juggling. it. all

My mom said something to me when I had my son and was going through that "new mommy meltdown" we all know and love. She said "If you don't take care of yourself, how can you properly take care of anyone else?"

That really resonated with me, especially recently. I'm crazy-busy too. Full time job, 2 1/2 hours a day communitng, my husband plays softball competitively 3-4 days/week and I am trying to buy a house right now to boot!

I agree with a lot of the other posts - if YOU make it important, it will be. I've recently invested in a jogging stroller with off-road capabilites. There will be no more "oh, sorry. I can't go for a jog/walk/hike because I don't have a sitter" I'm going, darn it!

And as far as meals go, I menu plan on Sundays. I sit down with my Cooking Light magazine and decide what we're having for the week. They have a great section for weeknight/fast cooking that takes 20-30 minutes and it's on the table. I tend to cook a lot of those

It gives me some peace of mind to know that I'm giving my son proper nutrition and teaching him how to live a healthy, active lifestyle. He has become my motivation and inspiration. I hope he doesn't remember having a chunky mom, and I never want to say to him "Do as I say, not as I do."

Sorry for the long post, I think it may have helped me more to write it out than anyone will benefit from reading it.

I work full time Mon-Fri and have a 4 1/2 yr old daughter. On Mon and Wed, she goes to karate and once I'm confident she can participate in Karate without goofing off, I will be able to do a workout they offer at her Karate place while she's in her class. I also have the Xbox Kinect and my daughter and I will do Just Dance for about 30 min a few times during the week. This helps get me get a workout in and also bond with my daughter. Sometimes we take our dog for a walk when the sun is setting so it's not too hot. When the weather is nicer, we will play outside more either chasing each other, kicking a ball back and forth, just something to get us moving. As for dinner, I'll make something simple that doesn't take too long, or I'll make a big pan of lasagna which will last a few days. I plan on larger dinners over the weekend when I have more time to cook. My daughter also helps me with cleaning the house and laundry, although she's not perfect at cleaning, she still tries and does a decent job.

One of the girls I work with is a single parent with 3 boys. Almost every day Mon-Fri, she takes them to football practice and while they're practicing, she's running around the track.

If you are truely ready to workout and excersise, you will find a way to incorporate some type of excersise during your schedule...even if it means waking up earlier or waiting until the kids are asleep.

I guess us busy single dads don't much matter...

If you don't have positive input why did you respond?

Get up before they do.
Plan what your meals are going to be in advance (prep too if you can)
Crockpot rocks!
Dont beat yourself up. It is what it is, do your best and you will get where you want to go!

I have 5 kids too and all I can tell you is delegate, delegate, delegate. When they were younger we did a ten minute cleanup each night. Didn't matter what they chose to clean...as long as they were busy the full 10 min. You'd be amazed at how much can be done in that time. You can apply it to anything, whether it's making their lunches for the next day, getting laundry folded, etc. The idea of getting some exercise in while your kids are at practice is good as well.

i really have no ideas, but i sure wish u the very best

Do you have a crock pot?

Easy to make ahead meals in those!

I have to admit that I didn't read all the responses - so I'm sorry if I repeat something. First of all, it is hard. I have three kids and work full time. However, I found that keeping me healthy kept my family happier and healthier. Mommy is a nasty crab when she feels bad about herself! You have to invest in yourself in order to give so much.

As for meals, can you pull out the ol' crock pot? That way everyone can eat at their own time, but there's a hot healthy meal waiting at home. I picked up a Fix and Forget It Light cookbook last year, you can visit pinterest or even the food section of mfp for ideas.

What about when you do have time to cook, making enough for two casseroles and putting one in the freezer? If I have time on the weekends, I try to do this so I have something that just needs to be thrown in the oven. That being said, they sometimes take a while to cook...maybe try burritos or something on that order that can be warmed up individually and the kids can eat on the way to/from practice. Do the kids like picnics? We've been known to have a picnic before or after one of the kids' games or practices - and you can make pbjs with the light bread, apples, yogurt, cheese...a pretty healthy meal compared to fast food.

As for working out - I get up incredibly early to workout. I'm up by 5 to get to the gym. It's the only time I feel like I'm not missing out on my family and can focus on me. And I figure maybe my brain will still think I'm in bed and won't complain as much! I would highly suggest something that keeps you accountable, though. I joined a bootcamp group and they will check in with me if I miss a day. I also realized how much I love Zumba and became certifiied to teach it. Having a class every week keeps me accountable to working out and learning new songs.

you just gotta make it fit I guess. I dont have kids, but I am a college student, girlfriend, puppy mom, and I work 30 hours a week. Everyone has their own challenges in life and things that get in the way.

i didnt read the responses, but heres what my two cents are:

A common suggestion especially pertaining to dinner and meals in general is having a day (maybe sunday) where you just COOK. make casseroles, pre-chop for dinners, portion out snacks, pack lunches, plan meals, etc. Whatever works for your family and schedule. On practice days, you will already have a casserole that you throw in the oven until hot, or a meal where everything is chopped and prepared and ready to cook so it doesnt take as long. Yeah, it will take up a considerable amount of weekend time, but it might really help. Someone else suggested the crock pot, same idea.

For working out, you could just get up earlier. If you are like me, and cant wake up earlier for anything, fitting it in somewhere during the day will be harder but if it is truly a priority you can find a way. Maybe while you child is at practice (lets say football) Take a walk for a while around the practice feilds, or whatever. Even just walking is good excersise. Or if you get a lunch break at work for about an hour, take a walk around or hit the gym then if it is possible. I have done this before and just eaten my lunch at my desk (that I packed) and gone to the gym for like 40 minutes with room for traveling.


I wish you luck. It is really hard to find time and motivation to be healthy especially with so much on your plate, so to speak.

how do busy moms find the time to workout? Seriously...between running all the kids (5) to sports, dance, cheer, homework, IEP meetings (2 of my boys have ASD), doctors appointments, throw in a full time job, part time business, and then household duties...I literally don't have time in the day. Also, I struggle with having time to prepare meals...practices are always hitting at dinner times, so it's too easy to go to a drive thru. What are some ideas out there with these obstacles??

My life got a lot easier last year when my oldest got her drivers license. My husband travels a lot and is gone 3-5 days a week, having a second driver with a car around really made a difference in my after work schedule. There are still times when I'm running kids all over the place and fast food happens. It is possible to eat with in your calorie limits while getting drive-thru food. McDonald's actually has all their calorie information on all their packaging now, at least here they do. Most fast food places have a salad option, and if you skip the dressing that is super low calorie, usually. I always look up what I'm going to eat on my phone app. before I order it just so I don't have any surprises.

I have more to say, but kids just walked in so I'll be back later.

I guess us busy single dads don't much matter...

Nope, not at all.

I understand where you are coming from. Most of my days begin at 4:30 a.m. and don't end until about 11:00. I have a full time job, a special needs child, 2 teenage boys in the house who both play high school football, and a terminally ill husband. When my son was playing youth ball, I would walk the track around his practice field while pushing the youngest in the stroller or pulling him in the wagon. Now life is more hectic than it was then. I try to squeeze a work out in during my lunch hour or if I can not I might just turn some music on in the house and dance with my little man while the 2 oldest are at football practice or at their friends. It's hard I know. I went for months without exercising and I feel miserable. I am committing myself now, to try and get at least 3 workouts a week in even if they are each just a half hour. Even if I only burn 100 calories, at least I burned calories. Getting up earlier is NOT an option for me. A side effect of our youngest's problems in a sleep disorder, so some nights I might be up with him for hours. Just keep trying to budget your time and I will too!!

As far as food goes, we keep it simple at our house. Sometimes we have sandwich night. Sometimes we fix a simple breakfast casserole for dinner and take care of other household chores while it bakes. Find things you can prep on the weekends to have ready for the week. Do you have a crock pot? Lots of low cal crock pot recipes out there. Also with cooler weather around the corner, we will be having soups and chili that will feed us for a couple of days.

Congrats to you on 16 years! So fantastic. I feel bad for all the people who say that it's "not necessary to have 5 kids" ... they have obviously not experienced the absolute JOY (albeit frustration, chaos, hair-pulling, etc) that these kids bring to our lives! It's easy for someone with no kids to tell you that you need to "just do it" and "make yourself a priority" ... in actuality they don't know what it's like to run FIVE OTHER LIVES. I only have two kids and yes, I say that it's important to make time for myself, but I do NOT do it at the expense of my husband or kids. I try to make the time when I can, don't "set" a time for my workouts, and just fit it in each day when I realize there's an "opening" for a workout! If it means you have to get up a little earlier (if that's even feasible) than maybe that's what you have to do. If it means jogging/walking/running around a field while one of your kids is at a practice, do that! If it means creating a 'workout' at the playground while your kids are playing... do THAT! If you have to work out after dinner even though people "say" you shouldn't do it after eating... DO it. ANYTHING is better than nothing. Don't let anyone tell you differently - CONGRATS to you for having a beautiful family, that is what TRULY matters.

thanks for this! My husband is the hardest working man I know. WE have been together 16 years and to answer other posters questions, yes he is the father of all 5 of my children. He works nights, sometimes up to 14 hour shifts, I work days. We wave hello/goodbye to each other on the highway. He does what he can with the hour or so he has after he has gotten home and taken a nap for a few hours, maybe 4-5, before going back to work. I don't see him until about noon on Saturday. Some people have no idea what they have.

Try getting up a bit earlier. Once you are use to it you'll wake up before the alarm. Pack lunches and dinners in the morning. It might get boring but everyone will survive. You aren't expected to be a chef too. Routine, routine, routine! Have the kids help out! They can get themselves and meals packed and ready. Water bottles filled. You can do it.