parenting & exercising question

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bynsky
bynsky Posts: 15,836 Member
in Chit-Chat
After a disagreement with my eternally pessimistic husband this AM, I have a question for any parents out there who leave the house to exercise...

Do you ever leave your children at home alone just to go exercise? If so, are they sleeping at the time and how old are they?

I know single parents out there may have the best answers for me, and I'm just curious what people's replies are.
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Replies

  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
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    How old are the kids?
  • vtmoon
    vtmoon Posts: 3,436 Member
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    Depends on age, how many, and where you live.
  • soullightprisms
    soullightprisms Posts: 42
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    My kids are 9 and 11. My 11 year old has special needs. No way that I would leave either one of them alone.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
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    We live in the city across the street from the retired chief of police and my kids are 3 months, 5 and 7. No way am I leaving them home alone (even if it wasn't for the baby).
  • PolkaDot_Princess
    PolkaDot_Princess Posts: 314 Member
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    well i have a two year old so no. With my 11 year old stepson i might, but never have. My gym has a play place for the kiddies so i have no excuse, except that they seem to get sick every time i bring them there, but that's another story....
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,229 Member
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    I leave my kids home alone all the time. But I'm a single mom and my kids are older than yours (10 & 14).

    But, for exercise, I generally walk around the neighborhood for exercise, or I walk on my breaks at work, and I keep weights at home. So I don't know if I really have a good answer to your question. But there are ways to work around any situation, I know that much.
  • pawnstarNate
    pawnstarNate Posts: 1,728 Member
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    15 yr old step son.....yes
    11 yr old step daughter.....yes (she's actually more mature than the 15 yr old)
    7 yr old daughter....no (she goes with me to the gym if mom isn't home and actually enjoys it...walks the indoor track while I workout)
  • miss_jessiejane
    miss_jessiejane Posts: 2,820 Member
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    If they were old enough to drive, yes. Otherwise, no.
  • _crafty_
    _crafty_ Posts: 1,682 Member
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    My daughter is 8. If I want to run (in our neighborhood) I will leave her alone in the home. Doors locked. Big dog on watch. She knows not to answer the door or go outside until I come back.

    I have on occasion gone for a run early in the morning before she wakes up. Same scenario as above but I leave her a note so she knows where I am.

    Other than that, I exercise when she's with her dad or she goes to the gym with me.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,868 Member
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    It would largely depend on the age of the kids. I'm obviously not leavng a 1 y.o. and a 3 y.o. home alone, even for 30 minutes to go exercise. Currently, my wife and I take turns...for example, she'll run on Mon AM while I get the kids breakfast and ready for day-care...Tuesday evenings she takes the kids for dinner, etc while I go to my Cyclocross training...then she get's Wednesday either morning or evening to jog while I again watch the kids...I get Thursday morning if I wish to go for a run, but often opt for a lunch time job. We lift on Thursday evenings and the gym has a drop off child care facility so we take advantage of that. Friday is usually a rest day and we lift again on Saturday morning, again taking advantage of the drop in child care. Sunday is generally just family recreation...family bike ride, go to the pool, etc.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,220 Member
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    Depends on the age and your state laws (as well as the maturity of the kids). Some states don't have laws and some do.

    Mine are 4 and 5. I may step outside on the back patio to jump rope, but if I'm leaving the immediate surrounding of the house I hire a sitter (single parent). When I do go outside my kids are usually in bed and I leave the door open or if they are awake they join me. We often do things as a family.
  • KeriW626
    KeriW626 Posts: 430
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    Having worked for CPS. If the children are old enough to fend for themselves. Know what to do in case of an emergency. There isnt a reason you cant leave them home alone to go work out. Although many places offer child care.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
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    Ok... I will confess. I have left my 9 and 7 year old sleeping while I went for a run around the neighborhood. Please don't call CPS on me, I promise they are perfectly capable of opening their window and escaping to the neighbors should there be a fire/ break in/ etc...

    My 2 year old, however, I always take with me.

    I wouldn't leave them to go to the gym. That's too far/ long. However, I'm a single mom of 3... and it's possible to schedule your workouts around them. I promise. I've only done it twice. And we have a very busy schedule! Work it in!
  • LePetitCochon
    LePetitCochon Posts: 284
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    My daughter is going on 4, no. I won't even go to the store a few blocks away when she's asleep if I need something for a cake or whatever I may be doing. If my husband is home, well duh, of course. But not if it's just her and me....not that I haven't thought about it! lol
  • sheenarama
    sheenarama Posts: 733 Member
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    Wow... I would never. I take my kids running with me. If they're young, in a stroller. Or they can ride their scooters as I run. There's lots of dangers in the house. And curious/undeveloped minds.
  • georgina1970
    georgina1970 Posts: 333 Member
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    No.
    I have a 10 and 11 year old.
    I collected various pieces of basic gym equipment and workout at home. No reason why the kids can't go walking with you either. If they can't keep up, put them n the pushchair and you'll be doing your weight/resistance training at the same time :-)
  • swissbrit
    swissbrit Posts: 201
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    My daughters are now 17 and 23 But not once did I ever leave them on their own in the house until they were 14 there was always someone there if I couldn't be. I am not a mother that smothers her kids they spent lots of time outsde and at friends houses had to bike miles to schools in all weather, but I could never have forgiven myself if someone had broken in while I was out or there had been a fire or just a stupid accident etc.
  • GaJavaGirl
    GaJavaGirl Posts: 25
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    It would depend on the age and maturity of the children. For me, I am able to leave my children at home when I go to the gym and when I go for a run in the neighborhood. I use the Road ID app when I'm running in the neighborhood and my younger child can watch my progress on the computer. Good luck. I know it's a difficult decision to make.

    (FYI -- I HIGHLY suggest that app for anyone who runs/bikes/hikes, etc. -- you can email/text someone your route info and give a time limit for your outing. It sends an alert if you are stationary for 5 mins and they can also watch your progress online.)
  • staceycanada
    staceycanada Posts: 54
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    My older children (13, 20 and 23 yes). My 5 yr old no.
    I put her in the jogging trailer and walk/run with her or attach it to a bike and pull her.
    If she is sleeping and no one else is around to watch her I do a workout video.
  • Naomi0504
    Naomi0504 Posts: 964 Member
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    If I go to the gym, I leave mine at home. They're 16, 6, 4, and 2. And if my 16 y/o isn't home, I wait til the younger ones are asleep and I leave them with my husband to "watch".

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