This article re-examines the notion of time in the context of post-separation parenting. It is argued that much of the recent debate in Australia on the merits or otherwise of 50/50 shared care after separation is not about parenting time per se, but about the subjective experience of time with children. Two types of time may exist after separation, each largely gendered: for non resident fathers, time with children is typically experienced as stilted, shallow, artificial and brief; for resident mothers, time with children may often be experienced as fluid, deep, demanding and a given. Patterns of care after separation that allow children to experience meaningful time with each parent are important for children's and parents' well being. This article explores these ideas in the context of recent research into parent child contact after separation.