Riot and Frolic

I'm fascinated by families.  Specifically, how families divide or share child-rearing responsibilities.

I've heard horror stories of dads who've never been alone with their kids.  HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?  I wonder what parents with 9-5 jobs do in the summer when their kid(s) aren't in school.  WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM?  I hear about parents who never take their kids out in public, yet I also see moms out on the town (enjoying coffee, a beer, or time not tethered to a small maniac) and I wonder who is taking care of the babe.  Babysitter?  Dad?  Nanny?  Family member?  Indentured servant?  HOW DO YOU GET TIME ALONE?  

I'll tell you what I do, for comparison's sake.  I take 65% of the child-rearing duties, mostly because I'm home the majority of the waking hours.  Feeding, bathing, teaching, reading, etc.  That's me.

The G is stupid-good at using his time with them to play fun and educational games, read great kid novels, and teach them cool things.  

If I go to work in the evening and The G is also working, I find one of the REALLY LOVELY PEOPLE in the my life who will babysit for free.  (Have I told you how lovely and nice you are?  You are so nice and lovely.)  I have a last-resort option in case no one can do it, and that is a lady I actually pay.  Sometimes, I have to bring the crew with me and MY STUDENTS ARE SO LOVELY AND TOLERANT of my children.

I go out when there's no plans (mostly on the weekends) and get some MeTime (#metime).  Often this time is spent running errands (to the bank, to the post office, picking up various doodads around town, meeting up with friends), but sometimes I get a cup of coffee and don't have to talk to anyone for an hour.  *bliss*  The G entertains the ladies during all that and everyone is happy.

How do you rear your child?  Do you work at a "real job"?  Who watches your kids?  How do you go out without the wee ones?