JFF - What Do You Do with Your Free Time?

I still don't know what free time is. I am in bed right after the kids. I get up at 5 am so I am usually exhausted! I consider my bus ride to work free time but just play a crossword puzzle on my phone.

Free time, what's that?
As for after putting kids to bed, I get as much stuff ready as I can for the morning (breakfast, pack lunch, etc). Then, I work out for 30 - 45 mins. To wind down, I answer some emails or read a little and off to bed.

Free time is what I use to do things without someone attached at my hip. Sometimes my free time isn't at home and I get to enjoy time with my girlfriends (at my kids dance and baseball practices). Sometimes it's at the beach with the family, walking to the park, planning trips/events, reading, cleaning (we all love to clean!!), decorating for holidays, planning menus, thinking about how to most effectively conquer the week, etc.

My kids don't need my eyes 24-7, they are all out of diapers, can get their own snacks, shower, go to bed, whatever on their own now.

So I guess you could say I have a lot of free time...but with that free time I do the things that need done or the things I enjoy. Either way, I'm good!

I do the planning for what needs to be done before the next 'free' moment!!

;)

Sleep / Nap
Read the paper
Do a word search
Play the piano
Shave my legs
Call a friend/sister/mom
Sync calendars with my husband so I know when the next free time is.
Plan meals
Read recipes
Plan vacations
Take a walk
Walk the dog
Get the mail
And last, but not least, check Mamapedia, or GetRealParents.com, or funny cartoons on FB posted by Theresa.

WHAT kind of time is that?

sorry, ladies! Can't resist!

& nobody said "monkey sex".....:)

seriously, tho'.....I hear ya' on the whole "day is done" thing. That free time is precious, fleeting, & you will lose it as your kids grow up. When my sons were young, I read or watched stuff too mature for them. (my husband was up early/to bed early & I was a night owl.)

We've had teenagers in/out of our home for the past 13 years. Finding free time becomes more & more challenging.....& then BAM....you have an empty house. I prefer the in/out action! My younger son is a junior/17yo & I know I will miss my parenting time when he flys the coop in <2 years. :)

I'm a SAHM of a first grader, so I do a bit of this (computer) during the day plus the housework/yardwork, try to exercise (walk), get dinner prepped, etc.

I don't watch television unless it's the evening, and if nothing good is on, we might watch a dvd or I'll read.Maybe fold laundry during tv time. Some nights, we'll play a game of cribbage and chat, but we are usually so tired by the end of the day that staring mindlessly at the television is rather pleasant, so long as the show is good.

Free time? What is this free time you speak of?
I go to bed when the kids do. No staying up late for me! I may or may not wake up before them. If I do, that's my time without them. It doesn't happen a lot though. I home school so there is no time while they are away at school either.
Right now I use it to sort through boxes that were put into storage during construction that got packed by the construction company or my husband (bless him for trying LOL) and there is no rhyme or reason to what's in them. I would love to carve out more time to read and knit again though. That's my favorite choice of "me" things to do.
When my husband and I want to watch one of the few shows we enjoy that the kids don't need to see, we send them to their rooms for some computer time or whatever they want to do or we watch it in the morning before they are up if we can.

I either watch a TV show I can't watch with the kids around or I read.

I try to make it to zumba and yoga classes a few times a week. The ones I go to are held after the kids are in bed. I do enjoy them quite a bit. I like to try to go running or walking if I can as well.

I like crocheting but usually can only fit it in if we are on a long car ride and I am not driving, or while the girls are at gymnastics and I am in the waiting area.

I like watching tv with my husband. We both like cooking.

I have a weekly Girls Night with my best girl friends, we rotate houses. It's not totally "free" time since the kids come with us but the kids play together and the women visit and it is the highlight of our week. :)

when I get a spare moment, I work on our house (right now paint and drywall repair). When I have a babysitter I go shopping, even if its just for groceries. After they go to bed, I read or watch a show but I usually pass out asleep on the couch before I even get to do much of that. I remember I used to spend 6-8 hours a month just clothes shopping with my girl friends and then out to dinner. Ohhh if only i had that kind of free time! I have three, one an infant and one home schooled, so I'm not sure that I actually have "free time". Folding laundry while they have quite time, or nursing a baby in front of the tv is are how I relax during the day, then I schedule time away from my kids and do things that usually need doing anyhow, but they are more enjoyable away from kids.

I DVR shows to watch when my kids are not up so they don't bother me.
Have a LONG smoke break where I play candycrush on my phone and smoke. (just being honest!)
Have sex.
Talk with husband about our days.
Get on the computer.
Usually have a load or two going in the laundry but I don't fold it, just move it from wash to dryer to floor.
L.

I love to clean. So I do that a lot.
Read, too. No TV. I try to stay moving nearly 100% of the day to stay healthy, except when I am reading.
So the cleaning isn't just to get a clean house (which never quite happens anyway) but to keep me healthy and moving.

Eat and read. Sometimes I call up a girlfriend to gossip.

After they are tucked in I tuck myself in too. Then its wind down time- a little TV, reading, or crossword puzzle. I'm asleep anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour later :)

I do steal some free time on the weekends when the kids are playing and the chores are done, then I like to scrapbook or do household reorganization type projects, bake.

I cannot imagine having the free time I used to have before I had kids! Like, what the heck did I do? Work out a lot? funny how times change.

I usually watch one show with hubby and then head to bed with a book. When hubby is away, I'll take on a project of some sorts that can be done while watching girlie movies. Sometimes I will also just chat on the phone with a close friend.

I will watch tv, play on the computer, or read. My "free time" is after the kids are in bed at night. I usually don't get any before then. Cleaning the house might get done but usually not ! I really want to learn to knit so I may have to start trying to squeeze that in.

DD14 yr old and DH usually go to bed between 9:30 and 10. At that time, I'm just starting to wind down after making/cleaning up dinner and maybe doing some laundry. I usually watch TV, call my Mom or sister and then around 11:30 or so, I might wake DH up for some adult time (hee, hee) and then I jump on the computer until maybe 2 or 3 am. I also read in bed just before lights out. I'm a night owl but I have the luxury of sleeping late in the morning if I want to.

I usually watch tv or read for an hour or two after my kids go to bed. I get up about an hour before they get up and read the paper and enjoy the quiet. During the day when they are at school, when I am not at work I do my housework, errands, organizing, and then if there is time left over I watch tv. I take many computer breaks throughout the day.

I was just feeling sorry for myself because I have too much free time. I am dealing with trigger finger right now which is extreme tendonitis and my finger is in a locked position and very painful. It is debilitating and I don't know what to do with myself other than soak my hand and shop. I really would like it to heal on its own because cortisone injections in the hand are brutal!!!

I usually watch TV. Sometimes with my husband. By that time there is no way I will do housework!!!!!

When the kids are sleeping I watch shows on the dvr, or boardwalk empire, or play on my phone on the Internet or games. I'm holding a sleeping baby because I like to (we co sleep). I know he'd stay sleeping in his own bed but I like to hold him and savor his "babiness"- he's 21 mo :0) during nap time I usually nap too. We do most things as a family I rarely go out with friends, or anywhere without kids. We have little help. If dh is home sometimes I go grocery shopping solo and its a treat (and I spend less). I also enjoy crocheting

My husband and I watch a show together and then turn in for the night.

I was going to ask what "free time" was because I feel like I don't have any so thank you for defining it ;-)

Some nights I'm at work (teaching/tutoring). Sometimes I catch up on work from my day job or I do my PTA treasurer stuff. A lpt of times I'm cleaning up the kitchen, baking something for a school event or party, etc. or doing computer stuff. And finally, sometimes I just sit my butt on the couch and read or watch TV - I like Scandal, The Good Wife and Criminal Minds and try to watch them On Demand if I miss when they're actually on. Tonight I'll catch the rest of game 1 of the World Series after I get done with my class.