Exercising as a Parent
We all love our kids but let’s face it, they can derail your life a decent amount. As the loving parents we all are, we revolve our every waking minute around their happiness and wellbeing. In an attempt to make life a little easier, we develop routines galore. Meal times, play times, nap times, bath times, bedtime. All the “times'' except for “me time.” This was me. Until we were struck with a worldwide pandemic, forcing me to be home and endure the craziness of full time children - YIKES! Instead of panicking and succumbing to stress, I decided to take control and use the time to make a positive change. This is how my exercise routine, while raising happy little kids, began.
It started with Kettlebells.
I researched the use and benefits of kettlebells and purchased them. My kids were stoked to have some little ones they could swing around. Now, if you have a living room or a backyard, I implore you to USE IT! Kids are great at watching you workout and bonus, you’re setting a good example for being active and creating a fun environment. Immediately, they jumped at the opportunity to join in. At my house, we treat the time while I’m exercising as playtime outside. This outside time is not optional, just like my workouts are not optional. I don’t miss workouts, I do it because I love it. I can at least carve out an hour for myself. If you make it a priority, it gets done. If you make a clean kitchen a priority, then that gets done. If you can spend an hour scrolling your phone, you can spend 30 minutes working out. Prioritize yourself. If you are unhealthy, your kids will suffer. Try to find solutions to obstacles you face. An example of an obstacle and solution I faced this past year is running… with kids.
Running…
Obstacle: while running, my kids can’t keep up with me. Solution: One kid in a stroller, one kid on their bike. Once the littlest Wombold outgrew the stroller, we had another obstacle. So now we run with both on bikes! Now, if you’ve ever biked with a 4-year-old you know that it is anything but easy. I problem-solved to make sure I can still get done what I need to do. I tied a rope to the front of my son’s bike and the other rope around my waist, AKA resistance training. Dad becomes a sled dog as we run along the creek or the lake. The downfall -I don’t get to listen to my podcast or music while I’m running. The upside - I get to answer questions about butterflies and rainbows as we look at the world through the eyes of my children. Lastly, a word to the wise… if you go left around a telephone pole, ensure your kid also follows you on the left-hand side, oops!
