Talk-Back Tuesday: The Leisure Time (Ha!) Edition
Posted in Talk-Back Tuesday on 02/09/2010 07:45 am by adminSo did you catch the study that everyone was talking about last week — the one that claimed that moms (and dads) have 30 hours of leisure time per week? Our friend Amy (from ParentDish and ChambanaMoms) wrote about it, and just yesterday, she was filmed for an upcoming episode of Dr. Phil, where a panel discussed the study.
Amy, right before she went on Dr. Phil to discuss the study
We have our own thoughts on the validity of this report, but it’s your turn to talk, not ours. Do you have 30 hours of free time to pursue your personal passions each week? Please discuss.–Becky & Hollee
PS: If you follow us on Twitter, you’ll find us at new addresses today. Please follow Becky at beckyinbalance and Hollee at holleeinbalance. We’re still your work/life balance team — just splitting up our tweets to clear up confusion. Think of it as more of us to love.
02/10/2010 at 12:08 am
30 Free hours? Does that count the sleep I get between interruptions? I get 7 hours free almost every Tuesday. I get a couple of free-ish hours every evening, but that’s often when I am trying to get client projects done. With a husband who works away from home and three boys – I feel like I’m on duty every minute though, so it’s all in the definition of free time (not so sure I agree with that study’s definition – I liked better how it was described by Rachel Connelly at the end of the article).
02/10/2010 at 7:47 am
I loved the column in the Washington Post you provided the link for. It makes it clear that it all comes down to what a person considers “leisure”. I do exercise a lot, try to make time for reading every evening before bed, and spend way too much time checking my email and facebook. I also agree with her that we have become a culture obsessed with being busy. I think it comes on gradually with parents trying to provide equality for their children through activities or sports. (Johnny is playing tennis, it’s only fair that susie gets to play soccer).
That being said, I also feel the pressure to do, do, do. My floors haven’t been mopped since after Christmas. My laundry is never, ever, completely put away. My fridge always has contents that are potentially lethal due to age! (my kids and husband have learned to ask before eating something!) However, no matter how bad I feel about my failings in the house department, I am not about to give up my “leisurely” exercise regimen. So, there you have it, life is a trade-off. and please, if you come to my house and drop something on the floor, for the love of God, don’t eat it!