Help! Exhausted mom here.

As a working dad... I get up at 5am and excercise in the morning Off to work by 6:45am. Go to bed between 9-10PM.

I won't pretent to be an authority, but as a working mom of two, I empathize! I find mornings before kids get up is the best time. It wakes me up and gives me the energy to face the day. It is the one time of the day I am still "on schedule"...workouts later in the day always seem to get bumped for something. And the biggie was I had the least guilt about being away from babies because all they were doing was sleeping. I know you're tired, but think of your workout as the one thing you do just for you, as a "break" from momming, a headclearer, if you will. For me and it s became somthing I *wanted* to do and looked forward to! I had been told if going on less than 6 hours sleep (up with babies, etc), then skip the workout and catch the zzz's. Go to bed early!

P.S. At the risk of sounding like a goody-goody, I'll add that as my kids are older and more self-sufficient, I'm not as dedicated to the routine, so feel free to return the peptalk to get me going...

Melody, I can 100% relate. I had to go back to work when my son was 6 weeks old. At first we had grandparents watch him and then a friend. But now he's in daycare (which is much more reliable) But the guilt you feel is COMPLETELY normal! And you will miss him a lot! Mine is 15 months and talking and (almost) walking, and learning new things daily! I miss him SO MUCH! But this is what we need to do right now financially. I have to think of it as me making an investment in our family's future.

As far as working out goes. I do get up at 6am (5:30 if its raining cuz i drive to the gym) and power walk for 30 minutes. It's not a lot but at least it's something. Then I get home, and if my boy isn't awake and eating yet (thanks to daddy) then I get him up and going. While he eats, I shower. Then we play for like 10 minutes. and he goes down for a "nap" (playing in his bed until it's time to go to 'school') while I get ready.

Honestly best thing is to communicate to your husband that exercise is important to you, but it's difficult for you to juggle so much. If he could help you in the morning so that you can get your work out in for the day, it would really make it easier!!

I work at home doing child care but it feels impossible to work out during the week until just recently when my hubby's job schedule changed some. I couldn't wake up at 5 a.m. or so for a long time because any noise in the house woke my son up and then he'd be up for the day and very, very grouchy. We tried day after day - it just didn't work! And then he finally started to sleep better and hubby's schedule changed to where he had to leave for work at 5 - ugh! So, I was back to square 1. I work typically 8-5 and between 6-8 I have to get my daughter up and drive carpool to her middle school. At 5 my family is starving for both food and attention and between 5-9 it's dinner, chores, kids' homework and baths. It feels impossible! Ideally I'd work out at 9 - but c'mon - by that point I'm exhausted and I'm in bed no later then 10 to do it all over again the next day.

So, my helpful tip: just do what you can. Have a little break where the baby is playing on the floor? Lay down there and do a few crunches. A nap on the weekend? Do some jumping jacks. Every little thing you can do - walk with the baby even if it's just up and down your hall way (I don't know where you live but here it's too cold to take a baby out for a walk until about May lol). With my babysitting kids I find really creative ways - dancing with them, even just swaying to music. I know I can't log this intense workout that will impress anyone but I know I've moved as much as I could!!

And remember that as they get older it goes get easier. My son is almost 4 now and will play wii fit with me...it's still no ideal as he wants 3 turns to my 1 and it takes us like 3 hours for me to get 20 minutes in lol but it's a start! Also now that he's 4 on the weekends I can bundle him up and walk with him in the sled.

Creativity and patience And be kind to yourself right now, you are going through a huge adjustment in your family - just do the best you can and remember you can't do it all!

I do 8 PM WALKS with a refective vest it feels good just to get out. Buy then the kids are sleeping or at least in bed and dad can help out. plus thats the worst time for my over eating so insted of eating and watching tv and eating am burning calories.
and i have 2month old 2.5 and 5 year old so i feel your pain. you can do it and work to!!!!

Maybe your husband can take him to your Mom's and you pick him up or v/v - that way, you could use that extra time to work out. I get up at 4:50a.m. to walk and run my dog w/a friend, I'm home at 6am then on the days I work, my husband takes the kids and I try to hit the gym at lunch. I pick them up from daycare while he's working out. On my 2 days off/week, I hit the gym for an hour after running my dog and before he leaves for work at 7:20am. When he travels, sometimes I just don't get to work out. If you can take an hour or hour & 15 min lunch break, you could hit a local gym, go for a run or a powerwalk and take a quick shower w/o washing your hair. Or just wash up somehow :>) And some un-asked-for advice - you gotta get over the guilt. Your kid is in good hands all day and you will be a better mom if you always take a few minutes a day for yourself. Good luck!