What does your evening look like after work?

priscillamedia

I'm a working mom of a 20 mth old. I still am not able to figure out how to make any time for myself at all.

It seems like once I get home around 5:30ish, DD is ready to eat and ready to eat right there and then. So I have to feed her first. Then about 6ish, she's done eating and has to have some mommy time and wants me to sit with her to play or watch some Barney or ELmo dvd with her. So, now it's about 6:45.. fix dinner for the rest of the family. I usually can start on this earlier if hubby distracts daughter or watches elmo w/her. But she's adament of having her mommytime first before bonding w/any other family member.

Now, it's 7:15ish, so it's time for shower time w/DD. And she goes to bed between 8 - 8:30.

This is the first time I get to chill for a minute or finish some laundry or clean up the kitchen, etc...

 And where do I find time to go to a gym? Since having DD, I've gained an additional 35lbs!

 Anyone else in this scenario?

madhatter2003

Yep, you just summed up my evening. Except now add that I crash at 9 pm since I'm so tired from being pg on top of that.

I try to walk or take yoga classes on my lunch break for exercise, but I haven't seen the inside of a gym in YEARS. (my office has a woman come teach yoga 1 day a week). 

katy75

Craziness!

All 3 of us get home around 6.  DH and I stuff our faces.

6:30/6:45 - DD eats dinner

7:00 - DD bath time

7:30 - DD bedtime

Then DH and I run around and clean up after her and us and finally sit down to crash around 8 or 8:30.  We officially go crash in bed around 9 or 9:30.

We did get a system for dinners going which has helped my craziness:

Mon - I cook whatever I feel like cooking

Tue - leftovers

Wed - frozen pizza night

Thur - take out night

Friday - I cook whatever I want

And, we alternate with DD.  One of us feeds her dinner, then the other one puts her to bed.  The next night we switch.  Whoever isn't putting her to bed usually cleans up the kitchen from dinner.

katy75

priscillamedia:

I still am not able to figure out how to make any time for myself at all.

DH and I actually had a very long talk about me getting time for myself - which is why we started splitting everything up like my pp states and why he came up with our dinner schedule.  However, we have also implemented on the weekends that I go take at least an hour to myself out of the house.  Even if it is to run a stupid errand, it has REALLY helped me.

Pesky

Get home about 5:30-5:45 and DD is ready to eat (DH picks her up).  Feed DD.  Play with DD for a bit and/or clean up the kitchen and feed pets.  Start to get DD ready for bed at 6:30 and she's usually in bed by 7.  That helps a lot.  Then I fix dinner for DH and I (if I'm up to it -- haven't been lately) and DH and I eat, sometimes while watching a tivoed show downstairs.  Do whatever else I need to (laundry and such) and lately I'm out like a light by 9.  And I haven't found extra time to go to the gym unless I do so on the weekends.  So I just make an effort to park far away from the building so I can get some exercise that way. 

krub

I get home about 5:30 'ish.  the kids are sometimes hungry, so I will fix them something to eat and while they're eating I fix dinner for DH and I.  DD kind of eats in courses to spread things out, but they're usually done before we are.  That's fine, they go play while we finish up or she sits on my lap.

I don't make anything too difficult, sometimes it's just soup and sandwiches.  I reheat a lot of meals that I cook on the weekends and that helps a lot too.

We're usually don't eating around 7 pm.  We play a little and then take baths.  Kids are in bed by 8 and DH and I clean up and get ready for the next day.

molldoll71

DH picks up Billy at 5:30 and offers hima yogurt when they get home

I get home at 6:30 - give myself 10/15 minutes to play with Billy then start dinner, we all eat around 7:15 (I only make quick things these days), then we play, bath (every other night), books and bed - usually by 8:15.  I then have the joy of doing the dishes, cleaning out his lunch box, doing other little chores and usually get a break around 9.  I often joke when leaving work that I am on my way to my second job. It won't be this way forever and it certainly is much better than when he was a newborn and was not sleeping and wasn't independent at all - then I was making dinner after he went to bed and not getting a break until 9:30/10.

 Oh and I try to get into bed by 10:30 - definitely by 11:00.

bdbart

Wow, I'm amazed at how many posters have two dinners every night! ?I think our biggest time savings came when DD started eating regular food, and now (she's 20 mo.) we all eat together every night, she eats what we eat, and she feeds herself so DH and I (or just me, since DH is usually not home until after DD goes to bed) can eat then, too. ?We do miss our dinners together, but it saves us a lot of time!

That said, here's our schedule:

5ish-5:30 get home and play

5:30ish start getting dinner ready - DD "helps" (= DD on her step stool next to me mixing, grabbing at whatever I'm doing, or "washing dishes" in the sink). ?It's usually just reheating or grilled cheese or something pretty basic. ?Friday is pizza night, so happiness is a phone call away.

6ish eat dinner - DD helps me load the dishwasher after (only non-pointy, not too dirty dishes for DD)

6:30-7:15 play?

7:15-8 bath, books, general bedtime stuff

8-8:30 throw in a load of laundry, clean up the mess from all of DD's help ?

8:30-? do the work that I didn't get done before I left work for the day

Usually I try to quit by 10, then I crash in front of the TV with a bowl of ice cream and try not to think too hard about the fact that DD will be up at 5 ready to do it all again.

marryingacoach

I am usually home by 5:30. I have an idea what is for dinner and try to have most of it ready to go by the time I get home. I cook a lot of crock pot meals and easy meals-- tacos, spaghetti etc. There are no gourmet meals at our house.  We eat no later than 6:30 done by 7:00. Dh gives bath while I clean up from dinner. DS is down by 8:00. I meet my neighbor at 8:15 we go for a 3 mile walk then I come in and crash.  Then up to start the day at 5:30 am... I do all the laundry on the weekend. We keep the house straighted as we go. But the best thing I ever did was hire a housecleaner. She only comes every two weeks but she does the big stuff for me. This allowed me to have some me time.

katie277s

DS and I get home around 6PM.  I make dinner why DS colors, watches Blues Clues or whatever.  DH is usually home around 6:30-7:00.  After dinner, DH plays with DS while I get the kitchen clean.  7:00 is bath time.  DS usually watches either Dora or Diego before bed, so that gives me a chance to start a load of laundry or someting.  DS is in bed by 8PM and DH and I get time after that. 

YellowBride

I get home first and either watch tv or start on dinner. DH gets home with DD around 5:30. We play a little, then I finish (or start!) making dinner and we all eat together around 6. After dinner, DH plays with DD while I clean up from dinner. Then we play some more until 7 or 7:30 and DD is in bed by 7:30. A bath in there every other night around 7.

I have from 7:30-9:30 for "me" time and then I go to bed. I don't find it too stressful. Probably b/c we have a cleaning person every ohter week and DH does all the laundry! The only thing I really hae to worry about is the food and dishes and straightening up. I am lazy and don't work out right now :-( If I was motivated, I could do that after she goes to bed though.

Mrs_JR

I get home between 4-5.  DH gets home at 5.  We play with her until it's time to start dinner.  I usually start it around 6.  DH plays with DD while I cook.  We eat dinner together around 6:30.  DH and I alternate who cleans up the kitchen while the other plays with DD.  I take her upstairs at 7:45 and give her a bath.  During this time DH cleans up her toys in the livingroom.  Then I put on her lotion and jammies and DH joins us in her room to read books.  I usually put her to sleep but DH does help with that 1-2 times a week.  She asleep between 8:30-9:30.  After that I throw in some laundry and tidy up some things.  Doesn't really leave much time to myself!  On the nights DH puts DD to sleep I get caught up on my DVR shows and nest.  I usually go to bed around 11-11:30.  I have a terrible time finding time to work out.  I have a goal to start going on my lunch break.  We'll see if it happens!

Wednesdays and Thursdays are a little off this schedule because DD has tumbling and music class.  Those days are very quick meals and sometimes no bath!

Amy&Noah2007

I, like you, have gained weight since having DS - in fact, I lost all my PG weight PLUS 10 lbs. after I had DS (at the 6 month mark) but gained 25 lbs in a year and 1/2 (about) - b/c of this SAME reason. It was so much easier when he was little b/c I would just strap him in the stroller and go. Or in the bouncer and do 20 min. of cardio. Now, he is much more demanding - wants to read books, play ball and/or eat etc. (like you do above). By the time I get him down to bed (around 8/8:30 p.m.) and then pick up a few things - not a lot, my house is a mess - get all our stuff together for tomorrow and lay out my clothes, I'm pooped and want to go to bed. I am hoping someone has an answer. DH does pick up DS on M & F - but those days I'm so tired, and have to work late, I don't feel like going to the gym And weekends are precious time and I feel guilty going to the gym. Sorry I'm not help - just sharing in your problem.

Amy&Noah2007

Re: doing gym time and/or some sore of exercise at lunch - not an option for me as I'm not there a full 8 hours, so I need to maximize my time there (I run my own biz).

Re: 2 dinners - I'm not always hungry at 5:30, which is when DS wants to eat. He usually has the same meal as me, but earlier. Also, DH doesn't get home until later...hence the need for 2 meals or even 3; DS's, mine and then DH's.

It's hard to find time for ourselves during the evening as working moms. I think it HAS gotten easier to work with a toddler than helps themselves, but I feel like DS wants to be around me a lot more - and when he brings me his book, I'm not gonna turn him down to do my cardio DVD.