What time do you actually get to sit down and relax at night?

[BlackRose]

My 16 month old has dinner at 5:00pm, then a bath at 5:45pm, then a bottle and a story around 6:30pm and is asleep by 6:45-7:00pm. DH generally does the bottle and book so I can start dinner. It's their time together and I know he loves it. So I guess by 7pm we're done for the day.

[Erin_25]

I always sit down and relax once the kids are in bed, with a wine, tv, chocolate...whatever. Yep just chill and let the stuff take care of itself later. I keep the house tidy as I go during the day, dishes are always cleaned up after tea. Someone cleans up the dishes, kitchen toys etc whilst the other supervises bath time. Then kids to bed and relax on the couch or study. If something has to be done it gets done but if it can wait then it does.

[Trillian]

Probably 8.30, but sometimes 8pm - ideally 7.30pm! LOL. My kids are older though so it's easier to get everything done so you have plenty of time for yourself.

[~Kim~]

As selfish as it sounds, sometimes as early as 6.24pm lol.
My kids are in bed at 6.30 at the latest, but sometimes earlier if they're tired. I rush and tidy up the dishes/kitchen and then it's my time. Whatever needs to be done can be done in the daylight hours either with the kids or while they're occupying themselves.
Once a week I mop after they're asleep but that doesn't take much.
I make lunches while I'm making dinner. Make sure school stuff is ready before bed.

[Jellyfish]

I'm probably the luckiest (laziest?) 'housewife'... DD is in bed by 6-6:30 (I still feed her to sleep so we just lay on her bed and it usually only takes 5 minutes now that she doesn't have a day sleep), DP does the cooking every night (by choice, he wants to be a chef and loves to cook) and does the dishes when he gets up with DD in the morning (letting me sleep in till he has to go for work at 8). We also spend most of the day outside so the house never really gets too messy and I always enlist my little helper about half hour before DP gets home to help straighten things out I always do laundry etc during the day with DD, she loves to sweep or press the buttons on the washing machine, hand me pegs etc.

But yeah, once DD is in bed, we kick back and relax. She does still usually wake once overnight but that is almost always after we go to bed so we have a good few hours to just chat, watch TV, game or enjoy an adult only desert haha.

[glenny_c]

dd is in bed around 6-6.30. She self-settles after her bottle so doesn't usually need me after bottle. (Don't ask me how- she just started doing it!) After that we do dinner and prepare the bottles for the next day (sterilize ect) at the moment DH is doing dinner and I crash on the couch as soon as DD is down. I am so tired with this pregnancy if it were up to me we'd have beans on toast every night! But even when I was doing dinner by 7.30 we'd be settled on the couch watching tv or chatting. I agree with the other mums- we clean the kitchen after dinner but everything else can wait- relaxation and time with dh is more important.- Having said that though, I am not working OR studying. My hat goes off to those of you who are!!

[Lenny]

As selfish as it sounds, sometimes as early as 6.24pm lol.

NOT selfish. Smart! And doing what works so that you don't collapse in a heap!!

My two are often in bed by just past 7pm, so then i stay quiet for about half an hour, then do a few things that might need doing like mopping etc. Usually by 8/8.30 i can sit and relax.

Ask DH though...once the kids are in bed, he's done for the day!