Hello all. It's been forever since I've posted here - some of you may remember me. Anyways, I actually just gave birth to twins and I also have a toddler... I'm wanting to get back in the water and I don't know how I'm going to find the time to swim!?!?!?!? Any advice? The twins eat every 3 hours and sleep most of the time, but I would feel awful to leave my hubby w/ 3 kids while I go piddle around in the water!
Help!:drown:
Don't think of it as sticking the hubby with 3 kids. Think of it as letting him have a chance to bond with his kids in his own way. Doing this for 3 hours a week will be good for everyone -- Dad gets to know the youngsters on his own terms; the youngsters get quality time with Dad with the hovering Mom in the background; Mom gets to get back into swimming shape; kids get to see Mom taking exercises seriously and imprint on this early in life and become lifelong exercisers themselves; and Dad gets the benefits of a sleek, slinky wife exuding the intoxicating scent of chlorine!
Really, you need to reframe your reasons for why it's selfish to get back to the pool. Honestly, it isn't selfish at all. The whole family will benefit. And maybe you can find a pool that has babysitting--and get husband to come with you and either swim or workout in some way he prefers. Then you get the buff husband, and the kids see BOTH parents benefitting from exercise.
Don't think of it as sticking the hubby with 3 kids. Think of it as letting him have a chance to bond with his kids in his own way. Doing this for 3 hours a week will be good for everyone -- Dad gets to know the youngsters on his own terms; the youngsters get quality time with Dad with the hovering Mom in the background; Mom gets to get back into swimming shape; kids get to see Mom taking exercises seriously and imprint on this early in life and become lifelong exercisers themselves; and Dad gets the benefits of a sleek, slinky wife exuding the intoxicating scent of chlorine!
Really, you need to reframe your reasons for why it's selfish to get back to the pool. Honestly, it isn't selfish at all. The whole family will benefit. And maybe you can find a pool that has babysitting--and get husband to come with you and either swim or workout in some way he prefers. Then you get the buff husband, and the kids see BOTH parents benefitting from exercise.
Congrats Sarah!!
This is good advice. But I think you guys are overstating how easy it is to just walk out of the house leaving a toddler and newborn twins. It's a brave soul who wants to be left with 3 teensy kids. The scream factor alone is terrifying. Plus, there's the mommy guilt from leaving them for only a short time.
Still, you have to do it Sarah, or you'll get the prisoner complex. Go right after feeding them, leave emergency bottles. You have a cell phone, so if anything goes dreadfully wrong, hubby can call. It will be easier to handle all the kiddo demands if you're getting out a bit for exercise. Don't feel selfish! You'll be a better mom for it.
Can you get any exercise at home? Any machines?
We women often do this to ourselves. We don't allow ourselves some time away and we "do it all". You don't have to be full steam ahead like maybe you used to be. Like Jim said, 3 hours away, not even a full hour of swimming, maybe 40 minutes of actual swim 3 times a week, shower and back to the kids and hubby. You will be amazed at the peace of mind being away will give you and it will make you a better wife and mother and human being!
Welcome back Sarah and congratulations on your new little :angel::angel: Jim hit the nail right on the head....this is an amazing opportunity for dad to bond with the munchkins.
Hello all. It's been forever since I've posted here - some of you may remember me. Anyways, I actually just gave birth to twins and I also have a toddler... I'm wanting to get back in the water and I don't know how I'm going to find the time to swim!?!?!?!? Any advice? The twins eat every 3 hours and sleep most of the time, but I would feel awful to leave my hubby w/ 3 kids while I go piddle around in the water!
Help!:drown:
Welcome back, sarge! :D Get in some infant and mother swim clases and maybe u might find sitting there too at the Y or something?
Congrats!!
As a new father, I loved my time with my daughter and my wife needed the down time. Remember, Fathers are never baby-sitter so you can't "stick" him with his kids.
You need "me" time too.
Congratulations on the birth of your twins! You must be busy, busy, busy. And tired. I think the response that dorothyrde gave is right on the money. Try to take the time for yourself; after giving birth to twins, having a toddler, and doing everything that goes along w/being a mom, you deserve it.
I had a baby a few months ago and found swimming to be a way to recharge. Luckily for me, my husband swims too, so he's been great about making sure I have some pool time with our team. While our group swims four times a week, my husband and I now each swim two nights while the other stays home w/the baby. It's not what it used to be, but after being with the baby all day, I appreciate masters swimming even more than before.
I don't know if this is possible for you, but something I did when my little one was still waking up at 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning for a bottle, was to feed him, put him back to bed, and then head out to the pool. (Our gym is open 24/7, and it has a decent pool.) I figured that since I was up and dad and baby were asleep, why not swim? Using the odd hours, especially when I didn't have to worry about childcare, helped me get in a guilt-free swim.
Again, congratulations on the birth of your twins, and good luck getting back into the pool.
WOW! What an awesome response from all of you!!! It's obvious that it will probably be a good idea for me to get back in... hee!
Jim - Excellent point about Dad and kiddos getting some bonding time together!
Dorothy - I could even go for 30 minutes! I really missed exercise throughout my pregnancy, threw up left and right and my belly got so big I could barely move!
Geochuck/tomtopo/Mark/TJBurk - It is important to me to be a good role model for my kids and also for the hubby - I could either find a place that would watch the kids or everyone can come to the pool.
GREG! - HI! I miss you guys! We have "moved", but we still haven't sold our house in OH yet... however, it's the last thing on my mind right now - ha! I hope you are swimming fast (as usual), how is the new coach? Please tell everyone that I said hello - I miss Mike's humor in the wee hours of the morning!
Stud - What's up?!?!?! The sarge is back. HA!
Fortress - Mommy guilt pretty much sums it up... but, I desperately want to buy a treadmill so I can run, maybe I'll be able to talk the hubby into it just in case I can't get to the pool much.
Slowswim - I like what you wrote, fathers are definately not babysitters.
Nellie - I think I may try the "odd" hours thing first and just hopefully everyone will stay asleep while I go swim, that would be the perfect situation and erase that Mommy Guilt!!!
THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY, YOU ALL ARE INCREDIBLE!!!
:applaud:
