“Quality time.” That phrase we use to refer to decent time spent with loved ones – most importantly our kids and partner – has got to be relatively new. I wouldn’t be surprised if women developed the expression as more of us entered the workforce and found the work-home juggle a struggle.

Instead of automatically being there 24/7 for our families, we now have to consciously set aside periods for “quality time” or risk what’s most important in life. This week our family columnist Wendyl Nissen reports that a UK study shows 80% of parents admit not spending enough time with their kids – on average only seeing their littlies for 36 minutes a day. She has loads of ideas on ways to make more time for our families.

Needless to say, I went home after reading this and announced to my husband – who had just put his feet up to watch the tennis – that we needed more quality time. He fiddled with the remote and struggled to keep his head turned from the TV, but surprisingly, there was no eye roll – he actually agreed. He’s taking some time off work and organising QT is now top priority. We’ve locked in a family holiday, Cleo and I have a mother-daughter day on Saturday and we’ve even booked a date night next week... Although perhaps my darling knew the quickest way to get back to Roger and Venus!

About Sido

Inspired by her newspaper journalist father, Sido Kitchin’s media career began with book reviews in the children’s pages of the Evening Post at age 11. Sido would often wait for her father as he finished his shifts in the newsroom and was mesmerized by the electric atmosphere as journalists on deadline yelled over the clatter of typewriters.

Sido completed the Wellington Polytechnic Journalism Course – Class of 1991. She worked for community newspapers, before realising her friends working in television were earning three times as much and had much better parties. After being invited as a plus-one to the first Shortland Street Christmas Party, Sido became determined to muscle her way into TV.

She worked as a publicist for South Pacific Pictures, Sky TV and TV One before pouncing on the
Shortland Street job. She then returned to TVNZ as Publicity Manager. She loved getting to work closely with magazine editors, and Sido was soon lured back to the “other side” as Deputy Editor on NZ Woman’s Weekly and then Woman’s Day.

Heading to Melbourne, Sido’s Melbourne-based brother – also a journalist - mentioned a vacancy at Channel Seven. Sido went in for an interview and gained the role of Publicity Manager. After five years managing the media for the Seven stars, and making a name for herself by inviting Paris Hilton for her first trip Down Under, Sido was looking for the next challenge. She also had a small family by now – she and partner Conrad had a little girl Cleo in 2003, and they wanted her to grow up a Kiwi kid.

Problem was, Sido couldn’t imagine a job she’d love more than Channel Seven. Then New Zealand Woman’s Weekly rang and her prayers were answered – the chance to move her family home, along with a dream job. Sido has been Editor of the Weekly since 2006 and is responsible for overseeing all the content that appears each week. Sido has been named Mass Market Editor of the Year at the annual MPA magazine awards three years running, and took out the Supreme Editor of the Year in 2008.

In March 2008, Cleo was lucky enough to attend her mum and dad’s wedding. And in March 2009, wee Darcy joined the family. When Sido’s not immersed in the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, she’s spending as many hours as possible with Conrad and the kids. And when she gets an hour to herself, Sido likes to stretch it out at Pilates, get a sneaky pedicure, catch an episode of Coro, or flop on the couch with a pile of magazines to do “research”. Bliss!