Time with kids and working

[Ecco]

Hey friends,

Just want to know how you all manage with limited time with your kids.

I have a small child, less then 2 years, and she is becoming very active, sociable and wants to engage with other people.

Beause of work, I dont get much time to spend with the kid. While I do work from home as a result of COVID, its usually a super busy day, without too many breaks. Pre-COVID I would be out the house by 07h00 and only back at 18h00. I get a bit more time in now, but its at most approx 3 hours between the morning and the evening.

How did people manage with so little time to bond with their kids then and now? Any suggestions? Its a bit sad at how little time we can give them. Just want to hear what other do, or how they cope.

Thanks

 

[RedViking]

Do you get paid for the overtime and is your salary such that it can be justified?

If not. Work less. More time with family.


I barely saw my father as a kid.

Was not much different back then.

 

[R13...]

Unless it's your own business you really should try find a bit more balance and time for yourself and family. Many companies encourage it whether or not you have a family.

 

[bwana]

Work less. You won't get that time with your kid back, ever.

 

[EMAM]

And then you get fathers who couldn't give one damn about their kids

 

[Ecco]

I don't get paid overtime, but its approx a standard 08h00 to 17h00 day. Pre-covid i would leave the house at 07h00 to get back at about 18h00 - traffic taken into account.

Now I start about 07h45, and finish about 17h30.

Is this considered working to much? Do other people have different working hours?

 

[bwana]

Are you a single parent?

 

[Lupus]

I don't get paid overtime, but its approx a standard 08h00 to 17h00 day. Pre-covid i would leave the house at 07h00 to get back at about 18h00 - traffic taken into account.

Now I start about 07h45, and finish about 17h30.

Is this considered working to much? Do other people have different working hours?

Yes that's working to much, start at 07:45 means you should end at latest 16:45. There's an extra 45 minutes.

 

[surface]

Hey friends,

Just want to know how you all manage with limited time with your kids.

I have a small child, less then 2 years, and she is becoming very active, sociable and wants to engage with other people.

Beause of work, I dont get much time to spend with the kid. While I do work from home as a result of COVID, its usually a super busy day, without too many breaks. Pre-COVID I would be out the house by 07h00 and only back at 18h00. I get a bit more time in now, but its at most approx 3 hours between the morning and the evening.

How did people manage with so little time to bond with their kids then and now? Any suggestions? Its a bit sad at how little time we can give them. Just want to hear what other do, or how they cope.

Thanks

Got young one at home as well, 3+ age. We both work from home due to Covid so it is easier to split time. Wife takes couple of 20 minute "lessons" and same with me, interspersed throughout the day and between our meetings. No nanny.

Nothing serious at this age but we call it lessons so that he gets used to discipline at a specific time. Mummy teacher & Papa teacher time so to speak.

Lessons can be drawing, pencil control, paper & scissor work (scissors that are made for kids), alphabets, rhymes, sometimes lessons are youtube videos (how sugar is made, how balloons are made etc.), khan academy for kids at times.

At his age, he is getting used to free play and he tries it with cars and other toys. Weather permitting, 20 minutes outside with a tub filled with water.

Fortunately, he is used to listening stories at bedtime so during day, he likes browsing picture books so that is some time on his own.

Breakfast, lunch & dinner time, he sits with us at our table (either my or wife's or dining table at dinner time) so that he doesn't feel alone.

An hour nap between 1300 to 1400ish. Some amazon/showmax video for 40 minutes after nap - paw patrol is fav.

Around 40 minute at bedtime for story reading by both of us, about 20 min each.

It is hectic but it works because company is happy with us working flexi-time. Work usually from 0630 to 1730 hours because of breaks taken in between.

 

[Ecco]

Are you a single parent?

No.

My wife also works and has to go into the office for work.

We both get time with the kid. I am just asking as a father, how do other father's cope with limited time with their kids because of work?

Seems like my working hours are abnormal. Most people having a more free time in the day then me.

 

[Lupus]

No.

My wife also works and has to go into the office for work.

We both get time with the kid. I am just asking as a father, how do other father's cope with limited time with their kids because of work?

Seems like my working hours are abnormal. Most people having a more free time in the day then me.

Yup you're only supposed to work 40 hours a week.

 

[RedViking]

I don't get paid overtime, but its approx a standard 08h00 to 17h00 day. Pre-covid i would leave the house at 07h00 to get back at about 18h00 - traffic taken into account.

Now I start about 07h45, and finish about 17h30.

Is this considered working to much? Do other people have different working hours?

Nah, I think that is normal. I forgot actually how little time normal working people have. I guess make the best of weekends.

 

[bwana]

We both get time with the kid. I am just asking as a father, how do other father's cope with limited time with their kids because of work?

I am the product of two absentee parents. I found a new job.

 

[R13...]

No.

My wife also works and has to go into the office for work.

We both get time with the kid. I am just asking as a father, how do other father's cope with limited time with their kids because of work?

Seems like my working hours are abnormal. Most people having a more free time in the day then me.

Your hours aren't too bad.

 

[surface]

No.

My wife also works and has to go into the office for work.

We both get time with the kid. I am just asking as a father, how do other father's cope with limited time with their kids because of work?

Seems like my working hours are abnormal. Most people having a more free time in the day then me.

Your work times are completely normal (we both work from 0630 to 1730 with breaks) but since you mentioned you are super busy, I think your work/company may not be allowing intermittent breaks or a chance to catch up later etc. We sometimes catch up in night if something is outstanding. Daily scrums are hectic if we don't.

 

[|tera|]

A kid is a goat.
Just saying.
Love your child. That is enough

 

[Ecco]

Nah, I think that is normal. I forgot actually how little time normal working people have. I guess make the best of weekends.

Making the most of the weekends for sure, but it flies by fast.

 

[Ecco]

Your work times are completely normal (we both work from 0630 to 1730 with breaks) but since you mentioned you are super busy, I think your work/company may not be allowing intermittent breaks or a chance to catch up later etc. We sometimes catch up in night if something is outstanding. Daily scrums are hectic if we don't.

Yeah I don't get breaks during the day. But I don't need to catch up at night like you guys do.

 

[Ecco]

I feel for people like security guards etc. The ones I know are working 12 hour shifts! Excluding travel time.

 

[3WA]

Make a second kid, and then a third -that way, they'll keep each other occupied, and you’ll quickly be fed up of spending time with them.