Question for the working Mommies
Here is my dilema. My 9 month old started daycare 2 weeks ago when I returned to work. She loves it there and whenever I come to pick her up she seems very happy. I am a tech spec for a school so I am usually at work form 7:15-4:15 so that means my daughter is probably at daycare about 10 hrs. a day (That seems such a long time to me). My problem is the gym. I can’t go to the gym before work beacsue my 5 year old goes to my school and the gym doen’t have childcare before 8:00. So I go after work. I feel absolutely awful about putting my 9 month old into another “daycare” when I just picked her up even if it is only for 45 min. And she is noticably not as happy at here. She cries and wants to be held by the staff constantly which means that they try to give me at least 30-45 min. but sometimes they call me becasue she just won’t stop crying (she wants to crawl around where her sister and the big kids are and their policy is those under 1 have to stay in a penned in area). During the summer I went to the gym 5 or 6 days a week. I have cut that down to 3 becasue I feel like she really shouldn’t be there- and of course-I have ad no weight loss in the last 2 weeks. By the time we get home it’s practically dinner, bath, book, bed. My husband usually works an evening shift so he can’t help in this area either. People keep telling me you have to take time for yourself as a mom. My going to the gym and trying to be healthy is so that I can be a positive role model for my girls. But I don’t think I should put aside what I know is best for them to attain a goal taht I’m setting for myself. What do you mom’s do? Do any of you take your children to a gym daycare after picking them up from a daycare?
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I am a little bias because I stayed home with my kids until preschool but I do think that 10 hours is too much for a 9 month old. Is there any way you can do your workouts at home early mornings or after she has gone to bed then on the weekends you can do your workouts at the gym. You can also walk/ jog on your lunch breaks. I know weight loss is important but also is being a mom to your kid. If she is in daycare 50 hours a week thats a long time and the early years are so important for bonding. She needs you! Sorry if I was so harsh but your daughter can’t speak up for herself. I am glad she is happy where she is though many kids are not.
I know how important work outs are, but do they have to be at the gym? Is any sort of at home equipment a possibility, or is there anything you can do for exercise that would include your kids? Or could a family member watch her while you work out, so she isn’t in “daycare”? Not all of us have the luxury of staying at home with our children, most of us have to work, so although you may feel guilty about the long days while you are at work there usually isn’t much to be done about it. However, it does seem like a really long day and alot of daycare for a little one to be in childcare all day and then have to go right back in. Could you limit your days at the gym to the days that you don’t work? Good luck.
I don’t go to a gym. I work out at home, always have. There are so many great DVDs out there and a good set of hand and ankle weights add good resistance. You don’t need expensive classes or equipment to work out and be healthy.
I work from home and I do my excercises from home, I just recently started going to my community gym while my son takes his nap.
I reccomend that you workout from home,
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you could always watch FitTv and follow along with one of the shows.
I’m not a working mom but I agree with the other ladies that you can get a great workout at home with a DVD. I use the Slim in 6 series and I sweat a lot, even with the easy one that’s about 30 minutes. They also have a 10 minute ab workouts for those days when working out is just not a possibility. Good luck!!!
Pamela, there are so many great sites (reachfitness.tv or exercisetv.tv), just to name a few. There are some great workouts on there…the 10 Minute Workouts are a great thing because you get quite a workout in that short period of time. Just take a minute to look at some other options. Perhaps, when she’s a little older it will be easier for you to get to the gym or perhaps maybe when you have some help on the weekends! Maybe any parent/friend that you can switch off with to enable you to go to the gym a couple of times a week?
Pam, i am not negating, or even questioning any of the comments that people have put on your page, but I felt the need to say something!! I AM YOUR SISTER!!! I know you,a dn though we may read blogs and feel like we know people, but we really don’t, and I knwo you, and you are 200% giving and always do what is best for everyone else, and I just don’t like the tone of some of the comments!! Yeah I am the younger sister but I am more feisty and I don’t want anyone on here having any kind of impression that you are not a good mother and anything like that, becuase that is not the case. Yeah Trinity is in daycare, btu ti is Houston, it is not like you leave her there for one second longer than she has to be and hello traffic, that adds time too. I don’t think anyone can tell you how much time is too long for her to be in daycare, or what is going to work best for your situation, I mena I knwo you asked for advice, btu I don’t know. You knwo me, I am so defensive when it comes to oyu!! I LOVE YA!!! You are a phenominal mother and those kids are soooo lucky to have you. I mean yeah there are some people who choose to stay at home, becuase they can, btu that doesn’t mena they are spending that time with the children automatically. Your whole life is wrapped in those kids and I don’t think it is unfair or selfish that you take an extra 30-45 minutes, three times a week to go to the gym. I have been at your house,a dn we have tried to workout at home,a nd that was when Ma was there too watching the kids, so I knwo it is only worse when you are home by yourself. I emna it is kinda like a double edged sword, like a lesser of two evils, i emna you are doing this for them ultimately. To be with them for a long and healthy life,a nd to be a good role model for them. i eman it is not like you are taking her, or leaving her at the daycare to go to happy hour or anything like that. I don’t know… I love you,a dn i want what is best for my neices too and I knwo you will always do what is in their best interest, I just hate that you are feeling guilty when you are trying to improve yourself, for them as well!! I love ya!!!
And you have no need to feel guilty or anything else! You do what you have to do to feel good about you and be here longer for your children. It is easy to spew words out of our mouths without thinking especially when one can sit at home all day, but US working mom with kids understand completely! I worked 12 hours days when my children were young and one is in college studying in Pharmacy and the other is doing quite well in her 20’s as a Make-up artist with MAC so it goes to show! You do what you have to do for you and your children and don’t allow anyone to make you feel anyway! I don’t know you and neither do they but I feel it is our responsibility to support and help one another not to so-called bash or questions ones parenting skills. All the best to you Pam!
As a daycare provider myself and yes I watch kids for 10 hours day. I just have to say that it doesn’t really matter( how) much time you spend with your kids it’s what you do with the time you do have. I am sure you are a caring mom when you are with them and that is what’s important. I agree you do need time for yourself too.