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Without my oldest son home for the summer, I am finding it difficult to work out. It's too hot to take the little guys out, and being by myself most of the time, I don't feel comfortable taking the little guys on a long trip out of the valley. What I do currently, is wrestle with them quite often; they love that! I chase them around the house daily, or outside with squirt guns, but if it were not for my total gym, I would not have a way to work out

Now I suppose one could go to the gym, if it fits within the budget, but any of you that have/had little ones know, you must pack up half the house to go any where, and then deal with the difficulties of bad moods, irritability, and fighting, or just plain loud noises and chit-chat constantly. Don't get me wrong, I love my little guys, but taking them out and about can be a big ordeal. It's simply easier to stay at home and work out on the ol' machine.

I can't run without getting a sitter, or go do any adult hiking/activities without getting a sitter, and getting a sitter is a HUGE ordeal in itself. Then finding someone you can trust for the job, is even a more difficult task.

Maybe some of you with simular problems could share with me how you manage to get out and continue exercising, while at the same time making sure the little ones are cared for.

Just venting some frustrations, but .........I am still having a blast at home with my boys

Just feeling a little.............CAGED IN!

I love your post. It made me do a bit of thinking about each decade of my life and how it fits in to what you are asking.

When I was 10, I was the neighbor lady's child sitter. I loved it. I would go down and watch her two children while she ran errands, went grocery shopping, etc. Do you have any teenage girls interested in doing something like this? Church girls?

When I was in my mid-20's, we had our only child. I devoted alot of time to her through out, but I was fortunate to have her Aunt and Grandma's close by to watch her when I needed to get out.

Now she is going to be 22, and I am enjoying my "alone" time where I don't have to worry about sitters. PLUS, we have each other to workout together, go for walks and when she is here permanently (she has one year left at Purdue) we plan to hike together. And this is her opportunity before she has children to get out.

When (if) she has children, I plan to watch her children so that she can enjoy time to herself too. I'm not one for daycare, long story but I feel family or close friends are better. Just my opinion.

I feel (at least in theory) that I will be ready to watch my grandchildren without feeling I am missing out since I am taking "this time now" to do what I enjoy.

I don't know if any of this helps in your circumstance. I do want to say I admire you for how dedicated you are to your children. They will appreciate it, believe me! AND don't forget, they do grow up fast and you will have two GREAT hiking partners soon!!

Sherileeaz

Hi Billy, hey, maybe this will help, try the below sites:

http://www.joggingstroller.com/?source= ... g_stroller

http://www.joggingstroller.com/brand/ba ... pple.shtml

May help.

I can sympathize with you. I have 7 ranging in ages from 12-26. Working out has been a challenge from taking them with me to the gym and putting them in their daycare to trying to workout at home to hiring someone to sit with them while I was gone. Things didn't really fall together until the older ones became old enough to keep an eye on the younger ones. My youngest chidren are now old enough to babysit other children and as Sheri says they are grown before you know it. But it is important for you to have time for you. I seem to remember you saying you run. Maybe we could come up with an arrangement to meet to do this together and my children could hang out and watch over yours. Pm me if your interested. I will be out of town the rest of today and tomorrow but will get back to you. Good luck!

Run at the track and have them play on the field.

Oh thank you, thank you everyone, I was just venting some cooped up feelings, but I'm fine :roll:
CindyC, watch out, because I will definitely take you up on that offer, besides, I wouldn't mind having a running partner, that could push me to higher levels of fitness that would be way cool.
Abe, the running strollers is a great suggestion, but my little guys are now 4 and 6, and want nothing to do with sitting in a stroller. I ran during all my pregnancies, except for the last one, whom the docs thought would be down syndrome, thank God he's not, and healthy as can be. Now for you, my mysterious friend Nighthiker, I think you came up with a great idea, I have done this with the boys, and will again, once the temps are nicer

Thanks to all of you for responding to my "poor me" attitude.