While quality of time is important, quantity of time is just as critical to raising a family.

Now that there’s a baby, you’re no longer a couple; you’re a family! But competing schedules and obligations can make acting like a family a little difficult. These days, more and more dads are finding ways to shoulder the burdens — and joys — of parenthood. And you might not realize it, but a slight change in Dad’s work schedule can free up a lot of time to spend with the kids.

Many fathers opt for different lifestyles and alternative work schedules to spend more time with their families or reduce the amount of time their kids spend in daycare. Some men work early or late shifts, or work part time, and some have even become stay-at-home dads while Mom works. Here are some creative ways fathers are creating more family time.

The Compressed Work Week

Here’s an idea: Work more hours per day, and fewer days per week. One way to go about this is to work 40 hours in four days instead of five by working four 10-hour days. Another common schedule is working nine hours a day and having a day off every other week.

When our son Jordan was small, my husband, John, worked four 10-hour days a week, with Fridays off. I worked a four-day work week part time with Mondays off. That way, Jordan was in daycare only three days a week. John’s schedule is important to him. He has had his Fridays off for the last five years. He says, “I like having my Fridays off with the kids. It is a special bonding time with them.”

Alternative Shift Start Times

On this schedule, parents start work at different hours to minimize the amount of time the children are away from home. For example, one parent could start work at 6:00 a.m. and one at 9:00 a.m. The children are dropped off at the daycare by the parent who leaves later, and picked up by the parent who gets off work earlier. Juggle this the right way, and daycare is no longer a necessity.

Pat Ryan works from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. His wife, Terri, leaves for work at 5:00 p.m. Although that doesn’t leave much time for the two of them during the week, Pat enjoys evenings with his sons Robby, 3, and Christopher, 2. Pat also reports another advantage: “When both parents are together, the kids tend to play us off each other. They are much better behaved when there is only one parent here.”

Part Time

If a father works less than 40 hours a week, the family might feel a little pinch in the pocketbook. But some families can handle it by making a conscious choice to live more simply. Many health-care positions are becoming part-time, giving workers more days off. Some positions are 24 hours a week (two 12-hour shifts), or 36 hours a week (three 12-hour shifts). While 12 hours is a long day, think of the flip-side: You’ll have four or five days off each week.

Working At Home

A telecommuter works at home on his own computer, connected to the company’s computer by modem. But this melds the workplace and home, and telecommuting might leave you just as unavailable to the kids as if you were working at the office. In fact, many telecommuters find that they need a babysitter in the home. There are advantages: being available to eat lunch with the children, saving time and saving money commuting to work. It may be less stressful than work at an office, and every day becomes casual day!

Become a Stay-at-Home Dad

This option might be more realistic than it seems. If you’re a father considering staying at home, examine your earning power as compared to your partner’s. Consider work attire (no need for power suits), as well as commuting costs (gas, wear-and-tear of the car, depreciation, extra insurance costs), daycare costs, and all the other expenses of working. Don’t forget to factor in stress! Many men find they are happier staying at home with their children. If you’re not sure, try it out by taking personal leave. Fathers may be guaranteed up to three months of personal leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act if their child is under a year old, newly adopted, or recently placed with the family as a foster child. (To see if you qualify or if the law applies to your company, check with your employer’s human resources department.)

When either parent switches to home after having a career, the transition can be tough. With paid employment, people tend to have confidence, structure and regular positive feedback from coworkers and management. It might be hard to function in an environment with little structure and a lack of positive feedback. Just transition slowly, and find support or playgroups that help you understand you’re not alone.

Dan Sherman is now a stay-at-home dad. As a painter, he often found work hard to come by, or requiring a long commute to the job site. Most of the time, his children were either in daycare or after-school care. Dan’s wife, Becki, had healthcare benefits, and her work as a computer programmer/analyst provided enough money for the family. So Dan decided to stay home with their two sons: Ben, 8, and Sammy, 4. One day a week, Sammy goes to a Montessori preschool. That gives Dan a needed break, and Sammy has a chance to interact with children his own age. The preschool also provides Dan with educational materials and helps in his new role as full-time father. Dan is enjoying being closer to the boys, and has started pursuing new interests, such as gourmet cooking.

If None of These Are Options

Perhaps your work schedule is too demanding, or your company is just too inflexible to consider giving you a break. Even if none of the above options will work, you can still find ways to make time for your family. Some ideas: Instead of using weekends as couch time, go for walks together. Go to a playground (indoor or outdoor) or to the park. Going out to dinner (or for dessert!) can also get the family together. A picnic doesn’t have to be at a park; it can be a fun change to picnic in the backyard or even in the living room (if the TV is off). Pursue a common interest or hobby with your family, such as bicycling, skiing or stamp collecting. Set aside time each weekend for a special family activity that gets everyone involved.

While quality of time is important, quantity of time is just as critical to raising a family. The challenge for parents is to find the best possible mix between quality and quantity, and to make choices that benefit moms, dads and the children.

Adapted from: Family Health Alliance

Your employer expects you to be efficient and prepared. Your family needs you to be organized, compassionate, and nurturing. You juggle your children’s needs, your worries about your aging relatives, and your concern about the evenings dinner menu; yet your primary resources to do all this are within you. Planning and prioritizing are essential; communication and asking for support are paramount.

Organize and Prioritize

Utilizing effective time management techniques at work will help to streamline your job responsibilities. Learning and using long-range planning techniques at home and work will help. Delegate and trust others to take over your responsibilities from time to time so that you are not indispensable at work or at home.

Let Go of Perfection

Whether you work away from or stay at home, it is impossible to be a perfect parent; yet you will learn from your mistakes and adjust your expectations. Your ability to provide love, constructive discipline, and guidance is the most important gift you can give your children; they don’t need perfection!

Allow Time for Family

Family time may need to be scheduled just like dance lessons and soccer games. Private time with your spouse should be a top priority. Your family needs to know that their individual needs are important despite everyones hectic schedule. Some families make one evening a week a special pizza and game night, a tradition which can become especially crucial as the children grow older.

Allow Time for Yourself

Taking care of yourself can reap huge rewards physically and emotionally. One of the most important ways is by establishing a regular exercise routine, whether it be a daily walk in the neighborhood, a trip to a nearby gym three times a week, or joining a dance group at the local YMCA! Choosing an activity you truly enjoy will make sticking with it much easier.

Investigate Employer Sponsored Benefits and Programs

Be sure to check out all the options on this website which describe some of the family friendly benefits your employer sponsors. By contacting your manager or Human Resources department you may find additional information on options such as flextime, job sharing, telecommuting, or dependent care accounts.

It may take some juggling, some trial and error, but with good planning, organization and knowledge of how to balance work and family responsibilities, it can work for you and your family!

Help with Eldercare

• Home health services are available in the community. They can provide nursing/companion care, house-cleaning and hot meals so your parents stay in their own house as long as possible.
• Adult day care centers provide structured activities and opportunities for socialization weekdays and sometimes on the weekends.
• Assisted living facilities and nursing homes offer around-the-clock care for the elderly once they can no longer live on their own. Check with your local office on aging for listings and subsidized care.

Help with Childcare

• Many childcare options exist, ranging from nannies to family home providers to large day care centers.
• Older children and teens can get involved with after school programs at their schools or community organizations such as the YWCA or YMCA.
• If you need advice on parenting or dealing with a difficult child, look into your company’s benefits policy to see what they offer.

Non-Traditional Work Hours

• Check with your employer about modifying your workweek so you can best meet all the demands of family and work.
• Options include part-time work, telecommuting, and flex-time which means working 40 hours in 4 or fewer days.

Also, depending on your company, you may be eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act which allows you to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a child or other family member. Some employers also have a money-saving option that allows you to set aside some of your salary pre-tax for dependent care. Finally, don’t forget to take time for yourself. The great demands placed on the caregiver can lead to burn-out, so learn how to de-stress and ask others for help when you need it.