How do you fit everything in on weekdays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to be touting some picture of childhood from when I was growing up in the 80s as a latchkey kid. Back then we played outside, played pick up games, roamed by the creek, busted into a construction site. This kind of thing does not happen nowadays in DCUM approved neighborhoods. Kids are going straight from school to swim or math or dance, or they come home to eat a snack before heading to soccer practice twice a week. If both parents work inflexible hours, the kid is in aftercare. On the weekends, surely, these kids will roam around outside just being bored and looking for other kids, right? Well no, because they've got soccer games or dance competitions or taekwondo. And you can't be outside by yourself anyway, some middle aged mom careening down the street in a white suburban will run you right over without so much as tapping the brakes.

That's the kind of childhood kids, ES and MS age should have. Sadly, many parents don't think that's good enough anymore.

[Anonymous]

We outsource help and it saved my sanity. I hired an amazing au pair. She gets the kids ready for school in the morning while I work out. She picks up the youngest (age 8) from school in the afternoon and ensures her homework is done. The older kid (11) walks home from school. She drives younger kid to music lessons once a week and Mathnasium 2 times a week. My husband and I split driving the older kid to sport practice twice a week. Other sports are on the weekends which we take care of. Au pair makes dinner for the kids during the week day. My husband and au cook for ourselves because we all eat different food. We have family meals on the weekends when she doesn’t work.

The 11 year old plays with the neighbors after school and has downtime for video games after homework is done. The au pair bakes and does art projects with the 8 year old after school. I get my quality time with the kids before bed and on weekends.

It works well for us and I feel less crazy and actually enjoy parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We outsource help and it saved my sanity. I hired an amazing au pair. She gets the kids ready for school in the morning while I work out. She picks up the youngest (age 8) from school in the afternoon and ensures her homework is done. The older kid (11) walks home from school. She drives younger kid to music lessons once a week and Mathnasium 2 times a week. My husband and I split driving the older kid to sport practice twice a week. Other sports are on the weekends which we take care of. Au pair makes dinner for the kids during the week day. My husband and au cook for ourselves because we all eat different food. We have family meals on the weekends when she doesn’t work.

The 11 year old plays with the neighbors after school and has downtime for video games after homework is done. The au pair bakes and does art projects with the 8 year old after school. I get my quality time with the kids before bed and on weekends.

It works well for us and I feel less crazy and actually enjoy parenting.

They are changing the au pair policies.

[Anonymous]

Your kids go to bed too late. When my 7 year old was in PreK he was asleep by 6:45 or 7 latest now at age 7 he is asleep by 7:30. The more you sleep the more you sleep.

No matter when he goes to sleep he gets up at the same time. If we are on vacation and he somehow goes to bed at 8:30 he wakes up at the same time as he would going to bed at 7:30. Start putting your kids to bed earlier. Don’t have them run around right before bed as it will amp them up. Have them run around right when you get home before you have dinner then do calmer activities before bed.

My spouse is at work by 8:30 after we drop our child at school. He sometimes comes home by 6 PM. Our 7 year old goes to bed by 7:30 Pm and we start the routine either 6:45 (if showering) or 7 if just books teeth bed. Then my spouse usually works from home maybe 3 days a week 7:30PM until sometimes midnight (sometimes he replies to emails and it doesn’t take long but other nights he works late—- he also travels a lot). The other two evenings he goes to the gym or goes for a swim after our son is in bed. Some evenings he doesn’t have to work late and we will watch a show together. I work from home. I am asleep by 10 PM sometimes 9:30 PM This is the schedule when he’s home.

We both get up by 6 AM sometimes earlier. One of us goes to a 6 AM gym class/ run/ yoga while the other stays home for our child /we switch off. But we are up by 6 am and our kid gets up around 7. My spouse travels a ton when he travels I work out at home in the morning if I’m Not too tired.

I used to have my kid do a bunch of activities but now he does, chess 1x a week and one sport 1x a week. He also has tutoring 2x per week (one day on weekend). We also have at least one play date on weekends. We switch off with a few families so each family gets a break. Usually 2-3 hours.

If you need to work out you get up before 7:30 AM. Sign up for a class that has a cancellation fee so you actually go. You and your spouse switch off.

Go for walks at night after kids are in bed again spouse and you switch off and call relatives on your walk. I never call anyone unless I’m doing something- folding laundry, driving somewhere, walking, etc.

We don’t have a cleaner. I usually clean while I’m at home but we also do a big deep clean about 1x a month. My husband usually does it. We hire a lawn service as that is where we want to spend our money.

Homework in elementary doesn’t matter. I try and get my son to do it but if it doesn’t get done oh well. We make it fun and he’ll do a page then we will play UNO and then when it’s done he’ll do another page then we will play Candy Land or chess.

So if I were going to have two main things it is

Your kids go to bed way too late

You wake up too late.

[Anonymous]

You do those things on weekends.

[Anonymous]

OP, nobody is fitting everything in on a weekly basis. It sounds like you have plenty of money, two WFH parents with no commute and short work days, compliant/easy kids, and no crises at the moment. You can structure your free time after work literally however you would like to prioritize what you’d like to prioritize. These kid activities don’t matter at all at this age. They’re something to do, but they don’t need to be intense or prevent you from smelling the roses, so to speak. Also, I personally sleep the same hrs as you (10:30-7:30), but I think most people go to sleep later and wake up earlier and fit in stuff that way.

[Anonymous]

We moved our two kids to the same activities (swim lessons at different levels during the same time slot, martial arts will take kids within an age range). Stopped afterschool sports that required driving around the city on weeknights. Now that we have to return to the office, we have to cut back.

I don't remember having so much homework in early elementary school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, nobody is fitting everything in on a weekly basis. It sounds like you have plenty of money, two WFH parents with no commute and short work days, compliant/easy kids, and no crises at the moment. You can structure your free time after work literally however you would like to prioritize what you’d like to prioritize. These kid activities don’t matter at all at this age. They’re something to do, but they don’t need to be intense or prevent you from smelling the roses, so to speak. Also, I personally sleep the same hrs as you (10:30-7:30), but I think most people go to sleep later and wake up earlier and fit in stuff that way.

Why TF do you need so much sleep? Are you a bear ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, nobody is fitting everything in on a weekly basis. It sounds like you have plenty of money, two WFH parents with no commute and short work days, compliant/easy kids, and no crises at the moment. You can structure your free time after work literally however you would like to prioritize what you’d like to prioritize. These kid activities don’t matter at all at this age. They’re something to do, but they don’t need to be intense or prevent you from smelling the roses, so to speak. Also, I personally sleep the same hrs as you (10:30-7:30), but I think most people go to sleep later and wake up earlier and fit in stuff that way.

Why TF do you need so much sleep? Are you a bear ?

How does a working person with kids wake up at 7:30 am?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many activities but you’re both lucky and that you work from home.

That's why too many activities are not good for kids and parents. We don't do any activities at the moment for our 2nd grader. We both work full time and have no time for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, nobody is fitting everything in on a weekly basis. It sounds like you have plenty of money, two WFH parents with no commute and short work days, compliant/easy kids, and no crises at the moment. You can structure your free time after work literally however you would like to prioritize what you’d like to prioritize. These kid activities don’t matter at all at this age. They’re something to do, but they don’t need to be intense or prevent you from smelling the roses, so to speak. Also, I personally sleep the same hrs as you (10:30-7:30), but I think most people go to sleep later and wake up earlier and fit in stuff that way.

Why TF do you need so much sleep? Are you a bear ?

How does a working person with kids wake up at 7:30 am?

7:30 - Wake kids up, run downstairs to microwave oatmeal for kids and put eggs to boil for adults
7:35-7:45 - Older kid dresses self, makes bed; help little one dress and make bed
7:45-8:00 Eat
8:00-8:10 Brush teeth
8:15-8:20 - Older makes lunch and gets jacket shoes on; I brush little's hair and get her jacket and shoes on
8:20-8:25 load up in car
8:25-8:50 drop kids off
9:00 back home and starting the workday

*** Sometimes one parent will drive little and the other will walk older one to school. Sometimes we're really quick and I can start work by 8:45

I need 8 hours of sleep, I can't function otherwise, so we've always done it this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids go to bed too late. When my 7 year old was in PreK he was asleep by 6:45 or 7 latest now at age 7 he is asleep by 7:30. The more you sleep the more you sleep.

No matter when he goes to sleep he gets up at the same time. If we are on vacation and he somehow goes to bed at 8:30 he wakes up at the same time as he would going to bed at 7:30. Start putting your kids to bed earlier. Don’t have them run around right before bed as it will amp them up. Have them run around right when you get home before you have dinner then do calmer activities before bed.

My spouse is at work by 8:30 after we drop our child at school. He sometimes comes home by 6 PM. Our 7 year old goes to bed by 7:30 Pm and we start the routine either 6:45 (if showering) or 7 if just books teeth bed. Then my spouse usually works from home maybe 3 days a week 7:30PM until sometimes midnight (sometimes he replies to emails and it doesn’t take long but other nights he works late—- he also travels a lot). The other two evenings he goes to the gym or goes for a swim after our son is in bed. Some evenings he doesn’t have to work late and we will watch a show together. I work from home. I am asleep by 10 PM sometimes 9:30 PM This is the schedule when he’s home.

We both get up by 6 AM sometimes earlier. One of us goes to a 6 AM gym class/ run/ yoga while the other stays home for our child /we switch off. But we are up by 6 am and our kid gets up around 7. My spouse travels a ton when he travels I work out at home in the morning if I’m Not too tired.

I used to have my kid do a bunch of activities but now he does, chess 1x a week and one sport 1x a week. He also has tutoring 2x per week (one day on weekend). We also have at least one play date on weekends. We switch off with a few families so each family gets a break. Usually 2-3 hours.

If you need to work out you get up before 7:30 AM. Sign up for a class that has a cancellation fee so you actually go. You and your spouse switch off.

Go for walks at night after kids are in bed again spouse and you switch off and call relatives on your walk. I never call anyone unless I’m doing something- folding laundry, driving somewhere, walking, etc.

We don’t have a cleaner. I usually clean while I’m at home but we also do a big deep clean about 1x a month. My husband usually does it. We hire a lawn service as that is where we want to spend our money.

Homework in elementary doesn’t matter. I try and get my son to do it but if it doesn’t get done oh well. We make it fun and he’ll do a page then we will play UNO and then when it’s done he’ll do another page then we will play Candy Land or chess.

So if I were going to have two main things it is

Your kids go to bed way too late

You wake up too late.

This whole post is weird. And what 7 year old still plays Candyland?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kids go to bed too late. When my 7 year old was in PreK he was asleep by 6:45 or 7 latest now at age 7 he is asleep by 7:30. The more you sleep the more you sleep.

No matter when he goes to sleep he gets up at the same time. If we are on vacation and he somehow goes to bed at 8:30 he wakes up at the same time as he would going to bed at 7:30. Start putting your kids to bed earlier. Don’t have them run around right before bed as it will amp them up. Have them run around right when you get home before you have dinner then do calmer activities before bed.

My spouse is at work by 8:30 after we drop our child at school. He sometimes comes home by 6 PM. Our 7 year old goes to bed by 7:30 Pm and we start the routine either 6:45 (if showering) or 7 if just books teeth bed. Then my spouse usually works from home maybe 3 days a week 7:30PM until sometimes midnight (sometimes he replies to emails and it doesn’t take long but other nights he works late—- he also travels a lot). The other two evenings he goes to the gym or goes for a swim after our son is in bed. Some evenings he doesn’t have to work late and we will watch a show together. I work from home. I am asleep by 10 PM sometimes 9:30 PM This is the schedule when he’s home.

We both get up by 6 AM sometimes earlier. One of us goes to a 6 AM gym class/ run/ yoga while the other stays home for our child /we switch off. But we are up by 6 am and our kid gets up around 7. My spouse travels a ton when he travels I work out at home in the morning if I’m Not too tired.

I used to have my kid do a bunch of activities but now he does, chess 1x a week and one sport 1x a week. He also has tutoring 2x per week (one day on weekend). We also have at least one play date on weekends. We switch off with a few families so each family gets a break. Usually 2-3 hours.

If you need to work out you get up before 7:30 AM. Sign up for a class that has a cancellation fee so you actually go. You and your spouse switch off.

Go for walks at night after kids are in bed again spouse and you switch off and call relatives on your walk. I never call anyone unless I’m doing something- folding laundry, driving somewhere, walking, etc.

We don’t have a cleaner. I usually clean while I’m at home but we also do a big deep clean about 1x a month. My husband usually does it. We hire a lawn service as that is where we want to spend our money.

Homework in elementary doesn’t matter. I try and get my son to do it but if it doesn’t get done oh well. We make it fun and he’ll do a page then we will play UNO and then when it’s done he’ll do another page then we will play Candy Land or chess.

So if I were going to have two main things it is

Your kids go to bed way too late

You wake up too late.

This whole post is weird. And what 7 year old still plays Candyland?

Yes, I also got weird vibes from this

[Anonymous]

I don’t see what the issue is. Weekends are for art projects, the library and baking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids go to bed too late. When my 7 year old was in PreK he was asleep by 6:45 or 7 latest now at age 7 he is asleep by 7:30. The more you sleep the more you sleep.

No matter when he goes to sleep he gets up at the same time. If we are on vacation and he somehow goes to bed at 8:30 he wakes up at the same time as he would going to bed at 7:30. Start putting your kids to bed earlier. Don’t have them run around right before bed as it will amp them up. Have them run around right when you get home before you have dinner then do calmer activities before bed.

My spouse is at work by 8:30 after we drop our child at school. He sometimes comes home by 6 PM. Our 7 year old goes to bed by 7:30 Pm and we start the routine either 6:45 (if showering) or 7 if just books teeth bed. Then my spouse usually works from home maybe 3 days a week 7:30PM until sometimes midnight (sometimes he replies to emails and it doesn’t take long but other nights he works late—- he also travels a lot). The other two evenings he goes to the gym or goes for a swim after our son is in bed. Some evenings he doesn’t have to work late and we will watch a show together. I work from home. I am asleep by 10 PM sometimes 9:30 PM This is the schedule when he’s home.

We both get up by 6 AM sometimes earlier. One of us goes to a 6 AM gym class/ run/ yoga while the other stays home for our child /we switch off. But we are up by 6 am and our kid gets up around 7. My spouse travels a ton when he travels I work out at home in the morning if I’m Not too tired.

I used to have my kid do a bunch of activities but now he does, chess 1x a week and one sport 1x a week. He also has tutoring 2x per week (one day on weekend). We also have at least one play date on weekends. We switch off with a few families so each family gets a break. Usually 2-3 hours.

If you need to work out you get up before 7:30 AM. Sign up for a class that has a cancellation fee so you actually go. You and your spouse switch off.

Go for walks at night after kids are in bed again spouse and you switch off and call relatives on your walk. I never call anyone unless I’m doing something- folding laundry, driving somewhere, walking, etc.

We don’t have a cleaner. I usually clean while I’m at home but we also do a big deep clean about 1x a month. My husband usually does it. We hire a lawn service as that is where we want to spend our money.

Homework in elementary doesn’t matter. I try and get my son to do it but if it doesn’t get done oh well. We make it fun and he’ll do a page then we will play UNO and then when it’s done he’ll do another page then we will play Candy Land or chess.

So if I were going to have two main things it is

Your kids go to bed way too late

You wake up too late.

And the award for the most unhelpful reply goes to…