I'm just wondering...how can I create this ideal picture in my head into reality: I want to go swim, while my kids are in some way having fun and enjoying themselves too. and I want to be able to join them after I get my swim in...really, I just need 45 mins! I have been struggling with this dilemma for 5 yrs...and letting my body/mind suffer for it. I'm sure the solution is simple, b/c the problem seems quite simple. but I can't figure it out. I think it boils down to getting help from family & friends... but I"m not sure how to work it out.
Thanks everyone, for all of your support and responses! I ended up reminding myself, again, that I live very close to my pool (since we just moved last year), and I can walk or drive early in the morning, and go swim before the family gets up. Then, I just have to modify my own life, by sleeping earlier, so I can get my swim in. It isn't a big deal. :) Somehow, after the 50th reminder to yourself, and hearing from other moms, it really hits home finally. I have gotten into a routine of about 2 wks now, and that is something i can call a routine! So I think we are doing much better now (me & my mental health)!
Big Vanilla sounds like a really good options for you too. They taylor kids classes in their daycare so they fulfill that joyful activities you envision, and they have a pool with open swin. So if you time it right, you can have it all.
Good Luck!
Most gyms have childcare on site. I go to Gold's, which does not have a pool, but others do... Lifetime I've heard has everything, but you pay quite a bit for it as well. Gold's has a great kid's gym childcare area. My boys love going there - they play basketball, climb through the tubes, watch a movie, play with toys, even take a nap. I workout 4-5 times a week most weeks. Look into it, you'll certainly find a place you feel comfortable with.
Easy, you need to find a gym with a pool and child care! YMCAs usually have both, and the MAC in Timonium and the one downtown have it too.
A.,
The YMCA is always a good place to go. I'm thinking of signing up myself and my children for fun stuff to do. As far as a workout however, I get up early in the morning (I'm an early bird up at the crack of dawn). I get my Bible Study in and a workout of Yoga/Pilates. I also hate working out alone, so I go to a friends house and she and I work out together while our children play. She has 3 boys and a baby girl. Her boys play with my son while her baby sleeps and we workout. My daughter is in school at the time, so it's really easy. Something I had to do was sit down and look at where all my time was going and write out a schedule that works for the family. I need to do that again since summer is fast approaching and my children are getting older now and need a different schedule.
If you're in the Bowie area, look into SportFit. I think they have a location in Laurel too. They have a couple of pools and offer kid's membership in addition to babysitting. It seems to be a family-focused placed with a heavy emphasis on kids' fitness, not just keep'em-busy play. My husband is a member, and I'm going to join once my Curves membership expires.
A lot of gyms offer cheap babysitting. Both Result and Washington Sport have some locations that have babysitting -- Also Sports Club LA has babysitting. Call around to gyms that have pools -- generally it is really cheap (like under $5 per hour)
join the ymca they will watch your kids for 2 hours free each day. its 75 a mont i think but you can always fill out a form there to see if you can get a cheaper rate.
Hi A.,
Have you contacted your local YMCA?
Another resource is:
Good luck. D.
A. _ I am just like you (except it's running I crave) If I can get a 30 minute run in then I can handle anything!! Here is what I do. I "make an appointment" to run. If something comes up for that time, well, sorry, I've got an appointment to keep! It may sound silly, but it has worked for me. Sometimes friends have called to set up a playdate and I've had to ask to do it a different time because I didn't want to cancel my workout appointment. This has rarely caused me to not do fun things with my kids, I just work things in around my workout. I definitely have had to rely on my gym with the child center. Lifetime Fitness in Fairfax is awesome! I figure that I do soooooo much for my kids - they can handle going to the gym for an hour or two a couple times a week (and sometimes they actually say they have fun!) It isn't easy but it's worth it to get those workouts in. Good luck :)
K.
Hi A.,
I don't know if you have a pool available all hours or not or how early you can get into the pool but if I were you (if you have a father in the picture, or other "babysitter" in the home) I would go in the morning before the children wake up, while dad/babysitter is there. Then later in the day take a second trip to the pool or fun activity with the kids. I had the same problem about 3 years ago and started going for my work out at 5 a.m., then went off to work (job), and sometimes school, plus have 3 children to jungle in there...so I know exactly how you feel. I stopped going to the gym for about a year and a half because I moved and didn't get back into it, but now I am. I have been working out in the evenings which is interfering with dinner, kids, doctors appointments, and I can't seem to get into a routine again because of all this, so I am juggling the issue of going to the gym again in the mornings. Being a mom makes it hard to have time for yourself...but my suggestion is going in the morning while they are sleeping if possible, it works better for myself and it could work for you also. If you can't do it that way maybe talk to your kids and explain to them that it's YOUR turn to play (go for your workout) and you will do something with them next.
-A.
Hi A.- does your gym or pool have a daycare or program for little kids? My gym has a couple 1-hour or 30-min activities for young children that is perfect for when I need to get a workout in. The classes are cheap and it helps my daughter socialize with other kids for a short, manageable amount of time, and we're all in the same building together.
Or, you could do what my neighbor does- she hands her two sons to me three days a week from 8am until 10am while she gets a workout in, runs an errand or gets her haircut. it's a great give-and-take, as my daughter enjoys having them over for breakfast, and she reciprocates as needed.
Maybe you could put a schedule like that together- you say you work part-time, so on those days maybe a neighbor or family member could pick up the kids from daycare while you go for a swim and get back only an hour later than usual?
My solution was to get up at 5 a.m. and go swim at the Y while the rest of my family slept.
A.,
Have you tried the YMCA? They have a nursery/childcare set up that allows you up to 2 hours to work out while your children enjoy playtime with others thier own ages. That's what I used to do. Good luck!
K.
Depending on where you live, look into Sport & Health club at http://www.sportandhealth.com My family joined about 2 months ago and it was great. They have open swim every day with at least 2 lap lanes open at all time. The kids club is designed so 3 and under are in one room and all the older kids are in another. Then when they get to be 5 or so they can join other clubs like sports, dance, swim etc. The kid hours are from 9am to 8pm, so it works no matter what time you like to work out. I am very empathetic to just wanting to get a work out in. I have 3 little ones and often times my workout is the only thing that I get to do for myself! I enjoy working out there and the kids look forward to it also (which says a lot considering my 3 year old needs to be pried off my leg at times!). Good Luck.
The YMCA has a child watch program. They will watch your kids while you work out and then you could take them for a swim with you
Hi, A.:
I work full-time, have a part-time jewelry business and have two kids 4 and 12. I work out every day.
Every weekday morning I get up at 5:15 and hit the gym for an hour to an hour and a half while the kids and husband are sleeping. It is not easy getting up that early but, it is the only time of the day I have to myself and I treasure it. There is never a conflict with school, afterschool activities or anything else at that time of the morning. It also gets the day off to a great start because I feel energized!!
Hope this helps!
Why don't you check to see if they have local swim classes in the area for tots and little kids to teach them to swim or at least water safety. They would enjoy learning with you and later swimming with you.
Then with the proper floatation devices on them you could swim for a bit. For the littliest one perhaps you could swim while pushing him around in a floaty. perhaps taking turns with them both.
Lastly, grandma & grandpa might love to have time with them once a week.
Where do you live? The YMCA in Reston, VA, has a lovely pool, free swin hours, and child care. I am sure it isn't the only Y that has all these things, is there one near you? The fee is fairly reasonable, especially considering how important this is to you. Good luck!
Try the YMCA. They have babysitting while parents exercise. I believe you get 1 hr/day/child and it's free. That way you're all at the same place and the kids will have a good time playing while you're swimming.
I think the best way is to make the commitment and then get help from your family and friends to watch the kids so that you can get your time to work-out. I was always worried that I was taking time away from my kids but working out provides you great benefits for you as it makes you feel great and it gives you a mental boost. My gym also offers daycare too which is a great backup in case family and friends cannot help out. Good luck!
The issue here is creating different habits... positive ones. Your's is a common problem. No doubt about it... it's tough to make changes to your health. The key is to make an agreement with your body and reinforce it every day.
Read my blog for more information.
Easy One! The YMCA has an indoor pool and child care. They can play while you get your exercise!
Hi, A., Many gyms have babysitting available; any place like that near you? Or, try looking for a work-out partner...another mom was also wants to exercise; you two could swap babysitting time while the other gets a work-out in. Hope this helps. :) N. B.
Tell me about it! I just joined a gym next to my office yesterday so that I can work out on my lunch break. Fortunately they just started a discount through my company so it is affordable too. Maybe you can do something on your break if you have that option? What about putting the kids in a fitness related class the same time that you work out? Or maybe a class together?
A.,
My husband and I don't live near any family or friends. I joined a gym that provides daycare. It's really the only way.... and even this option is a tight squeeze. I work the early shift (6-2:30) so that I can meet my daughter at her bus stop after school. While she does her homework I start dinner (usually something that has to bake for about an hour). I pop whatever in the oven using the time delay and the timed bake features. My daughter and I head out to pick up my 4 yr old and 2yr old (who are at different daycares). The four of us hit the gym. My children love going to the gym They play in the playroom with the other kids while I get about 45 minutes to an hour in. We head home and dinner is basically ready. All I do is pop in those veggie steamer bags while we wash up and set the table. My husband, who goes in after putting my daughter on the bus and dropping off my boys, arrives just in time to eat. He bathes the kids while I wash the dishes and pack lunches for the next day. We all hang out for about 30 minutes. Then my husband heads off to the gym while I do the nighttime routine with the kids.
good luck!
K.
we just went and looked at a place called the big vanilla.
it is a gym with pools and a daycare and is very family orientated. pricy but hey what works for you
go to
failing that if you live near the ft meade area give me a call and maybe we can trade off cos i have the same problem as you.
The Columbia Association has "Kids Space" for kids 6 months to 3 years. Its really nice and the monthly fee is minimal around $15 I think and you can use it everyday for up to 2 hours a day. Its great then you can take them swimming afterwards.
Hi A. -
Try your local YMCA - ours (Reston) offers free childcare for up to 2 hours while you work out. They also have tons of activities for kids based on age group. It's pretty nice.
J.
