Hi Guys, I got a question for you. What can my family do to free up some more time to enjoy our lives? Here is an example. I used to pride myself that for 8 years I mowed my own lawn. I had all the tools and did it well. Now that I have three kids I can’t dedicate the 1.5 to 2 hours to do it. I can do it but then I have 2 of the 3 kids dying to come outside where it is not always safe for them to be when I am operating lawn care equipment. So I pay a guy to do it now in 30 minutes with a team. We have a lady clean or house on a regular basis I send out most of my clothes We by more of the “My Fit foods” kind of meals so we can eat healthy and at home. We cook food in larger batches and we freeze pre cooked meats to use during the week. People suggested things like using paper plates (adding to our trash irked me) to avoid loading and unloading the dishwasher. We do about 2 loads a day of dishes, sippee cups, high chair tray tops, etc. I just need some more ways to free up some more time.
How much time are you looking for? Washing a load or two of clothes doesn't take much time at all. Throw them in the wash, throw them in the dryer and spend 5-10 minutes folding. Same with dishes. If you are looking to squeeze every possible minute out of a 24 hour day, you are fighting a losing battle. Just make more quality time as opposed to quantity time.
short of quitting your job, forget about it. the irony is, when you don't have a job you'll want to do everything in your power to get away from your family.
LOL. I've only got one 21 month old, but another due in March, and I can certainly sympathize with the thread starter. That said, I'm not looking to free up time to spend mowing the lawn. I'm paying someone to do that anyway. Some free time to pursue more hobbies? That'd be nice. But I really enjoy my days generally. Less cleaning is always nice, but my only real complaint is more sleep, and more basketball watching. I'd love more of both.
I do have children (grown now), but when they were young, we were able to do chores and still have plenty of quality time available. We didn't have to hire a cleaning person, forego lawn maintenance or look for how to save a minute or two here and there. Easy (for us) to do the cleaning when the kids were napping, eating, playing, doing homework, in bed for the night, in bed in the morning, etc. Kudos to the OP for wanting to spend as much time as possible with his family - that's a good thing.
Also whether this was a joke or not, I agree. My family never hired anyone, we did chores together. I was able to go to school, do my choirs and have fun with friends/family while maintaining good grades.
If you're working together, it's family time. Instead of dumping the work on outsiders, do it together. It's not like having a family is fun and games, pal!!! *single guy goes back to playing Skyrim*
Get a job with more free time. Or get up earlier and knock out the dishes and lawn before the kids get up so you don't have to do it when you get home from work. If you have an office job, let your boss know you want to do more work from home. that way break time can be family time if they're around. If you have a long commute, get a place closer to work so you aren't wasting your day commuting. Hire a personal chef. Make your kids interests, your interests. If they like basketball, coach basketball. If they like skateboarding, go skateboarding with them, etc.
This and what Bobrek said. I have the means to have someone clean my house take care of my lawn, and if I was smart, i would as I have over an acre to mow, trim, etc. We do all of this together as a family, and we have a good time doing it. My son isn't quite the age where he can use lawn equipment, but he is well versed in the use of garbage bags, brooms and weed pulling.
You, your wife and kids should go rent Jumanji and watch it as a family. It is a great movie starring Robin Williams.
Cancel your cable/satellite. Stop playing video games. Drop your time-consuming hobbies. Get a job closer to home, or at home. Get a more flexible job. Board game night. Family hikes.
My oldest is three. SO he either does it hiw way which is often wrong or he slows us down so a lot of cleaning, putting away toys, etc has to wait until night.
