How much 'time off'

[user1499786242]

Question to any stay at home mums/dads
How much 'time off' do you get
I.e when you're not in charge of the kids, house, and can do whatever you want at home or out and about?
Curious...
thanks :)

[Nicae]

Next to none! Haircuts once every couple of months, that's pretty much it. My 2 are coming up for 3 and 17 months. The older one sleeps v well but the little one doesn't and I'm up and down to her all evening. My husband and I share overnights so I get 3 or 4 full nights sleep a week and other than that I'm 'on duty'! We have managed 2 child free nights away this year thanks to my brilliant parents. When I'm particularly tired I do feel like I could do with a break but to be honest I mostly just feel like I'm lucky to have my girls and not to have to go out to work.

[BabyAndBunny]

Hey

To be honest I find you can make more effort to have time to yourself some days and then less on others.

Luckily I have quite a well behaved baby so can do dinner/cleaning/downtime when he is sleeping. The split is generally set by how much of a tip the house is/how extravagant dinner is going to be.

Usually I can get a decent hour just to watch some telly and have lunch.

Also although baby is with me I usually meet up with friends a few times a week and that feels like downtime!

... of course some days is none but sometimes just have to leave some house tasks and have a relax in front of the telly!

[slushmucky]

My evenings. My 2 year old has just come out of naps, my other 2 are at school but at the moment it is the summer holidays. I love my evenings, I would be lost without them.

[milkjetmum]

Dh is and has been for 6yr (2dd). We did 2 half days at nursery from age 1, then the 15hrs after age 3. I occasionally let him go out . He goes to his hobby meet ups evening or weekend day, I take days off so he can do stuff eg go to airshow with a mate. Youngest has one more year before school and I think he's quite looking forward to having more time off I want another baby

[MarmaladeIsMyJam]

Loads. But totally depends on children's ages etc, if you work, does husband do his fair share etc.

[Sparrowlegs248]

None. I have a 2 yr old and a 6 month old. I get one day a week when toddler is at his grandparents. As yet no "time off" since he was born.

Husband works, out of the house from 7-7.30 to 5-6pm Monday to Friday.

[Merakcat]

It depends, I have gone for weeks living like a hermit because everyone in the house has come down with D&V except for me and I have done nothing but nurse and clear up vomit.

Other times it can feel like I am 'free' or 'off duty' a lot. It depends on DH's working hours and what is going on. In the main though I try and keep up a weekly fitness class, lunch with a friend at least once a month and evening drinks out now and again. And a lie in once a month (a proper 11am one). I sound like a slacker, but I am busy busy when I am 'on duty' as it were.

[PlumFairy2014]

Like Back said though it really depends on the ages, number, habits etc.
Do you feel you don't get enough time to yourself?

[PlumFairy2014]

Piece of string is about right for this.
The odd hair cut and maybe one evening a month from 9 months, then I was back to work at 14months (lucky I know!) and work is now my break.
DH does his share of childcare when he's at home, but his job is very demanding and time when we are all together can be rare so we tend to both spend time together and with DD.
So set time for me isn't really a thing, only for activities or planned events. Same for DH though.

[BackforGood]

It's going to depend on
a) if you have a partner at home
b) what hours the partner is home / out of the house
c) if your dc are at school / Nursery during the day
d)if you are lucky enough to have a baby that sleeps regularly for decent intervals
e) how many dc you have, and if any have additional needs
etc.etc.etc.
Bit of a 'how long is a piece of string?' question.