Stay at Home Moms, What Do You Do Between 4:30-Dinner Time?

[Anonymous]

Read books together, play outside, practice instruments, garden

[Anonymous]

Hi, it is SO good to just sit around and show my kids what it’s like to do nothing and be open to talking. They know a version of me that’s always busy.

I stay at home BUT I’m transitioning back and have 2-3 things going on right now. Worked so hard today.

I don’t want to work much around them when I have 35h / week to work alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ages 2 and 4 they should be eating dinner at 6, then bath and bed by 7pm at latest. Stop letting them watch tv at all during that window. Get them out of the house.

NP. It is ridiculous that you write this. This may be what works for you and your family, or what you prefer, but please don't make up universal rules.

DP here. There are many comprehensive child sleep studies that found 7pm is the most developmentally appropriate bed time for these ages.

+1000
People who say this are just too lazy to get their kids to bed at a normal hour and want to justify it.

How is it lazy if you don't put your kids to bed by 7? Doing so actually seems like the laziest, ship the kids off to bed as early as possible so you don't have to deal with them and have plenty of "me" time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ages 2 and 4 they should be eating dinner at 6, then bath and bed by 7pm at latest. Stop letting them watch tv at all during that window. Get them out of the house.

NP. It is ridiculous that you write this. This may be what works for you and your family, or what you prefer, but please don't make up universal rules.

DP here. There are many comprehensive child sleep studies that found 7pm is the most developmentally appropriate bed time for these ages.

+1000
People who say this are just too lazy to get their kids to bed at a normal hour and want to justify it.

How is it lazy if you don't put your kids to bed by 7? Doing so actually seems like the laziest, ship the kids off to bed as early as possible so you don't have to deal with them and have plenty of "me" time.

But I thought your contention was that your kids get the same amount of sleep as mine? 12 hours? I put my kids to bed at 7 and they wake up at 7. So you get your me time in the morning. Unless you also sleep till 9 or 10?


Can't have it both ways. Either your kids are sleeping 12 hours a night, or you're sleeping 12 hours a night, or we're getting the same amount of time to ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ages 2 and 4 they should be eating dinner at 6, then bath and bed by 7pm at latest. Stop letting them watch tv at all during that window. Get them out of the house.

NP. It is ridiculous that you write this. This may be what works for you and your family, or what you prefer, but please don't make up universal rules.

DP here. There are many comprehensive child sleep studies that found 7pm is the most developmentally appropriate bed time for these ages.

+1000
People who say this are just too lazy to get their kids to bed at a normal hour and want to justify it.

How is it lazy if you don't put your kids to bed by 7? Doing so actually seems like the laziest, ship the kids off to bed as early as possible so you don't have to deal with them and have plenty of "me" time.

But I thought your contention was that your kids get the same amount of sleep as mine? 12 hours? I put my kids to bed at 7 and they wake up at 7. So you get your me time in the morning. Unless you also sleep till 9 or 10?


Can't have it both ways. Either your kids are sleeping 12 hours a night, or you're sleeping 12 hours a night, or we're getting the same amount of time to ourselves.

Wasn't me posting that, just pointing out the absurdness of your point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ages 2 and 4 they should be eating dinner at 6, then bath and bed by 7pm at latest. Stop letting them watch tv at all during that window. Get them out of the house.

NP. It is ridiculous that you write this. This may be what works for you and your family, or what you prefer, but please don't make up universal rules.

DP here. There are many comprehensive child sleep studies that found 7pm is the most developmentally appropriate bed time for these ages.

+1000
People who say this are just too lazy to get their kids to bed at a normal hour and want to justify it.

How is it lazy if you don't put your kids to bed by 7? Doing so actually seems like the laziest, ship the kids off to bed as early as possible so you don't have to deal with them and have plenty of "me" time.

But I thought your contention was that your kids get the same amount of sleep as mine? 12 hours? I put my kids to bed at 7 and they wake up at 7. So you get your me time in the morning. Unless you also sleep till 9 or 10?


Can't have it both ways. Either your kids are sleeping 12 hours a night, or you're sleeping 12 hours a night, or we're getting the same amount of time to ourselves.

Wasn't me posting that, just pointing out the absurdness of your point.

My point is absurd? You're saying parents put their kids to bed early to get more me time. I'm saying how is that possible unless my kids are getting way more sleep than yours? The math doesn't add up.

[Anonymous]

Snuggle with books

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ages 2 and 4 they should be eating dinner at 6, then bath and bed by 7pm at latest. Stop letting them watch tv at all during that window. Get them out of the house.

NP. It is ridiculous that you write this. This may be what works for you and your family, or what you prefer, but please don't make up universal rules.

DP here. There are many comprehensive child sleep studies that found 7pm is the most developmentally appropriate bed time for these ages.

+1000
People who say this are just too lazy to get their kids to bed at a normal hour and want to justify it.

How is it lazy if you don't put your kids to bed by 7? Doing so actually seems like the laziest, ship the kids off to bed as early as possible so you don't have to deal with them and have plenty of "me" time.

But I thought your contention was that your kids get the same amount of sleep as mine? 12 hours? I put my kids to bed at 7 and they wake up at 7. So you get your me time in the morning. Unless you also sleep till 9 or 10?


Can't have it both ways. Either your kids are sleeping 12 hours a night, or you're sleeping 12 hours a night, or we're getting the same amount of time to ourselves.

Wasn't me posting that, just pointing out the absurdness of your point.

My point is absurd? You're saying parents put their kids to bed early to get more me time. I'm saying how is that possible unless my kids are getting way more sleep than yours? The math doesn't add up.

NP. 7-7 overnight: 12 hours sleep. 9-7 overnight, nap 1-3: 12 hours sleep. If your kids are in school/childcare, a child who goes to bed at 9 spends two more hours with their parents in the evening than a child who goes to bed at 7. My children go to bed at 8 because they literally will not fall asleep earlier (trust me, I’ve tried).

I don’t get why you’re being super intense about bedtimes on this thread since OP’s kids *do* eat dinner on your preferred schedule and sound like they go to bed around 7. She’s asking about the 4-4:30/5 block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ages 2 and 4 they should be eating dinner at 6, then bath and bed by 7pm at latest. Stop letting them watch tv at all during that window. Get them out of the house.

NP. It is ridiculous that you write this. This may be what works for you and your family, or what you prefer, but please don't make up universal rules.

DP here. There are many comprehensive child sleep studies that found 7pm is the most developmentally appropriate bed time for these ages.

+1000
People who say this are just too lazy to get their kids to bed at a normal hour and want to justify it.

How is it lazy if you don't put your kids to bed by 7? Doing so actually seems like the laziest, ship the kids off to bed as early as possible so you don't have to deal with them and have plenty of "me" time.

But I thought your contention was that your kids get the same amount of sleep as mine? 12 hours? I put my kids to bed at 7 and they wake up at 7. So you get your me time in the morning. Unless you also sleep till 9 or 10?


Can't have it both ways. Either your kids are sleeping 12 hours a night, or you're sleeping 12 hours a night, or we're getting the same amount of time to ourselves.

Wasn't me posting that, just pointing out the absurdness of your point.

My point is absurd? You're saying parents put their kids to bed early to get more me time. I'm saying how is that possible unless my kids are getting way more sleep than yours? The math doesn't add up.

NP. 7-7 overnight: 12 hours sleep. 9-7 overnight, nap 1-3: 12 hours sleep. If your kids are in school/childcare, a child who goes to bed at 9 spends two more hours with their parents in the evening than a child who goes to bed at 7. My children go to bed at 8 because they literally will not fall asleep earlier (trust me, I’ve tried).

I don’t get why you’re being super intense about bedtimes on this thread since OP’s kids *do* eat dinner on your preferred schedule and sound like they go to bed around 7. She’s asking about the 4-4:30/5 block.

OP here, thank you, yes -- we eat dinner between 5:30 and 6, and lights out is roughly 7:15-7:30 for my two year old, and 7:45-8 for my 4 year old. 4 year old wakes up between 6-6:30, 2 year old wakes up around 7-7:15, and naps 1-3 p.m. I was just asking about that late afternoon window. But these are great suggestions, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Watch Bluey! It’s super cute for kids and adults like it, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ages 2 and 4 they should be eating dinner at 6, then bath and bed by 7pm at latest. Stop letting them watch tv at all during that window. Get them out of the house.

NP. It is ridiculous that you write this. This may be what works for you and your family, or what you prefer, but please don't make up universal rules.

DP here. There are many comprehensive child sleep studies that found 7pm is the most developmentally appropriate bed time for these ages.

+1000
People who say this are just too lazy to get their kids to bed at a normal hour and want to justify it.

How is it lazy if you don't put your kids to bed by 7? Doing so actually seems like the laziest, ship the kids off to bed as early as possible so you don't have to deal with them and have plenty of "me" time.

You're doing great, OP. For older kids I would have recommended a couple different activities to get them talking about their day and using some critical thinking skills, but at 2 and 4, there's really not too much "meaningful" stuff to do with them. Busy Toddler has some great ideas for different activities, many of them very low-effort, that you could definitely try, but agree with others that they might be too wiped out by 4 PM for them to do it. If I were you, I'd do playground/backyard/library time for an hour then have the kids watch TV while you cook.

But I thought your contention was that your kids get the same amount of sleep as mine? 12 hours? I put my kids to bed at 7 and they wake up at 7. So you get your me time in the morning. Unless you also sleep till 9 or 10?


Can't have it both ways. Either your kids are sleeping 12 hours a night, or you're sleeping 12 hours a night, or we're getting the same amount of time to ourselves.

Wasn't me posting that, just pointing out the absurdness of your point.

My point is absurd? You're saying parents put their kids to bed early to get more me time. I'm saying how is that possible unless my kids are getting way more sleep than yours? The math doesn't add up.

NP. 7-7 overnight: 12 hours sleep. 9-7 overnight, nap 1-3: 12 hours sleep. If your kids are in school/childcare, a child who goes to bed at 9 spends two more hours with their parents in the evening than a child who goes to bed at 7. My children go to bed at 8 because they literally will not fall asleep earlier (trust me, I’ve tried).

I don’t get why you’re being super intense about bedtimes on this thread since OP’s kids *do* eat dinner on your preferred schedule and sound like they go to bed around 7. She’s asking about the 4-4:30/5 block.

OP here, thank you, yes -- we eat dinner between 5:30 and 6, and lights out is roughly 7:15-7:30 for my two year old, and 7:45-8 for my 4 year old. 4 year old wakes up between 6-6:30, 2 year old wakes up around 7-7:15, and naps 1-3 p.m. I was just asking about that late afternoon window. But these are great suggestions, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ages 2 and 4 they should be eating dinner at 6, then bath and bed by 7pm at latest. Stop letting them watch tv at all during that window. Get them out of the house.

NP. It is ridiculous that you write this. This may be what works for you and your family, or what you prefer, but please don't make up universal rules.

DP here. There are many comprehensive child sleep studies that found 7pm is the most developmentally appropriate bed time for these ages.

+1000
People who say this are just too lazy to get their kids to bed at a normal hour and want to justify it.

How is it lazy if you don't put your kids to bed by 7? Doing so actually seems like the laziest, ship the kids off to bed as early as possible so you don't have to deal with them and have plenty of "me" time.

But I thought your contention was that your kids get the same amount of sleep as mine? 12 hours? I put my kids to bed at 7 and they wake up at 7. So you get your me time in the morning. Unless you also sleep till 9 or 10?

Can't have it both ways. Either your kids are sleeping 12 hours a night, or you're sleeping 12 hours a night, or we're getting the same amount of time to ourselves.

Wasn't me posting that, just pointing out the absurdness of your point.

My point is absurd? You're saying parents put their kids to bed early to get more me time. I'm saying how is that possible unless my kids are getting way more sleep than yours? The math doesn't add up.

NP. 7-7 overnight: 12 hours sleep. 9-7 overnight, nap 1-3: 12 hours sleep. If your kids are in school/childcare, a child who goes to bed at 9 spends two more hours with their parents in the evening than a child who goes to bed at 7. My children go to bed at 8 because they literally will not fall asleep earlier (trust me, I’ve tried).

I don’t get why you’re being super intense about bedtimes on this thread since OP’s kids *do* eat dinner on your preferred schedule and sound like they go to bed around 7. She’s asking about the 4-4:30/5 block.

OP here, thank you, yes -- we eat dinner between 5:30 and 6, and lights out is roughly 7:15-7:30 for my two year old, and 7:45-8 for my 4 year old. 4 year old wakes up between 6-6:30, 2 year old wakes up around 7-7:15, and naps 1-3 p.m. I was just asking about that late afternoon window. But these are great suggestions, thank you!

(NP - sorry, formatting got off in my previous post)
You're doing great, OP. For older kids I would have recommended a couple different activities to get them talking about their day and using some critical thinking skills, but at 2 and 4, there's really not too much "meaningful" stuff to do with them. Busy Toddler has some great ideas for different activities, many of them very low-effort, that you could definitely try, but agree with others that they might be too wiped out by 4 PM for them to do it. If I were you, I'd do playground/backyard/library time for an hour then have the kids watch TV while you cook.

[Anonymous]

My three year old is currently playing in the bathroom sink and asked me to leave.

There’s a towel on the floor. It’s probably a bad idea. Oh well.