How do people juggle a Family, Full Time Job, and Open Source Projects?

I am going to watch this one and think on it. Great question.

Short answer: You can’t.

I work Wednesday through Sunday at the FT job (50 hours).
Monday and Tuesday I’m doing contract work (20 hours).
Tuesday and Thursday nights I teach (10 hours).

Sure that leaves Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights for the family, but after 80 hours I’m toasted. So family time usually involves couch time.

But, this allows my wife to only work 16 hours a week and be home for my daughter.
At some point, my wife will get an awesome FT job and the roles will reverse.

Life’s a trade off.

Yeah, I can’t either. I’ve got at least a dozen ideas for projects (almost all of which would end up being F/OSS) that I don’t have time to pursue.

And the more I’ve achieved professionally, the more responsibilities I’ve been given – and therefore, the less creative energy (not just time) I’ve had to dedicate to personal & F/OSS projects. Actually, that’s the biggest limitation for me – I still have some spare time, but I don’t have the creative energy to write much code during that time, because I’ve spent all my energy on my paid work.

You’ve got to have a spouse that is willing to work with you to make it work. Luckily, my husband and I have differing schedules which allow us to both work full-time. He is always home before me so he makes supper, I do dishes (usually with one or both of the kids). We do things around the house (inside and outside) together.