I think you framed the whole thing in such a way I can't get my head around.
Why not simply "heck" take the hour you need after your infants asleep or been played with and you you've at least acknowledged your partner?
If that person and/or day care can take care of the kids for x hours of work plus a 1 hour commute, they can take care of the kids for x hours of work plus 1 hour of “me time” if that’s what the OP thinks they need.
That’s what I meant when I said it’s not about the kids. It’s about the person watching the kids.
There’s no reason for someone to put themselves into a situation that forces them to spend an hour commuting each day in order to get some alone time.
I think it is hilarious how quickly and flippantly you solved the problem by saying "heck" get your wife to take care of the kid and go outside for an hour guy. I certainly am not prescribing anyone travel an hour a day just to get their own free time.
If you have a wife and kids I wish you all the best.
I asked my wife if she was a stay at home mom, would she let me take a 45 min to an hour lunch each day away from home if I worked from home if it meant I’d be home more overall. She said sure.
My wife is a physician, so she works unusual hours. Many of her coworkers occasionally send their kids to daycare on their off days, so that they have time to run errands or just get in some kid free time.