So after my return to swimming over the summer, I now need to plan how I am going to keep up the swimming once schools are back.
I was so fortunate where we used to live, being 5 mins or 15 mins from the pools I trained at, plus we trained late 8.30-9.30pm and 8-9.30pm so husband would be back to look after the kids.
So come 23rd Aug I need to leave home at 7.30am to get bigger small child to school. My nearest masters team is a good 30mins drive and practices 5.15am-6.30am, so I'd somehow have to get out of the pool at 6.30, drive through the rush hour traffic (albeit kind of against the traffic, but still..) get home have 2 small kids breakfasted, dressed and out the door all within the hour.
Husband is currently heading up some global finance project which means conference calls at all hours, so while he may be around at home, he may also have a 7am call with Europe, so can't rely on him to help out - and if he doesn't have an early call he would leave the house at 8.30am and likely stay in bed until 8.15..GRRR...
Plus by the time lunchtime comes around I'd be pooped - getting up at 5.45am this summer saw to that, so I have no idea if my body could cope with a 4.30am wake up. Smaller small child is 3 and will start pre-school 2 mornings per week, so will need entertaining the rest of the time (can't just pack 'em both off and go back to bed)
:blah::blah::blah:
So just how do you moms with small kids do it?
I do have a couple of other options to get some lap swimming in, but being coached and swimming with the team would obviously benefit my swimming the most.
I only have 1 five year old and the only masters team in area practices at a time that I can't with my husband's work schedule so I joined an age group team. During the school year I get up at 4:10am and swim 4:45-6:05 (practice goes to 6:15 but I have to get out early). I come home at 6:30 as my husband leaves for work. Yes, I go to bed at 8pm the night before practice so that I get in a full night's sleep. It's not fun but the practices are so worth it. During the summer practices are 5:15-7:30 and I have a baby sitter from 6:30-8 so that I can stay. I find that I have more energy when I swim early in the morning and I love being with the kids on the team. Yes, I'm the "old" one as I'm even older than the 35 year old coach. But the team is great, I get in a great workout and it works with our schedule.
Once I get home it is hectic getting everything going but again, it's all worth it in the long run.
See if you can find an age group team locally that will take you on. This is my 2nd one and I have found them to be very welcoming.
I only have 1 five year old and the only masters team in area practices at a time that I can't with my husband's work schedule so I joined an age group team. During the school year I get up at 4:10am and swim 4:45-6:05 (practice goes to 6:15 but I have to get out early). I come home at 6:30 as my husband leaves for work. Yes, I go to bed at 8pm the night before practice so that I get in a full night's sleep. It's not fun but the practices are so worth it. During the summer practices are 5:15-7:30 and I have a baby sitter from 6:30-8 so that I can stay. I find that I have more energy when I swim early in the morning and I love being with the kids on the team. Yes, I'm the "old" one as I'm even older than the 35 year old coach. But the team is great, I get in a great workout and it works with our schedule.
Once I get home it is hectic getting everything going but again, it's all worth it in the long run.
See if you can find an age group team locally that will take you on. This is my 2nd one and I have found them to be very welcoming.