https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:36:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go/page/2#post-2908497 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 12:31:08 +0000 LemonJack 2908497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My big suggestion is to go easy on yourself as you get into your groove. It’ll get easier over time, or you’ll get used to it at least. How we deal with evenings has adjusted over time as we’ve had more kids and they’ve gotten older. We just had our third, and will need to readjust when I go back to work, and even though I’ve done this before, I’m still nervous about the adjustment!</p> <p>One thing that’s helped my kids is to take a few minutes as soon as we get home to sit down with them and cuddle. They are often needy and fussy as babies/toddlers after being away from me all day, and our evenings are so much calmer if we take that time to reconnect before I start dinner. We often either read a book together or turn on a show, and after a few minutes I move into my evening routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908489 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 09:20:02 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2908489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I admit, this is the one place where I sometimes feel glad that my kid is a night owl and doesn't go to bed until 10. We both WOH and have long commutes, so we get home around 6-6:15 after picking kiddo up from aftercare, make dinner while she plays, eat around 7-7:30, and clean up, make her snacks, etc. 8-8:30. 8:30-10 is basically our bedtime routine - some combo of shower for her if she needs it, playing with her, reading, and she's in bed at 10. The tradeoff is that we have zero grown-up time (I haven't watched TV in 6 years lol) and I don't see that changing any time soon until kiddo becomes more independent and wants to spend less time with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908479 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 20:50:48 +0000 Umbreon 2908479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: thank you! It's going to be a huge adjustment going from all day to only 3 hours. I do recognize that it could be worse though. DH and I are lucky to work where we do with such flexible hours.</p> <p>I think it will be easier when LO is in school because I know I can't be home with him anyway. But now, it's going to be tough.</p> <p>My parents both worked pretty much my whole life and I dont resent them or anything. I dont wish my mom had been a SAHM - we have a pretty perfect relationship right now. So that is reassuring to me.</p> <p>I'm so happy with all the responses I've gotten! This has given us some ideas on how to make the best of things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908474 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 19:37:32 +0000 Becky 2908474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winter_wonder: The only time I’m sad about it is in the summer. My SIL and BIL are both teachers so have the entire summer off. They do a ton of stuff with their daughter and my girls and I get major FOMO. Last night for example we got home at 5:30, the girls had actually already eaten but it was something easy, and we spent the next hour doing puzzles and playing games before bath time. The night before that we hung out in my bedroom and I did exercises while they posed in front of the mirror for almost an hour. We’re still able to spend good quality time together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908472 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 18:47:53 +0000 foodiebee 2908472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winter_wonder: Yep, me. I feel really saddened that I don't have more time. I want to work and think I'm a better mom for it, but I wish my schedule and commute were more forgiving. DH and I think often on what changes to make in our lives to still enjoy our careers while finding a balance we feel happier with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908471 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:49:03 +0000 daniellemybelle 2908471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I rarely come here anymore and even more rarely post, but I just want to say that telling a mom to "feel lucky" that she has 3 hours in the evening with her baby after being with LO all day until this post... really? Yes, it is more than a lot of people have, and if you are happy with your two hours or one hour or whatever amount of time you have, great! The culture in the U.S. around work &amp; family is not for everyone though.</p> <p>To the OP: When I picked my LO up from daycare at 3:30pm (soooo "early"! haha!) I would nurse her in the car in the parking lot. She would fall asleep on the way home and I sat in the car working on my laptop until around 4:30pm. She'd wake up, we'd go inside and usually nurse again, then I would wear her in the carrier while making dinner. We didn't any housework until after she was in bed around 7:30pm. After dinner was playtime, bath, and her bedtime routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908425 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 09:25:11 +0000 fmmtk 2908425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We both WOH FT, DH brings both kids home at 6pm, 5:30 is considered an early day. I typically get home 15 - 20 minutes ahead of him and try to get the dog taken care of and prep plates for the kids dinner before they arrive. From there, it's a rush of getting the kids fed, in the shower/bath, and in bed. 11 month old goes to bed by 6:30 and we aim for in bed by 7 for the 5 year old with 7:30 happening most nights. Weeknights are rushed, chaotic, and exhausting and we just try to enjoy the precious moments we do get with them during the chaos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908424 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 09:23:54 +0000 MrsSCB 2908424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do dropoff so my husband does pickup. This is the best system, because I'm the one who cooks, so I can get home and get dinner started before everyone else gets there. Unfortunately my husband has a long commute, so he leaves around 4:50, picks up the kids from two different places (preschool for the 3 yo, daycare for the 9 mo) and gets home between 6 and 6:15. I usually get home around 5:35, so I immediately wash the pump parts and start working on dinner. It's typically ready around when everyone else gets home, so we eat and then the baby goes to bed at 7. It's such a short time with her, so that part sucks :-/ My son goes to bed at 8, so we get a little more time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908422 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 09:01:20 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2908422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winter_wonder: I feel super lucky to have the schedules we do because our hours are reasonable compared to most. We are not job motivated people, we do it for the paycheque so our 40 hour week stops at the end of the work day. That being said, even when I’ve taken extended parental leave, there’s always a ton to be done during the days just to run a house, cook meals, etc. That doesn’t allow me to put 100% focus on my kids. I do feel conscious of how long they are away from us during the day and try to minimize that as best I can, but both of us are not cut out to stay at home. I would feel worse I think if DW and I didn’t get generous mat leaves (12 months+) and I feel both my kids thrive at their school and daycare now they are older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908419 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 08:45:46 +0000 cake2017 2908419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winter_wonder: I wouldn’t say sad for me. I’ve actually tried taking it in and just going with the flow in the evenings. my babies are in bed before 7 pm and we walk in the door at 420/430pm. Working for me is healthy and allows our family to do so much plus we love that lo1 is in a a very good quality preschool. I have 3 day weekends and dh has some weekends off too. So the time is a good ball for my family. I’ve cut a lot of stupid things that took time to cut stress @Umbreon: enjoy the evenings , plan simple, light meals, cut out unnecessary things and outsource if you can.... i have two little ones and i do evenings by myself. grace and just enjoying the time.... i watch the clock but stopped stressing it’s been very nice! also another thing babies sleep most of the day and play and eat some- lo2 is sleeping half my work shift out of the day so it doesn’t bother me- </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908413 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 08:25:21 +0000 wrkbrk 2908413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Umbreon: I know we are lucky - I usually work 8-4 or so then go get it DS at preschool. Home around 5. DW is a professor so she’s almost always home by 5 too and starting dinner. I take DS up at 7 for playtime, stories, bed. DW cleans the kitchen and handles the dogs during that time. We usually watch tv 8-9 and then crash!!!<br /> ETA one of us is usually gone once per week with evening work obligations. On those nights it’s nuggets or something super easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908395 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 21:25:57 +0000 winter_wonder 2908395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone else just feel really sad reading this? I'm right there in the thick of it with you all so this is not coming from a place of judgement. It just seems sad to me that we're all barely surviving and the time we do have with kids is so limited, especially during the baby stage 😭 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908381 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 16:29:54 +0000 Alexandra603 2908381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Having 2 parents home at 4:15pm sounds dreamy. I do usually get home at 4:15, though a couple of times a week it is 5:15pm but my husband doesn't get home until 7pm. The key is to get really good at 20 minute dinners! We only do bath twice a week. I put them to bed at 7pm. We spend time reading stories - that's really the quality time I get with them as otherwise it feels like a rush of dinner, cleanup, unpack backpacks, bath, pjs, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908380 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 16:09:48 +0000 jhd 2908380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Something that really helps me is to cook double batches of our favorite freezer friendly recipes. Then I freeze leftover in individual portions. Then we just reheat for lunches or dinners when things are busy. </p> <p>It will be challenging at times, but you will settle into routines and find what works for your family. Best of luck! ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908378 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:30:00 +0000 ALV91711 2908378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Evenings are crazy! We have two boys, 6.5 and 16 months. DH picks them up from daycare and is home about 4:30. DS2 is hangry so he gives him something to eat and then starts dinner. I get home at 5 or a little later in the bad weather. We all eat dinner and then I put DS2 to bed. Usually he’s in bed at 6. Then dinner clean up and lunch making, homework. DS1 is in bed for 7:30. </p> <p>We don’t do showers/baths every night. We try and have leftovers so DH is not cooking every night and on the weekend we try and cook meals with enough leftovers to freeze. </p> <p>It is a crazy time but I know soon enough things will change, the boys will be able to help more and won’t have to go to bed so early. For now we just do what is best in this stage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908326 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 20:53:55 +0000 Umbreon 2908326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pajamas: I know we are lucky. It might end up changing though as DH leaves before 7 am in the morning. Childcare will be a factor. We are lucky we use flexible hours and can start any time as long as we are there for the core hours which are 9-3 I think.</p> <p>This has been so helpful, thank you everyone for your input. It is going to be hard going back. I will savor the rest of my time off! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908318 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 18:36:25 +0000 PurplePeony 2908318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m in the same position as a lot of others here. We usually get up at 6:40 am, I walk DD to school and drop her off at 7:50. When I get home depends on what bus I catch and how late it’s running (public transportation is generally okay in my city but the specific bus lines to my neighborhood suck big time). Most often, I’m home just before 6 and then have to make dinner because DH doesn’t really cook. We eat at 6:30/6:45 and DD goes to bed at 8, so I don’t get a lot of time with her. I’m struggling with this because when she was in daycare, I picked her up and we rode the bus together, so we had an extra 45 minutes together that we don’t have anymore. DH now has significantly more time with her than he used to because he picks her up right after school 2x per week and usually also gets her from aftercare the other days. Hopefully I can start working from home more often to cut the commute time a day or two per week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908290 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:54:42 +0000 Mommy Finger 2908290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would LOVE to have both of us get home before 5. As it stands now, I leave at 5 and pick up the boys and two different schools and usually get home a little before 6. DH takes the train from the city and usually gets home around the same time. Then I run around like crazy getting dinner on the table that is usually something I just heat up as hopefully I either meal planned or thought to pull something from the freezer. Dinner is around 6:15 and then upstairs around 7 to start bedtime. Usually that ends at 8 and then DH and I generally have to log back on to get more work done. I call it the race to bedtime and it's just....reality as @Mrs. Pajamas: so perfectly put it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908288 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:39:54 +0000 KT326 2908288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Being a full time WOH is hard! I was talking to my SIL who just had her baby and she was asking me how we did it. It's just something that we do. You figure out a schedule as you go along. And that schedule changes with each stage of life. I've learned to just roll with it and make sure the time I spend with my kids is quality time.</p> <p>You will find what works for you. </p> <p>My oldest is starting his 4th year of baseball, we will have two practices a week and two games for a few months starting in March. The following year my little one will be in t-ball so we will have two separate baseball schedules to manage! That one scares me a bit but I know we will work it out. We will be having lots of dinners on the go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908273 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:46:56 +0000 foodiebee 2908273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our schedule is pretty similar to what everyone above has said, so this thread has helped me feel better about it. DH and I often comment on how little time we get as a family and how precious our weekends are because of it. </p> <p>I get off at 4, rush to daycare by 4:15, get DS and commute home (45 min. - 1 hour). DH has been home long enough by then just to let the dog out and get the mail. Now that we're doing baby-led solids, I stress about eating dinner early so that DS can join us or at least eat something. Bedtime depends on how he napped at daycare—crappy nap days mean earlier bedtime around 6:30, giving us precious little time with him. :( After he goes to sleep, we are honestly so exhausted that we just crash on the couch for an hour, I pump, and we go to bed. There just isn't energy for more than that. Without one of us making a career shift, I don't know how to make this easier until DS gets older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908272 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:46:13 +0000 kayla0416 2908272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're very similar to most here - 2 hours from getting home to kids bedtime. DDs are 2 and 3.75. Baby 3 due next week. Both DH and I WOH. Me and the girls get home around 4:45, DH around 5:15. During the week, we do a lot of leftovers, crockpot meals, or things that are very quick to cook (spaghetti, breakfast for dinner, etc). We're usually eating by 5:30, bath at 6, 6:30 books/songs/tuck in, leave the room no later than 7. They usually wake up around 6am to leave the house by 6:45. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908271 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:45:48 +0000 Anagram 2908271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Umbreon: I pick up the kids anywhere from 4:00-4:30 at school. We usually go straight home, but sometimes we play at the playground at school (if it's above 40 degrees outside). I try to be home by 5 even if we play at the playground, though.</p> <p>As soon as we get home, DD1 has to do her homework (she has homework daily), and both girls have the bring me their lunch containers and clean out their backpacks. I clean their lunch containers and generally supervise DD1s homework while I make dinner and pack lunches for the next day.</p> <p>6:00pm: Dinner<br /> 6:45pm: Kids get to watch their 1 show of the day<br /> 7:15pm: bath every other night, if no bath they get a few minutes of play time.<br /> 7:30pm: we start reading. Both kids have to read 1 book a night to us, and then sometimes we also read a book to them depending on time.<br /> 8:00pm: kid bedtime.</p> <p>My husband doesn't usually get home until 6:30-7:00pm, so they are usually done eating dinner at that point. I usually eat dinner with the kids. He and I rotate kid bathtimes/bedtimes with cleaning up dinner. While 1 parent is doing bedtime, the other cleans up dinner and tidies the house. The next night, we switch. </p> <p>The tough part for me, is this year, DD1 also has Girl Scouts every other Tuesday from 6-7pm, and she's in Frozen Jr every Thursday evening from 5:00-6:30pm. So those nights are super harried and stressful, because she has to do her homework before going. On a girl scouts night, she eats dinner before. On a Frozen Jr night, she eats dinner after. But either way, I have to race to pick up the kids, race them home for homework/snack, race them back out to drop off DD1, go home for DD2's dinner, go back out to get DD1, then home for bedtime routine. She really loves both of these activities, but I am going to be so glad when Frozen is done after this month. Since DH gets home so late, I get 0 help with any of the lunch packing/dinner making/homework doing/activity shuttling, and I have to wrangle DD2 while doing it all. It gets busy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908270 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:44:52 +0000 Shantuck 2908270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I both work full time jobs outside the house with two kids (DS is 7 and DD is 3; baby #3 is expected in March). We don't leave our offices until 5 and aren't all back home after pick-ups until around 5:45 p.m. We're very much into a divide and conquer approach. On a typical night, one person does pick-ups and the other preps dinner and makes school lunches for the next day. The kids usually arrive home during that process and amuse themselves until dinner is ready. We all sit down to eat together and during dinner we usually play a question game (similar to Table Topics for Kids). While one of us cleans up after dinner, the other parent tackles the elementary school homework with DS and DD usually plays by herself. Once dishes are done, we usually try to play with the kids for a few minutes unless it's bath night (that happens twice a week in our house). We try to start DD's nighttime process around 7:15 p.m. so she can be in bed around 7:30 p.m. and DS's process around 8 p.m. so we have 30 minutes or so to read before he needs to be in bed. DH and I have pretty demanding jobs so it isn't uncommon that one or both of us needs to log back on after the kids go down. It's uncommon for us to do much in terms of household chores (laundry, etc.) in the evening other than some minimal meal prep for the next day, etc. If we don't have to work after bedtime, we usually try to just relax and go to bed early. Unfortunately, we don't get a lot of quality time with the kids during the week. We try to plan family time for the weekends.</p> <p>ETA: It takes awhile after maternity leave to hit your stride. Just give yourself some grace while you are figuring out what works for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908268 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:37:24 +0000 Anagram 2908268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: The schedule is probably just shifted earlier. I'm home by 4:30 with the kids, but I leave at 6:45am and my kids are up (naturally, on their own) at 5:45am-6:00am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908264 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:28:33 +0000 Ajsmommy 2908264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our evenings are much the same as above posters and they are not ideal in any way shape or form. Some nights we are just surviving and then some nights feel long and relaxing. We haven't even added in any extra curricular activities yet so I can't even imagine life then! And DH complains that we don't get enough one on one time now.... I don't know what to even do with that.</p> <p>But a typical night is me picking up DS at 450-5 pm, his daycare closes at 5 and I work until 4 with an hour commute so most nights I'm fighting the traffic to get there with a min or two to spare.. then I sweep over and pick up DD from school after care at about 515 and then we are home at 520-530. </p> <p>Then I get them home, most often times they need snack/drink asap and DD uses the bathroom. Then I change and start dinner.. We do easy dinners and some prepared meals and left overs for most of the week. Try to eat at 6-615. Dinner clean up 630. 645 pj's and relax time with TV and snuggles on couch until 715 or 730 when we head upstairs for bedtime routine.</p> <p>As stated some nights are easy as pie and other nights seem like a nightmare... but I try to make the best of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908260 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:04:46 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2908260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Staggered/flexible work hours between DW and I are key. She does 7-3 and I do 830-430, she picks up and I drop off from school and daycare. She’s home by 415 and I’m home at 5. I meal plan and write all the meals on a board on the fridge with instructions about what she needs to do before I get home, then I take over and finish and we eat by 5:30/545 most days. Bath at 615, both boys in bed by 7. As others have said, that 2 hours everyone is DONE and we savour the time we have after they’re in bed for ourselves. Our boys are 5yo and 16mo.</p> <p>I make weekend time count: we rarely have to be anywhere early so we are lazy both mornings. We do something fun all of us when we get around to it and then older DS gets LEGO, movie, games during younger DS nap. </p> <p>We split the evening chores too: one does kitchen clean up, the other bath and then alternate who takes which kid to bed. I make lunches after they go to bed and then we sit and do nothing until we go to bed. I sincerely need those 2-3 hours for myself or I would go crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908259 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:02:03 +0000 codeitall 2908259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm amazed at how many people get home by 5 or earlier. DH and I both work 25 minutes away, adding daycare pickup and rush hour means we get home at 6 at the earliest. DH stays late at work to study for school so he usually doesn't get home till after 7.</p> <p>I make something super easy and quick like corndogs or pasta for dinner. Sometimes we're lucky to have leftovers from the weekend. Then I let the kids play independently while DH and I catch up.</p> <p>Kids do their own thing while I try to run laundry or organize some disaster around the house. Between 8-8:30 we get them in pajamas (baths are not a favorite so we don't do them often), brush teeth, wash faces and settle on the couch for cuddles and a show while I read a book. Kids usually go to bed around 9-9:30 and we go to bed just after.</p> <p>I'm fortunate to have flex work hours and blackout curtains so my kids can sleep in since they're up later then all of yours. Otherwise DH wouldn't see the kids with his schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908255 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:31:42 +0000 psw27 2908255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pick the kids up at 6:15 and we walk in the door around 6:30 every night. My DH isn't home consistently enough to rely on him to do pick up or start dinner. Once we are home, I start cooking or throwing together dinner, the kids play and then we try to eat by 7-7:15. If my husband is home, one of us does bath and bed while the other cleans up. The goal is to have the kids in bed by 8:15. This isn't the life I dreamed of and I'm not happy about it but there isn't much I can do at this phase. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908253 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:24:23 +0000 Becky 2908253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have DD’s ages 3.5 and 6, and DS on the way. Both WOH FT. We’re fortunate in that 3 weekdays we eat with family, but unfortunate in that due to our 3.5 year old being ridiculous I currently have to go to bed at the same time as my kids so don’t have time for evening chores. I usually do chores in the morning. My house, work, daycare, and school are all within the same village so all within 5 minute drive which is HUGE. Weeknight dinners at home are leftovers or super easy.</p> <p>The girls shower every other night. I like to have them in the shower between 6:45-7. I do some chores during this time as long as they aren’t fighting. I let them play in the tub for a while so I can do this and get myself ready for bed. DD2 likes to go to bed by 7:30 but it’s often 8. I often go downstairs with DD1 and do puzzles after that until 8:30-9pm. </p> <p>DH does dinner cleanup and dishes. Half the time he leaves dishes until the morning—I don’t care as long as it’s not me doing it!</p> <p>Monday: I leave work and pick up DD2 and my niece at daycare at about 5-5:15, then we go to my SIL’s house and eat. We swap who makes dinners. If it’s me, it’s leftovers from Sunday. The kids play and SIL and I chat/hang out while the kids play. We leave around 6:30-7. DH gets home about 9.</p> <p>Tuesday: My MIL babysits DD2 and niece and gets DD1 to/from school. We typically eat at her house. We usually stay until 7ish, and the kids often bathe there (in that case we sometimes don’t leave until a little later). Everyone hangs out together in the living room while the kids play. DH gets home about 9.</p> <p>Wednesday: DH gets DD1 off the bus. He’s supposed to make dinner but we’re lax about it and often do leftovers or make pizza or tuna. I pick DD2 up about 5:15.</p> <p>Thursday: My mom babysits and gets DD2 to/from school. Huge: she makes dinner and usually cleans up. Every other Thursday we have 4H. When I’m not pregnant, I do a run club on the alternate Thursdays. Right now DH and I are doing date nights instead (we get a sitter either way). If it’s a 4H night I often have to take both girls and we’re there 6:30-7:30 so skip baths even if it’s a bath night. If we have the sitter she bathes the girls. DH usually does grocery pick up Thursdays. </p> <p>Friday: I get DD1 off the bus at 3:50 (o get to work early to do this). We have a snack and either play a game or start dinner before picking up DD2 at daycare. DH usually arrives home at some point and goes on a run. We try to eat dinner together (something easy or take out), but if DH hasn’t run yet I prefer him to do that than eat dinner with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-parents-how-doyour-evenings-go#post-2908251 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:15:11 +0000 erinbaderin 2908251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually pick up my younger son (3) from full-time daycare between 4:30/4:45, and then my older son (almost 6) from after school daycare around 15 minutes later. We usually get home between 5 and 5:20. At that point I do the unpack backpacks, clean lunch containers, etc. while I start dinner and they're supposed to be playing but usually just begging me to play with them or asking when it's 5:30, because at 5:30 they each get to pick 15 minutes of tv while I finish dinner. My husband gets home around 5:45, my goal is to have dinner on the table at 6. Around 6:30 the kids and my husband head upstairs, he gets bathtime going while I finish the cleanup and pack the next day's lunch for my older son, pyjamas, we alternate who we read to each night, and lights out around 7:15.</p> <p>I remember feeling the same way as you when I first had to go back to work, but now if traffic is light I sit in the car in the daycare parking lot reading a book or listening to a podcast to get a few more minutes of alone time. :) My kids are wonderful and I love them like crazy but when I'm tired from a day of work and they're tired from a day of school/daycare it's a lot. </p>