How do other working mom's do it...find time?
Replies
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Hubby can make his own lunch prior the night before. That half hour is enough for exercise and you could extend it as well since from 5:30 to 7:00 is a an hour and a half.My daily schedule(M-F)
4:30 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. Feed baby
5:00 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. Get hubby's lunch ready(heat up,coffee,etc.)
5:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. Shower, get last min. things ready(try to do the day before), get dressed, etc.
7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - Drop kids off with sitter
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - While I'm at work, I try to do lil walks. I walk up/down stairs for 10 mins. during lunch break, or take a walk....only got 30 mins. I can't always be away from my desk, so I wait til lunch.
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Pick up kids
5:50 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. - Swimming lessons - will finish soon
6:50 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Head home
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Cook, eat, bath lil one, clean, etc.
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Put kids to sleep
9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Try to get last min. stuff ready for next day
10:00 p.m. - 4:30 a.m. - Try to get some sleep
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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My DD did too. Started at 3 months and will be 11 this month. She LOVES going to the gym because she gets to interact with others and do some kid fitness daily.my kids grew up in a gym. great environment to live grow learn be healthy
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Let me start off by saying..........I wish I was off for the summer............YOU'RE SO LUCKY!
You stay pretty busy as well. I need to come up with a routine that works with our schedules.
Have a great summer!DawnieB1977 wrote: »I've got a 6 year old, 4 year old and 13 month old. I've been back at work since April and I'm finding it much harder now. We can take a year for maternity leave in England, which is great. My husband does shift work so it was easy to fit my gym sessions round that while I wasn't at work.
I work 3 days a week. I get to work before 8, and on a Mon I leave around 3:30 (I'm a teacher) but Tues and Wed we have meetings after work so I'm stuck there until 5. On my husband's early shift week it's fine as he collects our eldest from school, and I collect our daughters from nursery after work, then I can exercise later on. I usually do a circuits class at 7:30pm on a Wed. On my days off it's no problem as I wait until hubby is home, or I use the gym crèche.
When hubby is on late shift I usually do a PT session at my gym on a Mon at 4pm. It's a rush though as I rush from work, then after PT I collect my son from after school club, then go to nursery for my daughters. Then when we're home I have to get dinner, bath them, do bedtime etc. Tues and Wed I can't exercise at all as I have to collect my kids by 6pm. Thurs and Fri are my days off so I exercise in the mornings.
The hardest thing is my eating. While I was on maternity leave it was so easy, but if I'm not home until 5:45pm and I'm on my own with 3 kids I don't have much time, so I usually resort to quick cook pasta or even ready meals, which I used to hate. I also have to try to remember to prepare something healthy for work the next day.
We finish for the Summer holidays on July 22nd and I can't wait
. This is when I love being a teacher lol.
Yes, I am lucky, but teaching is a crazy, stressful job, teaching teenagers with attitude, the planning, the marking, the paperwork, dealing with parents etc. believe me, I need this Summer off
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I commute to work by bike and go for jogs during my lunch break. During the weekend, I commute by bike only with kids in the bike trailer. I pop in short workout videos (20-30 minutes max) when all else fails and do it right when I'm back from work before dinner.0
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My daily schedule(M-F)
4:30 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. Feed baby
5:00 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. Get hubby's lunch ready(heat up,coffee,etc.)
5:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. Shower, get last min. things ready(try to do the day before), get dressed, etc.
7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - Drop kids off with sitter
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - While I'm at work, I try to do lil walks. I walk up/down stairs for 10 mins. during lunch break, or take a walk....only got 30 mins. I can't always be away from my desk, so I wait til lunch.
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Pick up kids
5:50 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. - Swimming lessons - will finish soon
6:50 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Head home
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Cook, eat, bath lil one, clean, etc.
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Put kids to sleep
9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Try to get last min. stuff ready for next day
10:00 p.m. - 4:30 a.m. - Try to get some sleep
I'm not seeing where you husband is helping that much. I generally have all the morning duties so she can get to work early and take a long lunch to work out. She does most of the evenings duties so I can do something after work. We cook dinner on the weekends and reheat during the week.
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I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and work full time with a killer commute. Like a lot of the other moms, I exercise at work. But we have an onsite gym. The days that I can't get exercise at work I ask my husband to deal with bedtimes or I go right after the kids go to bed, which is usually around 9pm. Then I get my shower at night. Makes my morning run so much smoother.
Don't be afraid to ask your hubby for help. It never occurred to me after my 2nd that things would be exponentially harder. Things I handled fairly easily like lunch packing and meal preparation became sheer time consuming drudgery. I needed an assist and he was more than capable. Sometimes we don't give our men enough credit. They are stronger than we think they are.
You can also save a ton of time and screaming by ordering things online. Seriously, I order my groceries online and have them delivered. It runs me about $20 for that but that is an hour I get back that I can spend in the gym. I dont take kids to stores unless we have an immediate need.
For meals, the crockpot is your friend. Check out www.skinnytaste.com. I love her crockpot recipes and if they require the addition of a homemade sauce, I make that at night so I can just dump it in with the meat in the morning (or tell hubby to do so). Grilling is also a very fast meal prep method, leaves few dishes, and tends to be pretty healthy.
Feel free to add me. Most of my friends on here are moms too. We all have the same struggle.0 -
I don't put him to help out as much, but he does from time to time. Guess, I better have him help out more.
Thank you!My wife and I trade off mornings and nights. She gets up at 4 to do TRX and goes to work from 7-3:30. I have the morning routine with the kids and work 8-5, then I workout after and get home around 7-8. She picks up the kids after work and we take care of business (swimming, gymnastics, etc.), then we team up getting them ready for bed.
Our kids are 7, 5, and 1. The older kids are now taking care of themselves for the most part (we trust but verify) and have chores to help out. We just increased responsibilities for the older kids and have them helping out more every month. You have a 9 year old - how are they helping out?
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Exactly, Chelsy.........I have help and its hard..........Believe me, I'm determined, so I will get it! I'm starting off slow, and will eventually get it together.chelsy0587 wrote: »I'm fortunate that my gym does have daycare service and I feel okay leaving my son there for an hour or so, but his dad is always there for us so I tend to drop him with his dad after work so I can get my workout in then hustle home and cook, eat, clean up, bath and bedtime... its hard. I have help and its hard...
It took a few months for me, I felt really guilty spending an hour every day on myself. After I started feeling my weight loss, and found classes that I enjoy it was more fun. I didn't spend the whole hour thinking about my child and how I wasn't with him... I started thinking about what MORE I'll be able to do with him now that I am happier and more healthy.
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Capt_Apollo.........great, great, ideas......Lovem'
Thank you, Sir!Capt_Apollo wrote: »set up the coffee at night, so that way in the morning all you have to do is press a button, and even less if you have an automatic coffee pot.
do a lot of bulk cooking and preparing. throw in 2-3 lbs of chicken breast and some seasoning and you have shredded chicken for multiple meals. i tend to cook in bulk a lot and every so often we can go a week without actually having to cook a meal.
same can be done with breakfasts and lunches. there are ways to save yourself time. and if you can find ways to save yourself some time in the morning, you can have that time from 5am to 730am to get your workout in.
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Men love to be the hero, so set this up for success. Give him a situation he can complete and problem solve, but as in all cases - you can either ask that something gets done, or you can decide how it gets done - you don't get to do both.I don't put him to help out as much, but he does from time to time. Guess, I better have him help out more.
Thank you!My wife and I trade off mornings and nights. She gets up at 4 to do TRX and goes to work from 7-3:30. I have the morning routine with the kids and work 8-5, then I workout after and get home around 7-8. She picks up the kids after work and we take care of business (swimming, gymnastics, etc.), then we team up getting them ready for bed.
Our kids are 7, 5, and 1. The older kids are now taking care of themselves for the most part (we trust but verify) and have chores to help out. We just increased responsibilities for the older kids and have them helping out more every month. You have a 9 year old - how are they helping out?
Best of luck to you!
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Yes, I really need to work out early to knock it out.........with her waking up at 1, 3 and then 4:30 for her feeding.........I want my sleep.
Turn it around girl, turn it around...........Is what I gotta tell myself.Its tough, but I just have to workout before work. 5am comes early, but once its over I feel so much better physically and mentally. Just remember weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. Focus on sticking to your calorie daily goals and you will still lose even if you cant get a workout in every day.
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Men love to be the hero, so set this up for success. Give him a situation he can complete and problem solve, but as in all cases - you can either ask that something gets done, or you can decide how it gets done - you don't get to do both.I don't put him to help out as much, but he does from time to time. Guess, I better have him help out more.
Thank you!My wife and I trade off mornings and nights. She gets up at 4 to do TRX and goes to work from 7-3:30. I have the morning routine with the kids and work 8-5, then I workout after and get home around 7-8. She picks up the kids after work and we take care of business (swimming, gymnastics, etc.), then we team up getting them ready for bed.
Our kids are 7, 5, and 1. The older kids are now taking care of themselves for the most part (we trust but verify) and have chores to help out. We just increased responsibilities for the older kids and have them helping out more every month. You have a 9 year old - how are they helping out?
Best of luck to you!
POWERFUL............THANK YOU and best to you as well!
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I'm a single dad to a 5 year old, and I have him 90% of the time. I just understand there really are enough hours in the day to train hard, and eat healthy. If it takes an hour to work out, that is just one hour I can take away from browsing the internet, or watching Netflix.0
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Its not easy- working single mom with three kids here! But I had to realize you make time for what you want. Squeeze it in wherever you can! You can do it!0
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I am assuming you are just watching at the swim lessons. I know when my sons were little league age. I always took walks around the park while they practiced. Our sons are 16 months apart and the only way it can be done is a husband that does it all right along side of you. My motto from the start was "I didn't get pregnant myself, marry myself or buy a house myself...I sure am not taking care of any of them myself!" haha.
Empower non-traditional roles and your sweet little family will flourish and you will both be better parents and spouses for it! Good Luck!
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My daily schedule(M-F)
4:30 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. Feed baby
5:00 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. Get hubby's lunch ready(heat up,coffee,etc.)
5:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. Shower, get last min. things ready(try to do the day before), get dressed, etc.
7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - Drop kids off with sitter
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - While I'm at work, I try to do lil walks. I walk up/down stairs for 10 mins. during lunch break, or take a walk....only got 30 mins. I can't always be away from my desk, so I wait til lunch.
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Pick up kids
5:50 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. - Swimming lessons - will finish soon
6:50 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Head home
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Cook, eat, bath lil one, clean, etc.
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Put kids to sleep
9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Try to get last min. stuff ready for next day
10:00 p.m. - 4:30 a.m. - Try to get some sleep
I'm not seeing where you husband is helping that much. I generally have all the morning duties so she can get to work early and take a long lunch to work out. She does most of the evenings duties so I can do something after work. We cook dinner on the weekends and reheat during the week.
Believe me, he helps.......Even with his help, it's hard.
My schedule is going to change after this week, since it is my son's last week of swimming lessons, until he starts up again in a few weeks...........looking forward to start exercising.
Planning, planning, planning, preparation, preparation, preparation...........I NEED TO DO!
Thanks!
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jajomo0118 wrote: »I am assuming you are just watching at the swim lessons. I know when my sons were little league age. I always took walks around the park while they practiced. Our sons are 16 months apart and the only way it can be done is a husband that does it all right along side of you. My motto from the start was "I didn't get pregnant myself, marry myself or buy a house myself...I sure am not taking care of any of them myself!" haha.
Empower non-traditional roles and your sweet little family will flourish and you will both be better parents and spouses for it! Good Luck!
Yes, I mentioned that in someone's post...........I guess I can walk around pool when he is at lessons.
Love your motto.......Thank you so, so, much!
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Hi! I have a 7 month old and work Mon-Fri 7:30-4:30 so I feel your pain. However, there are a lot of ways you can exercise WITH your baby. Go on YouTube/ Google and look up Mommy and baby workout videos. There are a ton of different exercises you can do. Your baby will love it too. Hope this helps! 0
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Hello, my name is Jess. I'm looking for other working mom's so we can motivate each other. I'm struggling over here and I really want to lose around 15 lbs. by Sept./Oct. I have a 9 year old and a 5 month old. My husband helps out a lot at home, and I still find myself struggling to find time to exercise. MOM'S LET HELP EACH OTHER OUT!
I am a working mom with a 4yr old and a 6month old, and a 8-5 job, i find it easier if i get up at 5am to workout, when the kids are sleeping and it gives me a lot of energy for the day. try exercise in the living room every in the morning youtube videos, dvds
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enterdanger wrote: »I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and work full time with a killer commute. Like a lot of the other moms, I exercise at work. But we have an onsite gym. The days that I can't get exercise at work I ask my husband to deal with bedtimes or I go right after the kids go to bed, which is usually around 9pm. Then I get my shower at night. Makes my morning run so much smoother.
Don't be afraid to ask your hubby for help. It never occurred to me after my 2nd that things would be exponentially harder. Things I handled fairly easily like lunch packing and meal preparation became sheer time consuming drudgery. I needed an assist and he was more than capable. Sometimes we don't give our men enough credit. They are stronger than we think they are.
You can also save a ton of time and screaming by ordering things online. Seriously, I order my groceries online and have them delivered. It runs me about $20 for that but that is an hour I get back that I can spend in the gym. I dont take kids to stores unless we have an immediate need.
For meals, the crockpot is your friend. Check out www.skinnytaste.com. I love her crockpot recipes and if they require the addition of a homemade sauce, I make that at night so I can just dump it in with the meat in the morning (or tell hubby to do so). Grilling is also a very fast meal prep method, leaves few dishes, and tends to be pretty healthy.
Feel free to add me. Most of my friends on here are moms too. We all have the same struggle.
I like to take showers in the morning, but I guess there are nights, I can take at night.
Taking kids to grocery shopping or any store.......is not fun.....LOL! I told him, he needs to try it. I go 95% of the time. He went this week and man, I was so relieved.
Thanks for the website, I will be checking it out soon.
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LaurenxxNicole wrote: »Hi! I have a 7 month old and work Mon-Fri 7:30-4:30 so I feel your pain. However, there are a lot of ways you can exercise WITH your baby. Go on YouTube/ Google and look up Mommy and baby workout videos. There are a ton of different exercises you can do. Your baby will love it too. Hope this helps!
OMG..........YES! Will do! Thank you!
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Hello, my name is Jess. I'm looking for other working mom's so we can motivate each other. I'm struggling over here and I really want to lose around 15 lbs. by Sept./Oct. I have a 9 year old and a 5 month old. My husband helps out a lot at home, and I still find myself struggling to find time to exercise. MOM'S LET HELP EACH OTHER OUT!
I am a working mom with a 4yr old and a 6month old, and a 8-5 job, i find it easier if i get up at 5am to workout, when the kids are sleeping and it gives me a lot of energy for the day. try exercise in the living room every in the morning youtube videos, dvds
Gotta get this butt up and get it done!
Before I had her, there were some mornings I used to exercise but now.......I'm like, I need my sleep because I know I don't get enough. I need to change that around...... #Iwillgetittogehter
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Remember you dont necessarily need to exercise to lose weight, though there are enormous benefits. I agree with the others as far as your husband helping more. I work full time and my husband was more of a stay at home parent. Let me tell you, being a stay at home parent is no easy task and just because you work full time does not give you the right to expect a full course dinner and then sit with your feet up. You continue to pitch in. (I'm not saying he does that...I have no idea, but he can certainly prepare his own lunch for the next day)0
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farfromthetree wrote: »Remember you dont necessarily need to exercise to lose weight, though there are enormous benefits. I agree with the others as far as your husband helping more. I work full time and my husband was more of a stay at home parent. Let me tell you, being a stay at home parent is no easy task and just because you work full time does not give you the right to expect a full course dinner and then sit with your feet up. You continue to pitch in. (I'm not saying he does that...I have no idea, but he can certainly prepare his own lunch for the next day)
I know I don't, but I think i would feel better about myself if I did......
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My daily schedule(M-F)
4:30 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. Feed baby
5:00 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. Get hubby's lunch ready(heat up,coffee,etc.)
5:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. Shower, get last min. things ready(try to do the day before), get dressed, etc.
7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - Drop kids off with sitter
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - While I'm at work, I try to do lil walks. I walk up/down stairs for 10 mins. during lunch break, or take a walk....only got 30 mins. I can't always be away from my desk, so I wait til lunch.
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Pick up kids
5:50 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. - Swimming lessons - will finish soon
6:50 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Head home
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Cook, eat, bath lil one, clean, etc.
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Put kids to sleep
9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Try to get last min. stuff ready for next day
10:00 p.m. - 4:30 a.m. - Try to get some sleep
You're up for 3 hours in the morning to not do that much, sorry I don't understand why you're up for 3 hours? Why can't your husband sort his own lunch?
Why does it take 1 hour to put the kids to bed?
Swimming lessons every day? We used to go once a week.
You drop the kids at 7.30am and at work for 8am, but it then takes you an hour to pick them up? How does it take so much longer to pick them up but not drop them off?
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My daily schedule(M-F)
4:30 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. Feed baby
5:00 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. Get hubby's lunch ready(heat up,coffee,etc.)
5:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. Shower, get last min. things ready(try to do the day before), get dressed, etc.
7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - Drop kids off with sitter
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - While I'm at work, I try to do lil walks. I walk up/down stairs for 10 mins. during lunch break, or take a walk....only got 30 mins. I can't always be away from my desk, so I wait til lunch.
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Pick up kids
5:50 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. - Swimming lessons - will finish soon
6:50 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Head home
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Cook, eat, bath lil one, clean, etc.
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Put kids to sleep
9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Try to get last min. stuff ready for next day
10:00 p.m. - 4:30 a.m. - Try to get some sleep
seriously, the more i look at this the more i find trouble with that big block of time in the morning. i have a two year old, and i help all the time with feeding and staying awake, etc. got to share the load, no matter how varied my schedule is, and it can be very varied, with early mornings and late night.
you should be able to do at least a 60 minute workout in that 2 hour window.0 -
My daily schedule(M-F)
4:30 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. Feed baby
5:00 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. Get hubby's lunch ready(heat up,coffee,etc.)
5:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. Shower, get last min. things ready(try to do the day before), get dressed, etc.
7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - Drop kids off with sitter
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - While I'm at work, I try to do lil walks. I walk up/down stairs for 10 mins. during lunch break, or take a walk....only got 30 mins. I can't always be away from my desk, so I wait til lunch.
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Pick up kids
5:50 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. - Swimming lessons - will finish soon
6:50 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Head home
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Cook, eat, bath lil one, clean, etc.
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Put kids to sleep
9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Try to get last min. stuff ready for next day
10:00 p.m. - 4:30 a.m. - Try to get some sleep
Have hubby take over the 8:30-9:00 routine. You do just the 9:30-10:00.
Work out at the swim lessons. I used to do that. Bring something with a workout video or use SWORKIT on your phone. SUPER effective, and honestly, it turns the WORST part of the day into the best. Other parents stare? Screw them.
A lot of your weight is going to depend on diet.
Anyway, your hubby is an adult and needs to do his own lunch, too.
That's 2 hours a day on week days--for workouts AND for relaxation. And for MORE SLEEP!!!!!
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Why is it taking an hour to get the kids into bed? Especially if that doesn't include bath time for the baby?
What are your husband's working hours and what is he doing during the evenings?
It takes an hour bc thats when I feed the baby(10-15), burp(another 15), etc., then im on my sons butt to have him shower and other stuff. My husband's hours vary.....he always help when he can.
Put your older one in the shower when you start to feed the baby. He should be out and physically in bed in under :30, and then you can read a story if hubby isn't there and flip out the lights and toss the lil one in bed immediately after.0 -
jajomo0118 wrote: »I am assuming you are just watching at the swim lessons. I know when my sons were little league age. I always took walks around the park while they practiced. Our sons are 16 months apart and the only way it can be done is a husband that does it all right along side of you. My motto from the start was "I didn't get pregnant myself, marry myself or buy a house myself...I sure am not taking care of any of them myself!" haha.
Empower non-traditional roles and your sweet little family will flourish and you will both be better parents and spouses for it! Good Luck!
Yes, I mentioned that in someone's post...........I guess I can walk around pool when he is at lessons.
Love your motto.......Thank you so, so, much!
No. You can do HIIT while he's taking lessons. "Walking around" won't burn much.0
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