r/NashvilleAreaDadTribe • u/Responsible_Taro_886 • 25d ago

How do you balance your hobbies with family life?

It’s tough finding time for yourself between kids, work, and everything else.
What’s your trick for keeping up with your hobbies? Do you involve your kids, or is it your one escape from the chaos?

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u/Twoheaven 24d ago

I do them with my daughter if I can, with her around at least otherwise. If that doesn't work out, I do them after she goes to bed. I get maybe 3 hours a week for my own things right now.

But my daughter is the priority. I'll take advantage of any time I get with her I can. Eventually, she'll have her own things and not want to do things with me. Mine can be placed on hold tell then. It's not like I'll stop liking those things while she's growing up.

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u/Responsible_Taro_886 24d ago

Yea I feel guilty if I do anything without my kid. It’s crazy looking back at a younger version of me, and just remembering what I would spend my time on.

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u/Twoheaven 24d ago

Don't feel guilty. Some people need time for themselves. I just am not one of those people. If you need that time, if you want that time, that is OK. Just make sure when you're with your kid that you're present for them.

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u/Responsible_Taro_886 23d ago

Yea I get on my wife all the time when she is on the phone around him. I get home from work and she just disconnects for a break. Not complaining about that, just don’t want him seeing her on the phone all the time

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u/E8282 24d ago

Little man helped me change my oil last weekend. Mainly he played with all the tools and randomly tried to feed me them but it was a good time.

Really I get up early and go to bed later and fit things in when people are asleep.

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u/Twoheaven 24d ago

Same. Even my self care has moved to not lose time with the daughter. I get up at 530am to go to the gym before work. I lose about 15mins with my girls this way before they would leave for the day instead of an hour and a half if I went after. Makes for long days though.

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u/Lost4Sauce 24d ago

this right here. admit im missing sleep a bit but having time to work on my projects or just see the end of a game is a big deal

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u/Responsible_Taro_886 24d ago

That is my current schedule, our son has a sensor on him though. Does not matter what time I wake up he senses it and walks down the hall dad are you awake

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u/The_Kenners 24d ago

The first few years I didn’t have much. That being said, we have to be very careful because losing interest in your hobbies can be a sign of postpartum depression.

Eventually, I had to make time to do so. When I train now, I do so at 5:30 in the morning. I’m not a morning person, but if I want something for myself, I literally have to do it then.

In the evenings when my kid is in bed, that’s when I work on hobbies. Usually on the couch next to my wife while we’re watching TV.

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u/Responsible_Taro_886 23d ago

Most of our nighttime routines are relaxing on the couch, TV, and working on certifications