When do kids become easier/ allow for some me time?

[cupofdecaf]

I'm just curious when do kids need less supervision/ entertainment?
I have dreams of doing some gardening or baking, reading a book maybe at the weekend whilst the kids potter around or entertain themselves. Or maybe they could even help with gardening/ baking without it turning into a disaster.
At the moment if either me or DH want to do anything on our own the other one has to have both DC (which can at times be hard work) and means we struggle to do stuff together (house maintenance for example). We've arranged grandparents to help with childcare a few times just to get basic 2 person DIY jobs done.
They are admittedly very active and full on DC.
In the summer I'll be able to do gardening after bedtime which will help (I love gardening).
Friends with teenagers moan they hardly ever see their kids so I don't want to wish the early years away but it feels relentless at times.

My eldest is 7 (and has ADHD if that makes any difference) but would happily sit on his bed and play Minecraft on his tablet for 6+ hours if I left him (I don't!)

My middle child is 4 and will play happily alone in the playroom for 30-60 minutes and then will come out and ask for a drink/snack. I have a camera in the playroom and have that on if I'm busy elsewhere in the house.

My youngest is 1 and I cannot take my eye off her for more than 3 minutes without her climbing on furniture, pulling rubbish out the bin, emptying a cupboard or trying to ride the cat.

😂

The cats around my DD are wise - they have only started allowing her near them since she has been 4.

At 9 and 7 mine mostly sort themselves out and have done so for at least the last 2 years or so. We often get stuff done at the weekend by mostly ignoring them.
obviously we make time to go out and do stuff, and also have family film nights etc but much of the test or the time they’re doing their own thing. It’s also easy now to have a friend over and they go to friends houses more too.

Nearly 11 and 13.

They shout me non stop. It's so frustrating. Especially the younger one. I don't think 15 minutes goes by without her coming to ask or show me something.

The main factor though is they don't want to do anything for themselves not that they can't.

Plus constant school / friends drama they constantly need to talk about.

40, 36 and 31 no sign yet

My 5yr old I cld get a decent amount of time to myself. She happily entertains herself. I can't wait until she can get herself food and drinks lol.

My 3yr old, very needy! I can get the dishes done and a washing but not much else. Wants cuddles or for me to play with her. Needs the toilet a thousand times a day (so it feels lol) a drink, a snack or something else. She's spilled something, her jumper is wet (she demands to get changed), it's non stop def no me time with her around.

I've a couple of years then. Will just daydream about baking/ painting/ gardening in the meantime and keep reminding myself how cute they are.