Time to yourself - how much is reasonable to expect?

[AllBuggiedOut]

Do you get/expect to have any time to yourself to do what you like (in my case usually collapsing in front of the telly)? Or is the couple of hours I spend in front of said telly in the evening the reason why my house is always a mess and I find myself pureeing pears at midnight?

Have two DSs (nearly 3 and nearly 1). Still BF DS2. Collapse in a heap in front of telly with my tea at about 8.30/9pm and feel like that's the first chance I've had all day to do what I want to. Although this evening I was pealing the sodding pears while watching Lost.

Is this normal? How do other people cope??? Do I have to give up telly too?????

Perfectly normal.

I like peeling veg while watching the telly, infact i like peeling veg so i can watch the telly.

It makes me feel like i'm not being as lazy as i could be.

Also when people ring i can say, i'm peeling the potatoes instead of, i'm watching the telly and i sound fabulous.

I don't get to watch tv. Tonight is typical - I've been in my study since children went to bed (20.00) doing personal admin, some Pre School committee work etc and occasionally mumsnetting. In all honesty the only tv I get to watch is a Sky box office film on 2 nights over the weekend (a dh and I tradition), oh and Breakfast news whilst getting the lo's their shreddies.

Time to myself - virtually zilch

I record stuff I want to watch, then never see it. i eat cheese sandwiches because I can't be f@@@cked to cook, I nod off during Big Brother and pretend I know whats going on the next day at work, then my dd wakes in the night just to ensure I am extra grumpy all next day! life is sweet!

Ain't it just!

no no, you're not the only one! I've got a DD of 2 and a DS of 10 months and I'm absolutely shattered! My DH doesn't get home until 8.00pm and we end up talking until late. I am usually to be found clearing up the last of the days mess at midnight! Then my kids wake me up in the night! Time to myself? I've had no time to myself for the last three years-let alone a day off, perish the thought! Don't give up telly- don't even consider it!

yes i do and yes i expect it. if i am happy - they are happy - this is becuase if i am not happy they will not be happy

housework will always be there.

absolutley nothing wrong in out and out self imdulgence.

whats wrong with watching the telly?

nothing at all.

there is no need to be ever industrious - you dont win a prize, no one gives you a medal - and most of all - every one hates hearing the martyres moan about it.

so watch telly and sod the pears

allbuggiedout you could be describing 90%of my evenings - except after falling asleep on the sofa i crawl to bed around 10pm.

Ds and I both work the same 12 hours - he works while I look after ds and then he comes home, I work and he looks after ds. And then he goes to sleep (ds not dh - though that is a possibility) and we get 12 hours to ourselves, which we fritter away watching TV and sleeping. Which is great - I think a 12 hour shift is heaps.