Moms-How do you do it??

[susiej]

Hi ladies,
I have a 3 yr old and #2 due in Feb. HOW do you maintain a good ride/training schedule and balance your work and family?

I commute to the train station (1 to 3.5 miles one way, depending on the station) each day. We are trying to find a route from our son's daycare back to our house that doesn't involve high traffic roads. :/ I'll also ride to the produce markets on weekends, and am trying to bike to anything within three miles. It's easier for me to squeeze riding into everyday chores than to set aside time a few days a week.

Our son is 2 1/2, and two weeks ago all three of us did the half-metric at the Lancaster (Pa) Bike Club's Covered Bridge Metric Century (30.9 miles, 4 1/2 hours including an hour of breaks). We saw a handful of kids on bikes, trail-a-bikes and in trailers (and one dog in a trailer!) on the quarter and half metric rides! The few training rides we did as a family lasted no more than an hour, mostly because we were riding unpaved trails, which were very uncomfortable for him.

We trade childcare duties as needed, either a morning-afternoon split, or a Saturday-Sunday split, or a Thursday night - Saturday morning split. You could each take a child on a ride, either together or separately.

My boss's husband biked up and down the quarter-mile hill in front of their house while their nine-year-old son sat on the porch, played, and acted as "rider support" for his dad. (My boss was here, bossing.) He said he was in fantastic shape for the next group ride he did.

Like you said, you can always get a babysitter.

Congratulations and good luck!

[Jiffer]

Just today, on my ride, I was thinking about how great it is that I can get out there and ride without worrying about who will be home with the kids. They're 9 and 12 now, so they're fine on their own. I only got into cycling about a year ago, so I never had to schedule around them, though I did when I was into walking/running and any time I wanted to go to the gym, etc.. I scheduled around Dh's schedule, which wasn't always easy to do because his schedule changes every other minute, yet he doesn't have to leave for work at 6:00 or 7:00 every day either.

My kid's are homeschooled, so it's not like I could ever drop them off at school and go exercise.

I think a babysitter a couple of times a week would be good. When you feel good, you'll be a better mom!

[indigoiis]

I have a fourteen year old daughter, and I have a farm, and I work 40 hrs a week about 35 mins (non bikeable due to a bridge) away from home. My daughter starts at a new charter high school this year in another city - about 45 mins. away - and must be driven to the bus at 7:10, two days a week (the other days she is with her Dad.)

Last week I went out alone on a non-kid day for a 25 miler and came home to one of our animals giving birth.

It's definitely a challenge.

I worked out a schedule and told everyone too bad - I gots to ride. On non-kid days I ride in the a.m., do farm chores and check all the pregnant mom animals, then go to work. On kid days, I ride in the evenings after evening farm chores. I'll be able to keep this up until it starts getting darker earlier. Then I don't know what I'll do - get up at 4? But then, it's dark then, too. I guess I'll need to get a lamp on the bike. Meantime my husband only gets to ride once a week - his schedule is even crazier.

You just gotta make it happen!

[sgtiger]

I'm a SAHM who couldn't do it without a very supportive DH. He watches the kids so I can go to yoga/tai-chi 2-3x a week after he gets off work. He works out the other evenings (while I take DS to his tae kwon do class) and sometimes after I come back from yoga. It means that we rarely eat dinner together during the week anymore.

I usually have a weekend day for a long ride. I try to get short rides in during the week with DD in the trailer, but that's been difficult with DS home for summer vacation. He's only good for short spurts on his bike with lots of long breaks in between. Thankfully school resumes in a week. Also, now we try to plan family and couple activities that involve our bikes.

We do have a YMCA membership for the whole family, which is nice, because as Limewave mentioned they provide free day care for the kiddies. I try to get two circuit training work-outs in during the week but I've been lazy about that lately. Their rates are very reasonable IMO and the facility is nice (at least in my area - I have lived in communities where the Y was very ghetto) with enough equipment that there usually isn't a long wait for them. They offer a plethora of programs most of which are part of membership - spinning, swimming, pilates, nutrition, etc. Some classes do require an additional fee such as the various martial art classes and personal training sessions. Plus they offer various programs for kids of all ages and family programs. We keep meaning to take advantage of their parents night out. This is offered one night a month for parents to drop off their children for a few hours in the evening for a date night or something. Not all Y's have the same offerings, so if you're interested, check with your local outfit.

My other "work-outs" are during play time with the kids. DD is competitive by nature so she'll want to race while she's riding her bike and I'll chase after her on foot or on my rollerblades. We each have our own jumpropes and the kids will watch me and try to follow along. If the kids are occupied with their own activities and friends, I sometimes use that time to stretch or something. I probably look like a dork doing this in the middle of our apartment complex. Oh well, I don't fit most people's definition of cool anyway and I have learned to accept that. Not too long ago a neighbor commented on how athletic she thought I was. I have to admit that for this former couch potato and slightly less chubbier (though I'm still quite a butterball) person it felt good to hear.

[cinnamon_toast]

I have 3 young kids - 10 months, 3 years, and 5 years. During the cycling season, I go out two or three times during the week after they are in bed and then one long ride on the weekend. I have a gym membership for winter and that gets a little trickier with the baby - I hate bringing a 10 month old to the gym daycare in the middle of winter. So I try and get dinner prepped and go as soon as DH gets home or after everyone is in bed. If I could drag my a$$ out of bed early enough, that would be an option, too. DH leaves for work around 6:30 so it's tough. (For me, that is.)

One thing that has helped me is coming to terms with the fact that I am not going to be able to work out 5 or 6 days per week like I did in the old days. I am not willing to let my sleep or family life suffer - so I do enough to stay lean and trim and dream of a life sometime in my future when I can really push myself physically. Let's just hope I'm not too worn down from raising these three little - uh - angels.

I should also mention, DH is pretty supportive of my getting time to work out. I am a SAHM, so biking is about my only regular escape from home. He also took up golfing this year and is very sensitive about giving me equal time out of the house. I would actually say his golfing habit has been great for me - I gladly let him go do his thing knowing that it means another ride or two for me later in the week. Not that anyone's keeping track.

[Look]

My kids are 9 & 6, so not really old enough to leave, too big (they think) for day care at the Y. And we also homeschool so I've got them all the time. I've just had to schedule tightly and stick to it, because there won't be any alternate opportunities. My husband is very supportive of my working out and he trains for marathons. Our weekly schedule comparison focuses heavily on getting both of our workouts in. I can get up earlier than he can. And sometimes I can drop the kids at his office for the 30-60 minute overlap between his paperwork clean up and a class or group ride I want to do.

I think that cooperation between parents is the most critical thing. Realize that your rides and workouts benefit the whole family by keeping mama happy, healthy and a shining example.

How are you cinnamontoast? Had any luck finding riding partners? We are riding tonight if you're free!