DH and I were talking earlier about how we just dont spend much time together and are trying to think of ways we can make things work out a bit better in that respect...
The main issue is that DH is self employed and works from home, he can pretty much work his own hours (within reason) but has to do at least 7 hours a day to make ends meet.
At the moment we have settled into a routine of him starting work at 9ish once I leave the house with the kids for school run etc. He then works till tea time, has an hour with us to eat and then goes back to work for a couple of hours while I get the kids bathed and into bed.
By the time DH finishes work between 8 and 9pm I am quite frankly knackered. I am pregnant and in bed by about 10pm most nights. I am suitable for nothing much apart from watching mindless TV at that point in the evening.
DH, after a day in front of a screen, is raring to go at 8pm (he is a night owl) and wants to do anything except sit in front of another screen!
We have realised that DH has been going out more nights than he has been staying in recently and he's only doing that because he doesnt want to veg in front of the TV (he goes out to the gym, extra sessions of his martial arts club, to friends house to play games etc, so not just out drinking or anything). Normally I'd be up for joining in some of the sporty things too, but am too pregnant to do so right now.
I'd be happy to go out with him for a meal once a week or so, but by the time you add up the cost of the meal plus babysitting it is too expensive to be practical.
We are thinking maybe of DH changing his work hours to something out of the norm so that the 'free time' he has not working would be at a better time for me to be awake and spend the time with him, but not quite sure really how that would work with the kids and school etc.
We have a 5yr old (at school), a 3 yr old (at pre school 2 mornings a week) and a new baby due in 3 months!
At the moment I feel like I am at home all day with the kids, stuck in all evening on my own while the kids are asleep and DH is either working or out.
From DH's point of view, he works hard all day and then I dont want to spend any time with him when he finishes, am just watching TV or in bed and so he might as well go out.
Any ideas of how we can make more quality time together?