When do you find one to one time with each child

[septemberskye]

Someone bought us a brilliant jigsaw and I’m feeling a bit sad as I don’t know when I’m going to get the time to do it with him! He is six and I have a three year old but if I try to sit and do it with him the three year old will just get into it and destroy everything.

I’m wondering when other mums on their own get proper one to one time with each child?

When the little one is in bed? Or if you have a partner it’s usually a divide and conquer situation.

To be honest I'd pop the three year old in front of bluey in one room and do the puzzle for twenty mins with the older one. But maybe the 3yo can help find pieces with a straight edge for instance? Or do an easier puzzle at the same time?

Are you a single parent? Do stuff with older one when younger one is in bed. Do stuff with younger one when older one is at school if that’s an option

Are you a single parent? It is easier with a partner to share with. Otherwise it is about boundaries or having separate activities and classes.

Yes, I thought I’d said that in my OP sorry.

she wouldn’t watch Bluey or anything - she isn’t really a big TV watcher and will only sit and watch if you’re sitting with her.

Often every weekend we each take one child and do something special with them. We don’t need to do stuff as a family all the time (we see each other plenty!). So if eldest is having a friend over, I’ll leave her with Dh and take youngest to the beach.

They also both do activities in the afternoons and evenings, so while one is at sports practice or Beavers, I’d do something with the other. I recognise yours are still a bit young for after school activities, but it will come one day.

Dh and I also make a point to take them away solo a few times a year. So earlier in the year, Dh took our youngest to visit BIL and SIL for a few days. This half term, he’ll take our eldest. He takes them camping sometimes too while the other stays home with me. I take them on proper holidays solo. I went to Spain for a few days with each of them this year. It was cheaper than a family holiday and meant I could plan very specific age appropriate activities and we got lots of quality time together.

No one ever gets more or better than the other. They each appreciate the solo time with each of us and there’s no jealousy because it’s fun to go do something just for you and it’s also fun to stay home and watch films and eat your favourite meals and not have an annoying sibling around. It works really well.