How do you make the most of your time with your little one in the few hours before bed after you pick them up from the DCPs? There's supper, bath and bedtime for my son in the 2.5 hours or so before bed. Sometimes it feels like there's no time to actually play with him. So we spend the weekend cramming in family things and practically running the child ragged. There's got to be a better way to balance things, doesn't there?
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I am right there with you! We get home, my daughter is exhausted, she helps me cook dinner which is nice and she seems to enjoy it. Nights when we crock pot cook are great because it gives me that extra 30 minutes or so of playtime. We do bath every other night to allow us some quality family time on off nights. Bedtime is quality time, either brushing each others hair (your son may not require the 20 odd minutes it takes us for thsi task!), reading books or just talking about our day.
Just remember, at least you are there for bedtime routine. I bet your son thinks that's pretty good quality time, even if it is brief.
I'm lucky to be done work at 2h30. So that gives me some more time with her. coloring, playdoh, puzzle and playing with jewelry are the things she loves to play. we also listen to a cd with kids song on it and sing and dance... then there's the bath time routine