It’s been two months since my husband was deployed overseas for his job as a aviation defense contractor. It has also been two months since Baby D decided sleep was for the birds and wakes up nearly hourly at night. Some nights are better than others, and some nights are down right awful. He wakes up screaming like he is in pain, is hard to console, and even refuses nursing. It doesn’t happen every night, and there are other nights it happens multiple times. At our 6 month appointment my pediatrician suggested he may have night terrors. I haven’t even had a moment to wrap my mind around that.
My other child, well he just turned four – so there is that. In between the moments of sheer joy, fun, and play, my days are spent reminding, cajoling, disciplining, sometimes begging him to have good behavior/manners/listening ears… Don’t get me wrong we have lots and lots of fun time, but the constant whining makes me feel like I am dragging my feet in mud.
I realized a few weeks into this deployment that I had less patience for my older son than he deserved. I was waking up so exhausted from the screaming at night that instead of having a level of tolerance, I had zero. This was/is not fair to my child.
Something had to give. I had to cut out time from my blog to do other things… namely nap. If the stars aligned and both boys happened to be napping at the same time, instead of doing work around the house or work on my blog I napped. When I realized that wasn’t enough, I began to schedule in time during the day to workout at the gym. 2 precious hours (well, more like one hour the time I get both boys loaded, and settled into the playcare at the gym…) of kid free, cry free, whine free, me time.
I realize that sounds awful. Let me get one thing very straight. I love my boys more than life itself. I would do anything for them, and that is why I go to the gym. Taking that time away to clear my head allows me to be a more patient and present mom.
They are in great hands and having a blast playing. K enjoys playing the computer games, doing art work, running in the gym, or playing tag in the tree room. Baby D just likes all the attention he gets from the nursery workers, and just playing without his brother to take his toys or “accidentally” tip him over.
They are plotting!
This week I jumped back into spin class. I loved spinning prior to having Baby D. Nothing like an hour of serious sweating! I took a class at 10 weeks postpartum and thought I was broken forever! Let me just say that I clearly had not fully healed from having my baby and I felt every painful minute of that class. I was so bummed, but when I got on the scale this week and saw that I had finally lost all 50 lbs of baby weight I gained with Baby D I thought this was as good a time as any to jump back into spin. I’m so glad I did. I felt AWESOME after 60 minutes of hill intervals!
50lbs gone – 50 more to goal weight.
Wednesday I took a Yin/Restorative yoga class. I have done other yoga classes at my gym, but this class was OMazing! Long deep poses focused on re-centering the heart and clearing the mind. I have to tell you, it was the BEST thing I have done for myself in a long time. This class will continue to be in my weekly schedule. It was the first time in over 2 months I completely cleared my head and focused on my body.
For me, making time for a workout allows me to be a better mom to my kids. It’s been nice to remember how important that time is, and how much I truly need it.
Now if I can just get Baby D to sleep and find more time to write!
As of right now my weekly fitness schedule looks like this:
Monday: The BabyWearing Workout, DVD, or FitnessGlo Glo Class (HOME Workout)
Tuesday: Spin Class
Wednesday: Yin Yoga
Thursday: Short Spin Class + Full Body Lift
Friday: Repeat Monday
Saturday/Sunday: Rest or if missed day above add in workout
Where do you find “me time”?
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You GO, girl!!! I hated dropping the kids off at the gym kids care because they hated it. Argh. Now I wish I’d given it another chance.
Thank you Gena!!
YAY!!! You are doing fantastic!!!! Congrats
Thank you!
Thank you Amanda!
I think you’re doing a great job of continuing your fitness journey. I totally understand how hard it is to balance it all and could not imagine doing it without takeover relief from my husband at the end of each day. Good for you!!
Thank you Marcie! It means a lot!
Congrats on your dedication and glad the spinning is fun and not painful anymore.
What a great way to feel better and get some time to decompress yourself. It’s wonderful when you can find a place where you can leave your kids and feel good about it when you’re trying to stay healthy for everyone.
Every mom needs some time for herself. Though we are wives and moms, we are still individuals.
You’re fantastic and you look great!