https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:43:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2696136 Sat, 11 Feb 2017 12:39:12 +0000 snowjewelz 2696136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: @SLR: I'm glad I'm not the only one! </p> <p>We don't have a cleaning service, so I really take the time to do daily maintenance of living room. Weekly chores that I spread through out nights are - mopping (usually 2x a week at least), clean bathrooms, and laundry (ours, the girls, towels, sheets, dirty rags). When I'm at work I try to take care of bills and stuff then. But just tidying up def takes at least half an hour depending on what I'm doing! Right now we don't prep much for DD; DH makes her lunch in the morning. This will prob change to night time when both girls are in daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2696133 Sat, 11 Feb 2017 12:33:52 +0000 MrsADS 2696133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pawprints I dunno, maybe I am making it harder than necessary? We pack LO's milk (17 m) because he can't have WCM and we have to pack his lunch. I usually pack my lunch and breakfast too (not DH's). </p> <p>Usually we have a huge pile of dishes - all our lunch containers from the day (mine, DS's), dinner dishes, breakfast dishes and cups (this does not get done before we leave the house). And sippy cups - ugh! The bane of my existence to wash. They take forever. </p> <p>And usually the house is a wreck - don't know how it happens every day but like stuff all over the counter, toys, etc - so I try to pick up a little bit (most days). Sometimes either do a load of laundry or refresh, fold, and put away the load I did the day before. I don't know how we have so much laundry for 2 adults and 1 little person, but it seems like quite a bit! I do usually 2 medium size loads of colors during the week, and on the weekends, 3 loads' worth of sheets and towels, probably 2 loads of clothes, 1 load of my work delicates, and a load of LO's daycare nap stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2696107 Sat, 11 Feb 2017 11:35:05 +0000 PawPrints 2696107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: I think I'm having just as hard a time picturing your evenings as you are picturing mine. I just don't have any of those things to do in the evenings that you describe! Daycare provides all DD's food so there's no need to pack a lunch. Sounds like you're packing lunch for yourself and maybe even your DH too- I think that's fairly unusual these days, most people just bring in leftovers or buy lunch. And you mentioned packing milk? Doesn't daycare provide milk, even? We don't have enough laundry to need to do it every evening - DH and I each do our own laundry every other week or so, and we do the cloth diapers every three days and that takes maybe 5-10 minutes total. Bills are all on autopay and DH takes care of the credit card bills all at once at the beginning of the month. There's nothing in her daycare bag to "go through" - the only thing we bring home is her dirty cloth diapers. So yeah I guess we just don't have much that needs to be done! I'm sorry your evenings are so packed, that must be exhausting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2696092 Sat, 11 Feb 2017 10:42:11 +0000 nana87 2696092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very little. I go to sleep not long after she does, sometimes we watch a bit of tv but not always. Usually we make her clean up her own toys so the living room isn't too messy. It's a small space so it doesn't take too long even if it's messy. Dh packs her lunch in the morning while I get her dressed. Dh does the dishes/kitchen clean up while I do bedtime (or after--but it's his job). </p> <p>Writing thatnout, I think the reason that I don't have too long is bc dh and I have a good split of responsibilities-- lo has mommy preference so I'm usually w her while he's doing the household stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2696071 Sat, 11 Feb 2017 09:08:10 +0000 LemonJack 2696071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: DD used to be super needy like that when we got home from daycare, but eventually outgrew it. You'll get there! I remember how hard that was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2696068 Sat, 11 Feb 2017 09:06:20 +0000 LemonJack 2696068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to spend maybe an hour, but I've been so exhausted this entire pregnancy that I am usually in bed at the same time as DD. I try to get everything I want to do completed before she goes to bed, so I often throw in a load of laundry right when we get home, pick out her outfit before she goes to bed, etc. I'm home first usually, so I make dinner, and DH always handles cleanup, which means I never have to deal with the dishes or packing up lunches, etc. I appreciate that he takes care of all of that while I'm in bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2696006 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:36:58 +0000 sapphire 2696006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not much. Maybe cleaning the dishes or doing laundry. Daycare provides her food so no meal prep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695990 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:02:27 +0000 Boogs 2695990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually none. Bedtime is my time. The only me time during the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695949 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:14:51 +0000 MrsADS 2695949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I need some of you to teach me your ways. I get home anywhere from 5-6pm depending on the day. DS (17 mo) is usually an exhausted wreck by that time and wants me to hold him nonstop/nurse/etc. until he goes to bed, so I can't do anything until bedtime.</p> <p>He's asleep by 7:15-7:30. Husband does dishes, I pack lunches, his milk, go through daycare bag, try to do a load of laundry so I don't have to do 5,000 over the weekend, do all the random other little things that pile up and have to be done (pay bills, mail, whatever). This usually takes MINIMUM an hour and usually 90 minutes, and by 9pm I want to go upstairs and start getting ready for bed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695945 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:09:25 +0000 MrsStar 2695945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>10 mins max. I make sure the kids put the toys away and do a general tidy up before their bedtime routine. Then once they're in bed I make my eldest's lunch and pack her bag for kindy. Then it's me time and everything else can wait. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695938 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:03:14 +0000 Mae 2695938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ideally no more than 20 minutes. Whoever isn't putting kiddo to bed picks up all the toys and tidies the house. I try to make her lunch for the next day after dinner but if that doesn't work I have to do it after bedtime. But that's pretty much the only chore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695928 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 19:50:29 +0000 gentlelunette 2695928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably 5-10 minutes. I do most of it in the morning. After she goes down we usually pick up the playroom and wash her cups from daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695909 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 18:51:47 +0000 littlejoy 2695909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually, zero. Sometimes we do fold laundry together after bedtime, but we usually put her to bed and relax a bit. I get 2 hours solo time with LO after school, and I do all of my parenting stuff in between playing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695872 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 17:45:27 +0000 caterw 2695872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do all of my stuff during the day- DD eats breakfast very slowly and I eat fast so she can finish eating while I tidy up/ fold laundry/ pay bills in the morning. Once both kids are asleep I will maybe finish up some dishes or start the washer but usually I am binging Netflix on my laptop for a bit before I fall asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695836 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 16:52:13 +0000 SLR 2695836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: I feel the same way! There are not enough hours in the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695828 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 16:42:15 +0000 Charm54 2695828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try and get everything done while dh is giving the kids a bath and/or entertaining them. So by the time they are in bed the lunches are already made, dinner dishes are done and house is tidy(ish) and we can chill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695814 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 16:34:51 +0000 MrsADS 2695814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. These responses are crazy to me. When do you guys do all the household stuff that has to be done every day? I feel like ALL I do from when LO goes to bed until I go to bed is parenting/family related tasks. I may take 20 minutes to sit on the couch but that's it! Dishes, picking up, packing lunches, opening the mail, etc. My son is only 17 months so it's hard for me to do any of that when he's awake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695798 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 16:15:05 +0000 lioneyes 2695798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to do most of this stuff while he's awake and playing. After bedtime, I usually clean up his playroom and prep his milk for the morning. I might dry some clothes if it's been a busy laundry day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695769 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 15:32:02 +0000 yellowbird 2695769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>None!!!!</p> <p>Bedtime is zen time. Everything else can wait until the next day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695715 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 14:34:18 +0000 Anya 2695715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>None, unless I still have to finish dinner dishes, but that's not strictly a parenting task. Maybe a quick sweep to pick up toys and miscellany if I didn't get a chance to do that before bedtime. </p> <p>When she was still in daycare and/or breastfeeding I feel like I spent a ton of time doing milk and bottle related tasks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695707 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 14:27:08 +0000 snowjewelz 2695707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow reading all these replies I'm jealous! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695696 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 14:18:37 +0000 Ajsmommy 2695696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that DD is older it's about 5-10 mins. Basic clean up and setting out outfits/hair accessories for the morning for daddy. </p> <p>When she was younger/bf'ing, it was way longer. I would wash bottles and pump parts, pack her bottles for daycare the next day and her lunch/snacks for a while (we did BLW and I packed her stuff until she was one). I'd get out frozen milk for the next day to thaw. It was ok though bc she went to bed early so I still ended up with some free time. Now her bedtime is later and I dont' get any free time :sad: Going to have to make some adjustments bc LO2 is otw and i'll be washing bottles/pump parts/packing stuff again </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695669 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 13:56:55 +0000 smocks 2695669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>0, as soon as their doors are closed, that is me time.</p> <p>I will wake up 5-10 minutes earlier if I NEED to get something done for them (e.g. sheets in the bags ready for daycare on Mondays), but I try to do any sort of kid related stuff when they're awake and playing independently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695647 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 13:34:12 +0000 PawPrints 2695647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2-3 minutes cleaning up her dinner dishes. After that I start cooking our own dinner, after that we watch TV or read. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695641 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 13:28:35 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2695641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH does toys so zero time I guess, though I do spend 30 or so minutes cleaning the kitchen from dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695599 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 12:45:35 +0000 gingerbebe 2695599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to have DS1 pick up his toys before bed but if not it's a few minutes to clean that up. I usually have to go around picking up dirty clothes from the bath and run a load of laundry. DH handles the dishes but I wipe up and clean from dinner. At some point I have to throw something together for DS1's lunch, but that's either in the evenings or mornings. I'm trying to pump wean so some evenings I have to pump. All told maybe 30-45 minutes? I do try to have the boys bedtime stuff set up in advance - I lay out PJs and clothes for the next day in the morning or at the latest during their baths. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695571 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 12:21:10 +0000 codeitall 2695571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on how energetic I'm feeling haha! There's usually dishes in the kitchen to do and toy pickup, but I pretty much limit it to starting the dishwasher and a 5 minute toy pickup. Occasionally there's a load of laundry to put away on the bed. Once he's down, I prefer to sit quietly and plan life/pinterest/facebook or just read. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695486 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 10:36:25 +0000 lamariniere 2695486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not that much, maybe 20 min max? I try to have the kids clean up their own toys before dinner. After they go to bed we share cleaning up the kitchen, folding laundry, tidying up, etc. I don't have to pack lunches and there's rarely anything extra to pack for school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695471 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 10:21:29 +0000 youboots 2695471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not much. 5-10 minutes. DH stuffs her diapers though. Usually just folding a load of laundry and or packing a lunch for daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-do-you-spend-doing-parenting-tasks-after-the-kids-are-in-bed#post-2695467 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 10:16:40 +0000 Anagram 2695467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>usually maybe 10-15 minutes. I aim for 0, but usually there's still something little that has to be done--dinner dishes or cleaning up the last toys they were playing with right before bed. </p>