The Kids Are in Bed : Finding Time for Yourself in the Chaos of Parenting / Rachel Bertsche.

Where does the time go. You are more than a parent : how kids and leisure affect identity ; The problem with free time ; Make it work : why we need pockets of indulgence, and how to fit them in -- Marriage. The baby bomb ; Time to be together : how to make time for romance ; Let's talk about sex -- Self-care. The joy of being alone ; Exercise, sleep, and other "responsible" choices ; Putting yourself first : fitting in self-care -- Friendships. Friends forever? : how friendships (and our time for them) change after kids ; The value of socializing : why everyone needs time for friends, but parents especially ; How to make new friends, how to see old ones.

"Picture it--it's 8:30 p.m. You close the door to your child's room just as you hear your partner closing the dishwasher, and now it's time for an hour or two of glorious freedom. What do you do? Read the book you've been waiting to crack open all day? Chat on the phone with a friend, glass of wine in hand, or go out with pals and share a whole bottle? Or, like many modern parents, do you get caught up in chores, busywork, and social media black holes? In an original survey conducted for this book, 71 percent of parents said their free time didn't feel free at all, because they were still thinking about all the things they should be doing for their kids, their jobs, and their households. Rachel Bertsche found herself in exactly that bind. After dozens of interviews with scientists and parenting experts, input from moms and dads across the country, and her own experiments with her personal time, Rachel figured out how to transform her patterns and reconnect to her pre-kids life. In The Kids Are in Bed, other parents can learn to do the same, and learn to truly enjoy the time after lights-out."-- Provided by publisher.