WOHM what's the time from getting home to dcs going to bed like at yours?

[hatwoman]

cos it's sodding crap at mine

Between 90 and 120 minutes - but that is with two of us on the go. We get in around 5.30-5.45. Tea at 6pm. Up to bath by about 6.45, then story and bed by 7.30. ds1 is 5 and ds2 is 3.

Mon - Weds when I work until 5 - in at 5.45/6pm. Small snack, tea at 6.30 (too late), bed at 7.30. If either of us are off/when I'm at home by 3 it's tea at 5.30, bed at 7.15.

I get in at 6.45 and I CANNOT achieve bath/bottle/bed in less than an hour even when I use bribery. DS's are 3 and 1.
Then they're really tired the next day, sigh....
Why, what's your record? Any number beginning with 8 makes me depressed that it's nearly my bedtime!

regardless of routines is it nice time? or is it just you getting annoyed with them for not brushing their teeth and them getting annoyed with you cos you're trying to cook you and dh some dinner? or is that just at my house?

Depends. If both DH and I are home, its okay because we can share the load. But there is only DS (until Sept anyway). He is pretty shattered after nursery.

If I've had a reasonable day at work and I don't have extra work in the evening, then its nice. If I'm stressed it can all end in tears....

I don't bother cooking dinner at the same time - DH does that!

There are various flashpoints - coming for tea, getting ready for the bath, getting pyjamas on, etc etc. But while there will often be at least one meltdown, they don't usually last very long. They do require constant supervision though - there is always one of us with them. And we all eat at 6 so at least once they are in bed the evening is all ours...

dh rarely gets home before bedtime. I get home at 7. sometimes it's nice, but sometimes it's horrible.

all eat at 6? !

Can I just say, which I mean to be comforting, this bit of the day is often absolutely hellish in households where one or both parents is at home!
Both dh and I work from home p/t, and there is more shouting and gritting of teeth at this time than at any other. Please don't think it is a riot of giggles, fluffy towels and Cath Kidston aprons...'cos it aint!

Yes, but don't be - I mean, how many meals can you think of that can be on the table in 20 minutes flat?

thanks Aloha - good point. it's just that when it's your only time with them it feels like it "should" be really nice....and it makes me feel guilty for being away - they definitely play up more on my work days than my non-work days, but yes, you;re absolutely right

I get in at 6pm

DS has tea at 6.30, I have a snack while I feed him.

Then we play. There is no point trying to cook dinner for us - it will be a disaster.

DH gets home at 8, we do bath together. Bedtime is 8.30.

I cook then and we have our dinner and we go to bed usually around 11.

It is all to late but at least we are not rushed and on the whole I am quite happy with the situation.

Oh, I do understand! But hey, I feel guilty after a crap evening and I'm at home at lot. YOu just do. I just have more opportunities to yell at them!
It gets much better as they get older. Dsd (15) brought her new boyfriend round for supper at the weekend and it was blissfully civilised. Really gave me hope for the future.

I work Tues-Thurs and on those days get in around 4.45pm

hit the ground running - oven on, nuggets in (home made or Birdseye!), potatoes, chop veg

or they have pasta with sauce

or sandwiches and fruit

bath at 6pm
bed at 7pm (ish)

it is usually dreadful , but not always

they are very tired, want attention and fight etc etc

On very trying nights we miss the bath out, if they are on the verge of strops it is not worth it imo

we eat in peace after 7pm, but eat together on the days I am 'off'

I'm currently working a really quick commute from home so if I'm a 9-5 day then I'm home by 5.15, dp in by 6ish. Play with dd until 7pm then upstairs for bath and bed, back down again between 7.30 and 7.45.

My two DCs have never gone to bed before 8. They sleep until 7 - 7.30 and that's always been enough for them. When they were younger they had a nap during the day. I kept them up til 8 because DH never got home from work before 7.30 and he, me and the DCs all wanted for him to spend some time together, even if just toothbrushing after bath and a story before bed. If you aren't with your DCs all day, don't you want to spend at least a little bit of time with them in the evening instead of rushing them off to bed at 7pm?

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Work 3 days in the office, 1 day at home.
On office days, get home anytime between 5.15-6.00 depending on the traffic.
DH will have picked up DS (4) from school and I pick up DD (10mo) from my mum's or nursery on my way home.
DH has started the tea by the time we're home (usually simple pasta or omelette type affair, or casserole from slow cooker).
We eat together then bathtime anytime between 6.30 and 7.30, followed by bedtime. Usually both asleep by 8-8.30ish.

Very hard work.

I am on my own with a 2 year old and 6 year old and work f/t.
I am shattered every night when i have finally got them into bed.

I teach so it varies, on a Friday I get to be home by half three so we do something nice together.

Most nights am home by six, school is arounf the corner so about 90 minutes. But that does mean that I have to put in at leasta few hours after dd has gone to bed which means I have no time for dp. To do this I also need to be at my desk by about half six in the morning.

About once a week I stay intil about half seven so don;t see dd at all which is hard as I leave for work before she gets up but we have the holidays together.

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Get in about 6pm, if dd i hungry I'll make her some cereal or toast. We'll read her school book then put the bedtime hour on cbeebies and have a snuggle on the settee whilst we half natter about the day half watch cbeebies. At 7pm we sing the bedtime song then go upstairs for teeth clean/face wash and bed (with bedtime story and short chat about the day). Then dd will normally read a little to herself before falling asleep.

Normally it's lovely, just wish it was a bit longer sometimes.

I teach too, so most nights home about 5, dd supper around 5.15-5.30 and bath at 6.15. Bed at 6.45 Has been same every night of her life except one and she's now 2.4 Keeping children up because parents work late is ot a reason IMO. Some nights (when have parents eve at school for eg) I don't see dd. Don't like it, but am not about to keep her up because I haven't seen her. Routine and sleep are v imp here!!!