and going to work in peace. Love it.
Did get a text from OH last week at 5.17 though asking if I was on my way as he'd had enough.
You're not alone, enjoy the peace.

God that makes us both sound terrible, we do love our dd's, honest!

Ormirian, yes, I am a runner. I know what you mean about running guilt. My dd is young, so I try to go once she is in bed (except for Weds when I leave work early to get to running club ). I try and rationalise it by acknowledging that running helps me keep my sanity, and that I'm a better wife and mum (I hope!) for having pounded out a few miles. It also helps that I'm a lazy, reluctant runner as opposed to a dead keen one who wants to get dozens of miles under her belt each week .

oh i'm looking forward to my children being at school.....