Have you been fortunate in having a plethora of babysitters who help you with childcare or have you pretty ?

Question

much had no 'me time' since becoming a parent(s)?

Answer 1

The best solution is to ask the grandmother or husband to help you out depending if they are child worthy.as a rule people do not love your kids the way you do why can't you work in that time when they are at school? there is daycare  for the preschoolers  

Answer 2

i use contraception. or else i would look after my own children.  

Answer 3

Its all about planning Smiley.

Firstly young children should be organised into regular nap periods.

My mother in law showed me the beauty of the way of this.

11am, was nap time.  That lasted about an hour.  And do you know what?  During that hour I went and had a bath, washed my hair, and sometimes just sat and had a sandwich and read a magazine.  I needed that time for ME - to recharge the batteries, calm down, and sometimes just have a catnap.  it made me better tempered and much mroe able to cope with everything.  I never once felt guilty about it either.  During the afternoon nap which was 3pm - I would whizz round, tidy up, change the beds if necessary, get the dinner prepared, and hoover.  I got sleeping children used to that very early on.

I also had the mother in law from heaven who used to sit with mine whilst I went to the supermarket.  I would always offer to get her bits and pieces for her too.  It was a welcome break actually to wander down the aisles child free.

She also gave me a very sage piece of advice that I followed.

If they want to play, or go for a walk or the beach or anywhere - forget the ironing and the hoovering, forget the things that are supposed to be done - they are young for the time it takes to blink - your company is what matters to them and they will remember for all time that the sun shone, and mum played with them.

I followed that and you know what - it made life seem a whole lot better and the young childhood years were great.

Mine used to go to bed at 6-6.30 - and I used to then spend an hour doing the ironing one night, the dusting, the next etc etc.  And I made it a rule that come 8pm that was it - I sat down and watched TV with the husband or just sat and talked with a bottle of wine, or a cup of tea.  But 8pm was the cut off point.  The office and kitchen were closed for the day!

Its just a matter of planning Smiley one.

Answer 4

I'm quite lucky. I'm a single mum and get no help from the father's side whatsoever but my mum, gran, sister and dad help out with babysitting duties. I have also helped out a lot with my little brother when my mum had childcare issues so our family seems to be doing okay for babysitters lol

Answer 5

My 16 yr old daughter does all the babysitting.

Answer 6

i am very lucky, i have 2 sisters that are old enough to babysit and my parents also. . but they all work so i cannot, but i still get a social life at the weekends sometimes.

Answer 7

We had both sets of parents when the children were very small. They were only to happy to let us have an evening out but they did not like us to return after 10:30 which was fair enough. I notice the one who uses contraception  is the type of "expert"  who has no idea of the problems and necessity for a little time away from the children no matter how much you love them  

Answer 8

I've been out twice in 11 months since my daughter was born, my husband had her once, my father the other time.  I always thought lots of people would offer and want to, but no one ever does!!  She just comes everywhere with me instead which is the way I like it.  I would like the odd night out but until she's older and settles better with others, I'm fine to spend my evenings in with her.