Exercise every day

Bola17

Our summer resolution is to exercise every day. My kids and I - together! So besides having fun together, our health is benefitting. We started with ½ hour every day but now they think it´s so fun. Of course I´m not getting half my cleaning or other stuff done this summer. But we are enjoying ourselves and I find myself getting more exercise than I usually do. And the housework - it´s not going anywhere

Some of our fun things:

5K bike ride - we have timed it and are going for a better time every time!
Baseball, soccer and other fun "spurting" games. When we are only 3 we have to make our own rules. Like hit the ball and run out to a pylon and run back. Kids against mom - I don´t care if they win they´re running!!
Swimming
Hiking or walking - finding a route and doing it on time or just walking and talking. Sometimes we bring a lunch or fruit and water.
100´s - see http://pinterest.com/pin/75013150013303067/

Hope this inspires everyone!!

Kristy713ckm

We joined a local GYM in April 2011. We renewed our membership April 2012. My husband and I try to go 2X a week each. They don't have child care until 5 pm. And we can go around 2 or 3 pm when they're less busy. So our 11 year old USUALLY tags along once or twice a week. He's also "walked with me" to the library. And to relieve STRESS, he will sometimes walk around the block. He gets very frustrated with our 2 year old. I feel like I'm doing what I can to encourage healthy movement. But life is SO BUSY with doctor appointments, vet appointments, trying to make it to the gym and regular household & yard chores. Uuugh, the stress can seem umbearable. I don't think it's supposed to be that way. I feel guilty ....

Bola17

I know!! This is why we prioritised this as a summer project I have 4 kids, a husband, a dog (eats all the crumbs, so I don´t have to vacuum as often ;D except for dog hairs) ... am a manager at an afterschool daycare for kids 5-12 years of age and have just done a management degree beside working full time. And we live on a farm (no animals - but lots of garden). Living outside of town also means back and forth with the kids for all of their activities. I really need to plan everything to make sure we don´t have to drive back to town too many times a day. I sure notice a difference now that my kids kan do stuff with me. And I can get them to empty the dishwasher, put their clothes away and so forth!

But the time will come again for you. As soon as your 2 year old is a bit older.
And who makes you feel guilty? I just finished reading a book "Superwoman is a feeling" (a danish book) about how the more you try to live up to your own expectations, the more you stress your self. There were some great ideas about making lists and if you have a hard time with chores and stuff, about how to make a list 1-6 or 1-12 of the most important things. Then you write down how long each chore will take you (estimate). Is it realistic that you can do all of these things? If not - prioritise what you DO have time for or roll dice to choose which chore is to be done today. When you´re done it - back to the list.... It also becomes more fun if you´re trying to get your kids to help!

Kristy713ckm

Thanks for sharing. It's nice to hear other people's lives are "busy" too! My 11 year old unloaded the dishwasher last night and did a great job cleaning up toys, dishes & other stuff in the house, before he & dad went to bed. He's not as consistent as I'd hope, but HE does help more and more!

I know I feel guilty because of the standards I have for our home, but I feel they're so low. Two dogs with hair, a 2 year old who's into everything, blankets thrown everywhere, dishes left out... drives me CRAZY!

Uuugghh, but I'm working on enjoying my family and not obsessing about the house! Working on it !!!!

Hoping to make it to the GYM this afternoon. Hope my 11 year old goes with me, with a good attitude. It'll be good for BOTH of us !!! : )

Bola17

Almost sounds like you just visited my house! Dishes on the counter as no one bothered to put them in the dish washer even though it is emptied...lucky we´re down to only one dog these days (used to have 3!). And whatever anyone uses - they leave it right there and not back where they found it in the first place

I get so sick of being the "meanie" who says "everything laying on this table get thrown out at noon!". That´s why I read the book.... I´m really, really trying to get a system going to get ALL of the people in my household to take responsibiliy for their own things and their own messes!! We have set tv time for the summer and are redoing our livingroom. I hope to get some small organisers so gradually we get organised so everything has a place and the person who uses it - puts it back. But I know this rutine will take a while to get implied!

Tiggertails1975

we all have busy lives it comes with having children lol... It is too bad you feel like a meanie for asking your children to help out. you might want to give this a try, this is what i had to do in my house. to get the ball rolling... i rarely ever have to ask my son to pick up after himself now. If I find his stuff laying around in the house, I put it in a basket and he has to do something for me to earn it back since i had to do something for him by cleaning up after him. he knows this is not applicable if he is using it but when hes done he sure doesn't leave things laying around anymore. when it comes to dishes, I keep it the dishwasher cleared out and he puts the stuff he uses into it. If he doesn't that means I don't have to cook or clean until the kitchen is back to how i had it. I told him that i love taking care of my family but I do not like being taken advantage of. here is the analogy i gave him.... If he was to go to school and turn in his homework, and the teacher was to hand it back to him with out a grade and say " oo im soo sorry but its is blank. and you look at it and sure enough your teacher had erased all your answers and you had to go back and do it all over again.... how would you feel when this went on every day, you were never able to move past cause you never got done with that paper....... of course my son said that he would have used ink if his teacher was that much of a butt. so i asked him if that meant i should supper glue everything in the house into place. ... when my son realized how he would feel he rarely ever takes advantage of me anymore. and sometimes he even gives me time off and does my chores for me... anyways if it is useful to you please use it if not don't lol.

Kristy713ckm

Love the input Tiggertails. Now - to be consistent! Those are excellent ideas!