Balancing a family with rabbit hole/non-rabbit hole careers

Try to have the rabbit hole hours line up with the non-rabbit hole hours. That way 2 sims are effectively "out of your hair" while you're doing the firefighting tasks.

Or if thats not possible, just make sure the other 2 have their needs in the green and set them to a hobby. Or just leave them to their own devices, what's the worst they can get into ;)