hi, trayc. i have two children, 9 and 10 1/2 and my husband travels a bit. on those days, i have always had a hard time getting my workout in, as i never felt comfortable leaving the children alone either. my compromise is that i get up early and try to be finished before they'd normally wake up. my kids usually get up around 7:30, so i'll go out (during the summer) around 5:30 to get my rides in. i take my cell phone with me, and the kids and i discuss the route i am taking the night before. we also have a "protocol" for what would happen if for some reason i was not home by 8:00 am, and i always wear/take id with me. we've been doing this for about 6 months now, and it seems to be going well.

one of the nice things now, is that my daughter - the 9 yo - whose favorite passtime is watching tv - is starting to ask if on the days i run if she can ride her bike with me when i go. baby steps!

good luck, i hope you find something that works for you!