Once you start a family, how do you create time for yourself?

[Anonymous]

I love my alone time. Is it even possible once you have kids and stuff?

[SnowedIn]

You have to be very deliberate. Free time doesn't just fall into your lap. You make a choice that you're going to give yourself time to do whatever (or nothing). It might be so much as to schedule it.

The key is to be very deliberate and very intentional. Consciously plan it and work it into your day. The other key is communication and partnership. You have to take the kids some time and make sure that your partner gets free time/me time and other times you have to get that time as well. And, as your kids get older (as young as when they are just walking) you start to enforce that with them, too ("this is daddy's me time, I'll come see you when I'm done") -- it helps them to understand boundaries and that they are not in charge of the family and that everything doesn't revolve around them.

[Avicenna]

Your life will necessarily revolve around your kid (s), but have a friend or family member watch your kid (s) so you can have an occasional date night.

[AmyHew1tt]

Yeah, you totally can. You just need to have good communication with your partner and other people involved.

[exitseven]

You have to wait aboutn 20 years until they are sort of grown up.