Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Moms, WWYD? re gym time... long, sorry.
So I have 2 dcs (6 and 2) and a family Y membership. 2 yo is not in school, I have childcare for work hours but it's part-time and very limited and we are (like everyone) on a budget so no extra $ for sitters for workout time. I also have a DH who works a lot of hours, including at least one evening a week, sometimes more.
I've been going to workout in the mornings with 2 yo in childcare. It's worked perfectly. This week was spring break and the age limit on the childcare meant that I could not take 6 yo. I was able to work out by a combination fo 1) leaving ds with dh at his office and taking dd to gym childcare, 2) taking both to the two hour window, 6:30-8:30 when they will watch 6 yo too, 3) going out without the kids during what would have been "family time" and 4) working out at home late at night (not a good workout but better than nothing).
Next week is back to normal, but I need to sort something out for the summer and next year. Basically, beginning June 10, I can only use the childcare 6:30-8:30, and I'm unlikely to use it in the summer because we usually all go swimming after dinner. In September, I could use the evening childcare but not the morning hours (dd starts preschool then and my work schedule changes).
So, if you have kids, do you think a 6:30-8:30 time works for them? I'm worried it pushes bedtime back too late for a kid whose school day starts at 7:45 am. I know it changes dinner etc, but I'm prepared to work around that. Would you take the kids to the gym 4 evenings a week?
My other two options are: going really early, while everyone else is still asleep. If I get to the gym when it opens, I can get in a 75 minute workout before I have to be home to get kids ready for school. Or, joining another, more expensive, facility with much better childcare hours (4-9, all ages, plus weekend hours).
Is there another obvious solution that I'm missing?
What would you do? What do you do with your kids to get exercise and gym time?
thanks for reading this far. and for any suggestions.
Re: Moms, WWYD? re gym time... long, sorry.
Thanks. After carefully checking out their website, it seems that 1) childcare is available to all users - members of any kind and guests, and 2) a single membership is the same price as our family Y membership. Since dh hasn't used the gym since October, and since I would not need a "family" membership to park the kids, the only price difference is the $150 buy-in fee I would need to pay to join as an individual. It's not looking so expensive now.
I would definitely do this. For my kids, the late evening gym time would not work. Maybe in a pinch here & there, but not our daily plan. As a backup to the other gym, I would get up before everyone else (which is what I try to do - get up at 5:00 & be done before the kids are awake).
Yes,I'm smiling...I'm a marathoner!
Bloggy McBloggerson
CO Nestie Award Winner-Prettiest Brain-Back to Back!
2011 Bests
5K-22:49 10K-47:38 Half Mary-1:51:50
2012 Race Report
1/1-New Year's 5K-22:11
2/11-Sweetheart Classic 4-mile-29:49
3/24-Coulee Chase 5K-21:40
5/6-Colorado Marathon-4:08:30
5/28-Bolder Boulder 10K
I would go really really early - I hate taking my kids to the gym w/ me. It stresses me out too much (honestly - I would rather not workout than go to the gym w/ 3 kids)!
Also, 630-830 is way to late for my kids - they are d-o-n-e at the end of the day and don't make it a minute beyond their 7pm bedtime most days. We were able to push it a bit occasionally last year, but now w/ the new baby we have to stick to her schedule or she is up all night (blech!).
Does the 2 y.o. still nap? If so, there is your exercise time on the weekends when your DH is home. If you can fit one or two other times in during the week, is that enough? I think if you make your time count, 3 or 4 75 minute workouts is pretty good.
I go at 5:30 am when they open. Even the 30 min run I can get is worth it to me. DH has to leave for work some days at 6:05. Other days I get a longer workout in and still get my 3 kids up and out the door by 7:30. It's doable.
If you can afford the higher gym membership and you like the gym daycare, that might be a better option for you. My 2 yr old has a fit in our Y daycare and they come get me, so I don't do that option for now. Does your husband not need to work out? I know you said he hasn't been, but if you think that's likely to change, the higher gym membership might not be a good fit.
Thanks, everyone. Weekend workouts are great but not guaranteed - Dh works a lot of hours. He's very supportive, but our schedule is just different than most people's so I can't count on certain opportunities.
I think I'm going to keep going with our current membership for another month or two, then cancel for the summer and join the nicer place in September. Dh doesn't like to exercise indoors so he's not likely to use or want a gym membership.
this was helpful. thanks, ladies!
I have 3 kids (9,7 and 2). The 6:30-8:30 time would not work for us. It's too late especially for the 2 year old. Also, my older kids would protest if I tried to take them 4 days a week. My oldest already doesn't like going and I only take her if I have no other options (maybe once every few months). They also like being outside and at the pool in the evenings. They'd give me a hard time if I tried to take them to the gym most evenings.
Of the options you've laid out, I would pick joining a gym with better childcare hours. Are there any near you with daytime hours?
My second choice would be going in the mornings before everyone is up. I do this occasionally. I'm not sure I'd be able to do this every day but every once in a while it's manageable.