Moms with young children -- finding time to ride

[CaliRider]

I am curious about other working moms of young children make cycling work for them. My children are 8, 5 and 3, so they still need constant supervision. I'm feeling like I want to increase my mileage and my cycling time, and I just can't figure out how to make it happen. Right now I get up early 3 days a week and ride before my husband and I leave for work, but I only get to ride for 30-40 minutes. Then on Saturdays I have been riding about 90 minutes. I have a Burley trailer that my 3-year-old can ride in, but it's not particularly therapeutic to carry on a conversation with a toddler the whole ride and stop periodically to help with snacks and water. I guess I'm curious about how often you ride and your weekly mileage too. I would love to hear any stories of how you make it all work.

Thanks!

[Skippyak]

I don't have young children any more (mine are 13/16) but frankly when my 3 were little, I didn't go to work and when they were not in school the only exercise time was when they were in bed (ie night time). I now live in UT and I am frankly astounded by how the mums of many (many LOL) young children appear to have time for multiple exercise avenues. The mums are not working but they often have babies right up to older teens. Frankly I don't know the answer. I think you do really well to manage a job, young kids and any exercise that does not involve a babysitter or childcare. What about a trainer indoors? My answer is that I never did make it all work when mine were toddlers and I didn't even have a job to juggle. Is commuting by bike an option?

[Crankin]

I didn't ride when I had young kids, but I did go to the gym, religiously, at 5-6 AM. I even taught aerobics at this time for years.
I mixed it in with after work exercise, but, since I already got up at 5:30 for work, what's another hour earlier?

[Melalvai]

I didn't start riding until my daughter was 9. That was just coincidence but it worked out pretty well.

I have heard of some parents who just do the toddler ride, stopping constantly for snacks etc. With 3 kids, and only 1 that fits in the trailer, that surely would be a challenge.

I know a couple who are both extremely active, with a 1-yr old, who take turns, bring the kid in some fashion (usually a jogging trailer for a run), or use a babysitter.

I know another mom who has 4 small kids and she is an avid gardener. I think that keeps her pretty active, and all the kids are involved in the gardening.

Keep asking the question. Somewhere there's a creative solution that will work for you. With 3 small kids, bicycling might not be for you, or maybe it is-- a bicycle built for 4!

[Crankin]

I must add that when I needed to, I got a babysitter, so I could keep exercising. Mostly, this occurred when I was teaching at the gym and my DH was traveling. I had a wonderful teenage babysitter who would come to my house at 4:40 AM, so I could teach my class at 5 (very hard to get subs at that hour), and stay until I either came home and got ready for work and my nanny came, or, stayed until the nanny came, if I had to be at work early and had to shower at the gym. She would drive to my house, and get ready for school there. She was from a family of 5 kids who had foster babies, and I also used her older sister and younger brother to watch my kids at times. We started with her when she had just turned 12, and she knew more about child care than most moms! She now is 42 and has 4 kids of her own.
I guess what I am saying, is that develop a support system, whether it be sitters, relatives, or other moms. I am sure some thought I was selfish, but it was "my time," and it kept me sane. Also, exercising at that early time didn't really interfere with other family responsibilities. My DH used to play racquetball at lunch.

[limewave]

You are riding more than I am! My kids are 4 and almost 8. I make spin class one morning a week and then try and ride for 90 minutes on the weekend. That's quite literally all the spare time I have right now. I'm already getting up at 4 AM every day. Most mornings I run or walk for 45ish minutes. I run because I can do that outside in the dark--I much prefer to exercise outside than riding a trainer or going to spin class. I think it's just that stage of life . . . I do try and take the kids for bike rides but those are clearly for their benefit and is more valuable as "family together time" rather than "me getting in a workout" time. DH and I occasionally get a babysitter so that we can go mountain biking.