I was talking with a fellow parent in one of my pottery classes and we were discussing how much time we spend with our kids each day. She is currently on sabbatical from her job and was realizing just how much time work takes away from that time together with your family.
When I sat down and figured out our schedule, and how much time we actually spend with the kids, it saddened me deeply. We are up at 6:30 and we all eat breakfast together. Tod and Eli are out the door at 7:45 or so and Anna and I hang out and wait for her bus that usually comes around 8:05.
Time together: 90 minutes
Eli is picked up after his nap at daycare around 4, and Anna gets home on the bus around 4:15. We will usually do something special, a trip to the library, a trip to the park, or we’ll just relax in the attic, depending on our mood. Dinner is at 6, and the kids are usually in bed by 7 or 7:30.
Time together: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Week day total: around 5 hours.
We suck.
Not sure what the remedy is at this point, aside from quitting our jobs and homeschooling our kids. As mentioned, this really bothered me, but in our modern times, I guess this is what we have to do. Make every moment count I guess and love em when you can.
Even if they are driving you nuts.
Tom, You spend a lot more time with your children than most parents! I hear ya though, I'd love to homeschool Sophie (I think...), but she does not want to be homeschooled. In Utah she got out of school at 2:30, here it is 3:30 and I hate it. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYep! You got that right. In today's society and financial situation, both parents have to work. It is depressing, but it sounds like you have the right thing going for you. Just make your times together are quality times,and the quantity thing becomes less important. Remember, too, that kids are a lot more resilient than we adults are. Don't beat yourselves up with guilt!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry about it too much. You make up for it on the weekends, during the summer and on family trips. Besides, the ultimate goal of being a parent is to raise them so they become functional adults who are able to live their own fulfilling lives yet come back to visit because they love you and want to see you, not because they need money. And then there is always the alternative of the 30 year old child living in the basement...while you love them and hate to see them go, that just really isn't a good option.
ReplyDeleteAll you can do is your best and as you said, make the moments count. It goes faster than you think, but I think you guys are doing just fine.
I just took my first full time job since I started having children. Heart aches. Parenting is now a part time job for real. I have been trying a few things. Working from home, lunch breaks at the sitters or at my kid's school and sometimes later bedtimes so mommy, not the kids, can get some extra cuddle time in. Those are some things I have tried. Complicates everything in my schedule but I miss them like crazy....
ReplyDeleteAlso...Just thought you should know that I included you in my blogs of note.
ReplyDeletehttp://mother-flippin.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-blogs-of-note.html