If you SAH

[Deleted]

Very little. 
Not so much due to SAHM more because H works 100 hrs a week so 6 days out of 7 it's all on me for 14 hours.
I'm also shockingly Type A about my to do list and I can't ever really relax because all I see is what I should be doing. 

This summer has been much much better though. My kids are 1.5 and almost 4. They go to DC twice a week. During that time I run errands, do farm paperwork, do farm stuff outside etc. but at least I'm kidless. I've also been better about "After Target. I'll get a coffee and just sit!" Last summer DD went to DC but DS was 3 months old and waitlisted. I was NEVER alone. 


During my school year it's hard. I'm at work those 2 days again and home with the kids the other 3. I do like my job and even though I'm with other people's kids I consider it me time which is dumb but I like the school and the people so it feels more for "me." 

I've sort of learned to adjust my standards of what qualifies as "alone." I also stay up late once in awhile and read on the patio/watch a show/do something for me. It takes all the coffee the next day but it's still worth it. 

My MIL is also a great help but I try not to take advantage of that. DD loves her to pieces and she's in my backyard so this summer she wanders over there. Really nice during DSs nap time. 

I do have a teen babysitter who's awesome as well but I usually use her for when I have to farm stuff or events with H where I can't take the kids. 

We also go to the pool a lot. I have to watch the kids obviously but their friends are there, people I can chat with are there. So I can sit on the side lines and let them go crazy. Or if I choose to play it's built in entertainment so I don't have to think, kwiM? 

[soso]

I SAH but work about 5-10 hrs a week from home. I have fulltime daycare for my 4 yr old. She typically stays home with me one day a week.

[formerlyllizzyb]

Summer is hard. DS was in MDO two days a week this past year, but he doesn't have a summer program. 3 yr old preschool will be 9-11:45 MWF this next year and I can't wait. DD will be home with me, but she'll be on two naps a day most of the school year, so I should get an hour or two in the mornings alone while DS is at school.
A gym with childcare helps me tremendously. That hour by myself at the gym is a refresher.
My MIL comes up one afternoon a week to let me run solo errands.

[Queen Mamadala]

I have a 10, 8, 5 and 7 month old. They're all at home since it's summer break. "Me" time is usually the weekend when we go to the movie theater. H and I trade off. I'm usually away for a few hours. Sometimes I get my nails done, which I may do later today. I went to the salon yesterday and was gone for a few hours. So definitely once a week for at least three hours.

No child care. Sometimes H takes the kids to the park or for a walk during the week when he's off work, so that sometimes gives me about an hour, or when he takes them swimming. I get some alone time during LO's naps.

[barefootcontessa]

I get up early so I can have time to myself. I also grocery shop either early in the morning or late at night. The gym daycare is a great idea -- I need to start doing that. I have a sitter who comes but I usually use that time to leave some of my kids home while I go somewhere with one or two of them (I have five, ages 8 and below).  I am an extrovert so I am okay with it.   

[emb9907]

I just started staying home since I had my second 6 months ago. I get very little downtime since the baby naps hardly ever line up with my 2.5 year olds afternoon naps. If I am lucky I get about a 30 min break where I am trying to squeeze in my workout. Luckily the baby is starting to self entertain more so I can usually finish my workout even if he is awake. Most mornings I spend some time cleaning up when one or both might not be awake yet or during breakfast so that I can maximize that down time in the afternoons when my energy sucking 2.5 year old is sleeping. It's hard because I feel like we had a better split of kid time and free time when I was a working Mom but I also love being home. We have no local family and I bf so no real help or time away for me. Right now I usually even take the baby with me to my monthly bunco because he hates bottles. Since it's our second I feel pretty good and am used to it.

[lg28]

I don't get enough time.

If the kids nap at the same time, I get about an hour in the afternoon.
Otherwise, I try to get out with friends once a week and once a week I play baseball with DH and we have a sitter. I do try and workout a half hour every few days which is good for me mentally.

[nabum]

My 3 (almost 4) YO has been in preschool since last August. Initially he was there 2 days a week but in Jan we bumped it up to 3. He goes roughly 9-4:30. I am with the baby all the time. 

I get a break from both kids 1-2x a week typically. Usually Sat mornings I go to the gym, and I would say one other evening a week I may run to the store, meet a friend for a drink, etc. 

I don't feel like it's enough. I would love to get a regular sitter for DD but I can't justify the cost. I want to start using gym daycare for her but plan to wait until she's a little more mobile. I do have family that occasionally will watch her when I have appointments, etc. Since I SAH I would love to take classes at the local college, volunteer, etc. but again it's difficult to arrange childcare (although I suppose I could look into online classes...)

[thejen626]

I'm a sahm, my kids are 6 and 2.5, and my DH works 70 hours a week, until 9pm most nights. So I'm on my own alllll day and every dinner and bedtime.

I go to the gym daily for an hour. I do barre, step, or weight lifting classes. Their childcare is great and it's an easy way to structure my day.

On a monthly basis, I try to get out with just DH at least once without kids. We hire a sitter for that. Then I typically have 2 nights out with my girlfriends, I hire a sitter for one and leave the kids with DH for one.

During the school year my older is in school and it's alot easier to get some "me time".

My inlaws watch the kids for a weekend about 3-4 times a year.

We have a cleaning lady every 2 weeks, and a weekly yard guy.

[rugbywife]

None? In the last 6 weeks since DS was born (DD is 14 months), I have done the groceries twice in my own and gone to the gym once.

[madringal]

I just recently started staying home, but so far I get enough alone time. My MIL used to watch my kids and she is having a hard time now that she doesn't seem them everyday. So right now she keeps them for a day every other week or so and if DH and I have a date night. It's been nice and give me plenty of me time.