If you both work FT how much free time do you have to yourself at weekend?

[Lasvegas]

I am simply trying to bench mark my own expectations. I am not interested in a discussion about which is harder - paid work or looking after kids etc.
Both DH and I do paid work for at least 35 hrs per week. My DD is coming up to 4.5 and since she has been born I have largely dedicated my weekends to her. I got fed up with not doing anything other than paid work and child raising so decided alternative weekends to have 2.5 hours to myself to play tennis.
Do others in similar position have time to do their own thing?. If yes do you feel guilty not being super mum? My mum cannot understamd why I wouldn't want to spend the whole weekend every weekend with DD.
I was inspired by chatting to mothers who don't do paid work and put kids in pre-school for a few mornings each week so that they can go to dance class etc.

Dh and I both have 1 evening a week where we go out. The other has to do the bath, bed thing.

At the weekends we normally have a night out every couple of weeks. The children don't really miss out because they are in bed. Day times are mostly dedicated to doing stuff with them though.

4.5???

2.5 hours alternative weekends???

And this is meant to be too much?

kif Dd 4.5 yrs old. Too much according to my mum. Whor raised her kids in 70's and in her words in those days mums didn't have free time or hobbbies. Their relaxation was spending time with their kids. Maybe I am odd but DD isn't a form of relaxation for me. Also I miss not being able to keep fit.

lasvegas I think you are being perfectly reasonable. My DH works full time and plays golf nearly every Saturday (much longer than 2.5 hours) so where is the difference. I work 3 days, do childcare (DD is only 2) 2 days and at the weekends I try to go to the gym once, although usually only for an hour, but also sometimes take a couple of hours to go shopping or to the garden centre (often when DD is asleep or she wants to come) leaving DH with DS and DD.

bozzo no doubt your DH doesn't feel any guilt, and why should he. I sometimes think guilt is a female only condition.

That is what I mean lasvegas, why should you? Actually though 6 hours in the middle of a Saturday every week with a 6 and a 2yo, is somewhat different to 2.5 hours every other week with a 4.5 yo. But he says he looks forward to it all week so I try to accommodate him as far as possible.

We both work ft oth at least 35 hours.

At the weekend we take it in turns to lie in until 10am or something. I get plenty of time to myself if I want it. I go for a walk alone or slink off to read the paper or have a long bath. Sometimes having asked dh, sometimes not, depending on what the children are doing. The occupy themselves some of the time, other times we all do stuff together.

No idea why your mum would say that but anyway, I don't feel remotely guilty, why ever would I?

No lie-ins at our house for anyone.

Absolutely none - and if I try to get some my dh acts as though I have asked for the moon on a bloody stick ! Grrrrrr !!!

i work 55 hrs per week and dh works 40 hrs
i have tuesday night to go to my friends/beauty salon etc and dh goes out to friends thursday night, we have sat mornings as husband and wife (stay in bed chat watch tv read papers) while children play then sat afternoon we all clean the house
sundays are fun days where we do boy things all day and have tea out
then its back to mondays (but this week its an extra sunday )

I work f/t, and I do spend every weekend with the children, but I try to make the odd hour for myself during the week - usually bunking off work to go to the local shopping centre. It is important to do this, otherwise life just turns into an endless round.