I've been working full-time since the end of January.

I'm a teacher, so I'm generally out the door by 7:45am and DH usually picks me up at 3:30pm.

Family time - Sam is still having an afternoon sleep most days, and that usually means Sam snuggling up to mummy and the two of us chilling out listening to music while I rock him to sleep. I combine my post-work chill out and relax time with getting Sam to sleep most afternoons and that works for us. Evenings will usually be taken up with dinner, play-time, bath, bottle and then bed. Sam has an unusually late bed time (9pm) so we do get lots of family time still.

Couple time... This is one area where things are suffering. We usually watch a bit of TV after Sam has gone to bed, or chat for a while, but there isn't a whole lot of couple time at all. Our sex life is virtually non-existant, and while I'm fine with that, I know DH is not - but we've always had long droughts in our marriage - partly to do with my health issues.

We recharge on the weekends. DH lets me have a massive sleep-in on Saturday mornings and will often have an afternoon sleep with Sam to help himself catch up on sleep. We always have family time on the weekends - church and usually just going out for lunch on at least one of the days while we tackle the grocery shopping or similar.

Me time... This is one area where I'm really suffering and I'm just hanging out for school holidays to get here so I can get some me time.

I find I have to be really disciplined and make sure all my marking and prep work gets done at school because it's mostly not possibly to do it while Sam is awake. I have managed a few times where the back-log has built up and I've just had to bring stuff home to catch up.

I think the one thing that really stands out in all of this is that the only way I cope at all is because DH is a stay at home dad four days per week and he takes care of the vast majority of housework and cooking. But I do have the added complication of health issues to juggle in the whole lot as well. I know that I personally couldn't fit in study - but I guess if you have a job where the our of hours marking and preparation isn't happening then the study could fit in there. If you aren't saddled with health issues that mean early nights are essential then you'll probably be ok.

I don't think relying on a stay at home parent is taking advantage - I think it's simply sharing the load.

BW