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I struggle with the same thing.

For me, my work has flexible hours. So, I go in as early as possible (6am) so I can be home by 4pm. This makes a big difference for me. I can get home, relax a little before dinner, then have some time after dinner to play before bedtime. It's hard though.

I also, like @avivoca: struggle with caring about my work at all. All I think about all day are the other things I need to get done at home, etc. It's a struggle no matter what.

I've been back to work for 2 months (DS is 5 months old) and we are still trying to figure out the balance. I feel like I barely see him during the week and it's really hard. I'm switching my hours to 7-330 so hopefully that will help.

@Adira: Yeaaaaa....I probably should have mentioned my marriage.....except I forgot about it lol

@avivoca: @ValentineMommy: Same here, I'm having trouble caring about my job right now. I'm a teacher so there is really only so much I can slack off, but if I can I am these days. I just feel like I work so that I can support my family and enjoy the time with them. Work is so very secondary these days.

@mediagirl: yes, time!!

Yesterday my DD had K orientation so when that was done I grabbed DS as well and we headed home - got home at 3pm.

WOW!!! We had the best evening - there was time to do it all!!

I think I may try to go down to 30hrs/week to get a better work/life balance

@Mamaof2: 30 hours would be great! Even just working 7 hours a day would be amazing!

@mediagirl: yes my youngest is starting K in the fall - that is the only reason it works financially

Getting everything done in a day from working to laundry to bills. I worry constantly about finances since my husband lost his job in February. On top of that, our car had some issues this weekend and we got slapped with a big bill.

Some days, work feels like the least of my worries. I have flexibility in my job even though it's not the most fulfilling job I could be doing. I'm biding time until my husband gets a new job and I earn a much needed certification. With my job in our current situation, we have health insurance, so we're not struggling on that.

My biggest right now is making time for our marriage as well. A lot of times by the time the kids are in bed, one or the both of us are so beat, we end up crashing.

@Mamaof2: will you still retain all your benefits if you go down to 30 hours?

@mediagirl: on the nights we are both home, DH will go in and get dinner started and I will stay outside with the girls to play for a bit. Even if it's 15 minutes it helps, then we all go back in and I help finish dinner with DH.

Balance always. I used to work 30 hours a week and then decided I could do it all and switched jobs and up to full time. Ehh it is not fun. I had every Friday off before and really miss it. I have been at the new job 8 weeks and just gave notice I do not want to miss my kids as littles and the flexibility I had before made for a better balance. If someone needed me I could take care of it, here it is basically clock in and out and that just does not work for our family right now. I will be trying to work closer to full time again at the old job but that will include at least 1 half day a week at home which will help a lot.

@Mamaof2: nice - I don't think there are official rules regarding this. I'm not sure what my employer will consider still full time. I've most commonly seen anything under 34 as PT in my industry.

@mediagirl: One thing that helps in prepping meals on Sunday nights and reheating things that I cooked later the night before. I can sometimes cook chicken in the oven then just reheat for dinner. Crockpot meals are also great, but i find they aren't mostly super healthy. I always feel so bad if she cant' play outside.

I would also try the 8p bedtime a few days and see how it goes. That 30 minutes makes a huge difference.

Everyone seems to have similar struggles! For me it is making time for my husband, keeping the house in order (DH and I just had a discussion about that this morning), and trying to get quality time with my daughter during the work week. She is 4.5 months now and I feel like she is growing so fast and I am missing things. I wish I could scale back my hours but it is just not feasible.

My colleague and I frequently have discussions about "leaning in," "having it all," etc. and we usually come to the conclusion that the US is not family friendly in terms of work life balance. There is at least one European country that gives women the right to ask for (and receive) a part time schedule when they return from maternity leave. That would be my ideal situation. Just to have more time for both work and home.

@regberadaisy: I answered you wrong - oops! I meant anything over 30 you still get benefits - anything less than 40 is PT

@mediagirl: Ok right now bc DW is still on parental leave. When she goes back I'm terrified. Right now all I do is work and see DS but when she is working full time too I will have to fit in house stuff! I do try to work from home 1-2 days a month so I can spend extra time with DS! Only ends up being half a days worth of hours but that's ok.

Feeling like I am failing at my job most days. Our kids are in limited daycare, because our jobs have flexible schedules. In theory, we fit our work around taking care of them. But we can't seem to find enough time to do it, and I am in a constant panic about getting work things done and not feeling like I am doing a good job.

Wow so many of these responses resonate with me. While I'm not happy that we all have the same struggles it feels good to know I'm not alone.

I feel like I struggle with everything. I feel like I give small parts of myself to lots of things so I'm not really nailing anything if that makes sense. I wish that I was super mom and could do it all but I just feel short in all aspects. Thankfully we do have a cleaning service so that has helped tremendously. Last night my son asked if I could sit with him for a little and I said no because I had other things to get done and that is just shitty because some day I will wish he will sit with me but he will be grown and busy. Ugh! This parenting gig is rough and we're about to have baby #3 and I will feel even more stretched thin!

To answer the question I want more time for everything and I definitely struggle to focus on my husband too. I do try to be aware that I have a husband that I love and I'm thankful that he is right there in the thick of it with me!