Anonymous wrote:I have an 18 year old and a 15 year old.

My sister's kids are 5 and 2. They were just here visiting and yes, every time i see her and her family I am reminded of just how much more hands on you have to be when they are small. free time is just much more limited.

One person always is on but if there are 2 people there is down time. Is your sister single?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess it gets easier, single parent since the kids were just starting middle school and high school, work full time, volunteer tons of hours and still have time to binge watch every show I want to see.

Does your ex have the kids half the time?

Not trying to be a B, but I had a friend who was a single mom with 50/50 custody who couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get away for a weekend when DH was in a prolonged hospitalization, I was working FT and supporting our family (and my nanny and housekeeper’s families), and I had four kids at home.

Initially, but that trailed off, now they're here full time. Although they are old enough to mostly take care of themselves. It's almost like having roommates.

Then your kids are only doing activities at school and visit friends within walking distance (or not at all). My kids have music lessons, orchestra, practices, games, meeting up with friends from other neighborhoods and school project meetups. I’m driving them around most evenings till 9pm. Not binging Netflix.

Ha! How far are you driving them? I'm driving my kids around every day, that's the best spot for one on one conversations.

Yes, this was me op while kids were in early elementary.

I had very little “me” time. Full time job, commute, kids, dh working full time, cooking, laundry, errands, drop off/ pick up, school events, kids schools and activities, pediatrician, dentist, etc appointments, birthdays, play dates, there was so little time left.

“Me” time was basically the commute (I’d put on an audio book) and sometimes take 15-20 minutes walks at lunch breaks.

It got significantly easier when the youngest reached 3rd grade.

I have an 18 year old and a 15 year old.

My sister's kids are 5 and 2. They were just here visiting and yes, every time i see her and her family I am reminded of just how much more hands on you have to be when they are small. free time is just much more limited.

It’s partly a function of the tyranny of administration. Today I spent hours trying to sort out the fact that the kids camp requires the exact number of pills they take to be called into their local pharmacy. You can’t give kid any pills or supplements that aren’t called in. To me that’s obviously a huge time suck and not necessary yet admin forced on me by them that is sucking up my precious free day. This kind of thing happens in various forms allllll the time.