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We've got a second kid on the way and so my free-time is due for a further dive - but there is some compensation. We're moving to Peebles in a couple of weeks - so at least there will be some "decent" riding from my door (house is right at the end of the Gypsy Glen route)....I work from home full-time - so pre-work & "long lunch" rides are easily possible for me - and I can kind of organise my time pretty flexibly so I can do a few hours at night instead of during the day if I want.
I have two mini officers - 5 and 3 (tomorrow).
Its a definite that two are considerably more of a resource/time shock than one.
I basically didn't ride for the first 8 months after both of them were born, and slowly ramped back since. TBH, My job became very demanding shortly after the birth of mini-oficer 2, with me living away from home in the week, so I was reluctant to ride at all on the weekend due to restricted family life anyway.
Generally, I fit the twice a week model already described on this thread.
I get up early to ride with Candodavid, Singletrackmonkey and Clink from here - either on the hill for 07:00 on Sunday morning and back before midday, and a long old night ride on Thursday after the kids are in bed.
Mrs officer isn't really a hobby person like I am, but basically, she gets
all the other evenings to use as she see fit. Somtimes she's in, sometimes she's out. We have Sundays from 11:00 as a family.
Anything else is for negotiation.
I was made redundant in March, and despite the money issues its been great to be back at home with the family, and get into a regular riding habit again. Mrs officer has just got a job, so as of this week, I'm the full time carer. Its remarkable how much of my life my old job gobbled up, and whilst I was on a good salary, looking at the pay as an hourly rate, it wasn't even that well paid!
I regard my redundancy as a good thing really. I've never defined myself by my work so I've not had any 'issues' and I get to strengthen my relationship with the two most important people in my life (even if they're bloody hard work!)
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A nice thing about this thread is how bikists see redundancy as a positive cos they can ride more - brilliant perspective!
Work life balance innit.
So far mine has swung to each extreme but hasn't settled in the middle!
I have two kids (4 & 2)and as the above says pick your times and if you have a pass ...ride whatever the weather.
I commutee x2 a week so 50 miles there to start with which does not count.
Once per week night ride minimum usually more (kids in bed done my chores now **** off out whilst she watches cr@p on the tv.
Weekends much harder one pass per month for an all dayer ...she gets the same in return. Usually a 4 hour ride at weeeknd but generally after 5 pm in summer.
Whilst you need to get out cycling remember the mountains are going nowhere but your kids are growing up fast and soon enough they will be teenagers who think you are a kn0b so enjoy the wee ones whilst they still adore you!!
Yes, The day rides are a thing of the past.
I'm hoping I may get a bivvy weekend this year later in the summer so I can do some longer distance stuff over Dartmoor or Exmoor. If it happens it'll be my first for 5 years.
Beware when they get older weird things happen. When my kids were younger I used to race m/bike enduros which involved maybe 10 weekends a year as well as my road bike and my mtb time and my wife was fine with it. Now they have left home it seems I am her appointed servant and entertainment master and it is all I can do to get out at all. I have taken to entering loads of events because this seems to work on her psyche. Just saying 'I am going out for a ride with my mates' almost always brings the response
' But you said you would ....' whatever boring household chore is on the go.