Reply to Anyone else have zero ‘free time’?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]First, absolutely the younger your kids are the harder it is.

But second, I haven't felt overwhelmed, almost ever, since my kids were 8 and 5.  We are a two working parent household with a teen and a tween.

I think it is about choices.  I don't feel the need to do anything if I don't think it is the highest priority for my family.  That means that we say no to a lot of stuff- no PTA, only attend meetings and events related school where I truly believe there is information conveyed that impacts my kids and that I need to know (which means almost none).  We worked hard to make sure my kids were age-appropriately self-sufficient (not as a way to reduce our workload, but because we think it is good parenting).  As a result,[b] I haven't packed a lunch, made breakfast, or done kids laundry in years[/b][b].  We are not involved in homework at all.  All four members of the household split "chores" around the house.  We have also developed a strong "village"- so carpooling happens easily, which means less driving around.

Ninety percent of the time, I have at least two hours of "free time" every day before I go to sleep at 10:00.

I'm not trying to be smug.  My sincere advice is to take a hard look at all the things you do that take up your time and consider what would happen if you just...didn't do it.[/quote]

further explain??[/quote]

Hi.

My children started packing their own lunch and making their own breakfast daily in third grade.  They also make their own breakfasts in the morning.  They started doing their own laundry when they started middle sixth grade or so.

This does require that I do some prep work on the weekends.  I grocery shop for ingredients that are easy for them to put together (sandwiches, cut up veggies with pita and hummus etc, grab-and-go fruit, and a side like pretzels or nuts or something).  I also will make a batch of "healthy" muffins or a bread, or throw together an egg bake with veggies.  My kids assemble and prepare both breakfast and lunch for themselves every morning.  [/quote]

Sooo you still make their breakfasts and lunches for them. They just assemble them together.[/quote]

I buy groceries that include the food my kids use to make their lunch, yes.  I also will make some food on the weekends- which I enjoy doing and don't consider overwhelming. I do not spend any time on weekdays on these tasks.

Not going to get in a fight here.  You do you.  I was offering my experience and maybe a way for OP to consider finding more free time for herself and feel less overwhelmed on a daily basis.[/quote]

The martyrs have to pick and fight with you because otherwise they'd have to acknowledge that there is a less miserable way to live and they can't. [/quote]

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