Any moms of young children out there?

[Fuji Mommy]

The title says it all. How do you do it? By "it" I mean incorporate cycling into your life. I am getting really discouraged. I feel like I am not getting any better (faster, stronger, ...). I have a daughter who just turned two and I have a 7 month old son. My husband is supportive but I still feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. Anyway, just looking for a little bit of perspective on how other moms to young kids are doing it. Thanks.

Sarah

[mtbdarby]

Look on the bright side - at least you have a husband to "help":p I'm a single mom to a 5 year old. I get short rides in a lunch during the work week where I either do a leisurely ride, intervals or hills. I save the weekends when he's with his dad for my long rides so I don't feel guilty about not spending time with him.

I do have a tag-a-long for him but he really isn't into riding and I'm not pushing it.

Maybe you could have dh watch the kids for you while you take a ride, and maybe sometimes you could do a leisurely ride with the family. Any chance you could ride during lunch? We don't have showers where I work but it's easy to master the art of the sink bath:D Good luck!

[limewave]

It is really tough. Most of the people I ride with have kids in junior high or older or they don't have kids at all.

I use the burly trailer to tow DD. We have a great weekly women's ride I go to and the women love having my DD along. Other group rides aren't so receptive to the tag-a-long and I respect that.

This is my take on cycling during this stage of life with small children:
I have to be realistic. I work full time, I have a toddler, DH is gone most of the time--I'm lucky if I can squeeze in 50 miles a week. I can't compare myself to other cyclists. I can only do what I can do. So I try and make every ride count. That means intervals, hill repeats, etc. And remember, this is just a season of life. Right now the priorities are with the little ones, but soon enough we'll get some time back and we'll all be out there logging our miles and getting faster.

[singletrackmind]

Sneak out before the hubby leaves for work (4-4:30am).

Used the trailer when he was younger....tried to make the rides end with something fun for the kiddo. Alternate short and long rides, making sure he's stocked with treats, drinks, pillow, toys.

Now using a tandem. He's 4. Started out with short rides to the park. All rides end with a treat of some sort...playground, ice cream, whatever. He now does up to 50 on road and 27 on dirt. It's now much easier to ride on road and in group rides, though bike and kid total 80# so I'm not as fast as a single bike. It is faster than the trailer.

Sneak out after kid is in bed/hubby home.

Also hike with backpack for alternate excercise, and walk or ride for groceries/errands/library/parents as teachers classes/etc. (I'm a stay-at-home mom)

My sister is a single mom too, working, going to school, raising with her kid, whose father takes her part of every other weekend. She doesn't find much, but finds time to squeeze in excercise too. She amazes me.

It's a compromise but he's worth it.

[HoddyToddy]

I, too, asked this same question not too long ago.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=18242

Hope my thread link worked!

There were a lot of great posts and encouragement.
I'd agree with all the ladies' answers here already, especially Limewave's comment about not comparing yourself to other riders and just doing what you can.

I have a three year old and one on the way, a DH who is also very much into riding and inline speedskating, and I only have about 1500 miles in the last two years under my belt! :(
But I love it and just get out when I can. We use a trailer for #1 (who is almost too big for it) and DH and I just have to take turns. I wish he and I could ride more together (not that I can keep up, but that is another story :o )

Also, if you can afford it, think about hiring a babysitter for an hour or so a few days a week. I'm going to try that once #2 comes.

Good luck!

Jenny