[Apocryphon]

I understand kids can be a big distraction during the work day, but isn’t a good thing to have more time with them after work, without the hour lost to the commute? Isn’t it desirable to be nearby during their formative years?

[julianlam]

No. On the train ride home I sleep, because without it I am a literal zombie and one could make the argument that I am a worse parent.

As is typical, another drive-by HN commenter will now say I should plan my day better, but without knowing my day, how can one judge?

[Apocryphon]

I don’t know anything about you, nor am I saying anything about you. I am simply speculating that parents would seek to maximize time with their children, having seen my share of poor WLB that keep parents at the office and away from their children.

[julianlam]

Yes, I know. I'm just being rather cynical at the moment.

Given I'm at 50% work capacity right now, I actually do spend many hours of most days of the week with my children.

I'm not saying there's a recommended maximum of time to spend (24 hours a day seems to be the ideal number recommended by mommy blogs), but after a certain point, I am out of energy to thoughtfully and meaningfully engage with my children.

It really puts into perspective the work childhood educators do on a daily basis, actually.

[Apocryphon]

That’s fair. Perhaps there’s a tendency to lionize the preindustrial era, paleo parenting, that emphasizes maximum amount of time spent.