If you have more than one child, how do you manage to…

[brownbutterfrangipanetart]

if you have more than one child - both young eg toddler and newborn, do you manage to make time for the following and if so, how?

-keep up an exercise regime (not just walking, 3x 30 min home workouts for example)

-hobbies/self care like baths, reading etc

Right now I have a 4 month baby and am managing the above when my husband looks after baby and vice versa. Just wondering how it works with 2 little ones!

When mine were younger I had zero free time to myself and I doubt many mum’s do. A quick shower while they napped was the extent of it. Things like exercise and self care though we’re none existent. My husband was a shift worker too so not even much opportunity for him to help. It’s tough, worst part of the whole parenting journey in my opinion. But you will eventually become yourself again

A couple of things to add to my original response:

1. both sets of grandparents live abroad, so no regular family help, but both of our boys attend crèche 5 days a week (well, now the eldest is in school + after-school club), which helps.
2. I didn’t breastfeed either of my children. Both were bottle fed from day 1. So this perhaps also helps in terms of carving out time as the routine is more predictable.

I have a 4 year old and a 12 week old. You think in your head maternity is just loads of free time off. It’s not, it’s constant washing, winding, cooking, feeding, sterilising, school runs, school admin, cleaning…add in Christmas and it’s just chaos.
One child is trying at times, two is just another league! I have no hobbies, I don’t have any time to myself and I don’t exercise. Though my pedometer must be wondering what’s happening the last few months.