"Engineering Challenge": Finding Time Between Diapers and Development

I often post about my wins with Claude Code or the progress on my book project, but there’s one part of the equation I haven’t touched on yet: Time.

I’m lucky enough to be able to build a little during my work hours, but my primary focus is still being a Finance Manager. The real work happens when the house is finally quiet.

But here is the reality: I have a 3-year-old and a 9-month-old.

If you’ve been there, you know. My "second shift" starts after they are tucked in, but it’s always a gamble. Especially with a 9-month-old—you never really know how the night is going to go or how many times you’ll be woken up.

The Internal Conflict:

I’m a natural "A-person." I love waking up early and feeling fresh. But to get anything done on my private projects, I often have to push late into the night.

I’m constantly trying to balance three things that all feel non-negotiable:

Family Time: This is my fuel. I refuse to sacrifice being present with my kids.

Sleep: As an early riser, I need sleep to function as a Finance Manager and a dad.

Development: I have a deep drive to learn, build, and move my projects forward.

The truth? Most days, it feels like I can only pick two.

If I work late on a website or an automation, I’m a zombie the next morning. If I go to bed early to be a "good dad" at 6:00 AM, my projects stand still, which frustrates me. It’s a constant puzzle of trying to be "efficiently lazy" with the few hours I actually have.

I don’t have a "5-step master plan" for this. I’m just navigating it one night at a time—sometimes winning, sometimes just trying to stay awake during a meeting.

How do you guys balance this?

For those of you with young kids, demanding jobs, and big goals—how do you find the space to create without burning out or missing the "golden years" with your family?

I’m curious to hear how you prioritize when everything feels equally important. 👇

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