Ever consider a Child Swap to get your workouts in?

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"Stay-at-home" mom has always been a funny term to me. I mean, we hardly ever just stay at home! Preschoolers are busy little people and we are seemingly always on the go. Still, I know there are a lot of people that think it would be very easy to get workouts in when you are a stay-at-home mom. In fact, I used to think this too before I had kids, but the truth is it has taken me a long time to figure out a good system and I haven't always been able to pull it off to my satisfaction. It's simply harder to find the time to workout when you add little people into the equation. Now, I know I could take them with me on runs in the stroller, but that just doesn't work well for me.

First off, I have shoulder and neck issues, so running while holding onto and pushing a stroller with 60 lbs of kid in it causes a lot of discomfort. Secondly, running with my kids does not feel like a full workout to me because inevitably, my kids will need me to stop several times to help them reach a dropped toy or water bottle. And of course, I will oblige and help out my sweet little guys, but, as a result, the workout is choppy and less-effective. Third, working out with the kids in tow does not allow for me to have a full mental break from my job because I am still on "mommy duty."

For me, so much of working out is mental and I simply cannot focus on my workout the way I want to when I am also focusing on my kiddos. I also know that I could drop them off at the gym daycare, but I'm not a fan of the gyms in the area, plus I currently don't have a gym membership. So, all that to say, I enjoy working out without my kids, which makes figuring out when to work out a little tricky...but it's doable!

One creative solution that works wonders for me is the use of a "swap" with my awesome neighbor, Melissa. We have established a fabulous system that works like this: every other Tuesday afternoon, I watch her two kids along with my own two and she watches all four kiddos on the alternating weeks. We have agreed upon about a 90 minute time frame. So, each month I can count on two 90 minute blocks of time all to myself. In addition, we often do more spontaneous one hour swaps with our younger children while the older ones are in their 2.5 hour preschool. We tend to check in with each other at the beginning of the week, see how the weather is, and see what might fit that week. It usually turns out that we each get 3-4 "turns" each month. I cannot tell you how wonderful that is! It's guilt-free time because I am not paying a babysitter - I know I have earned the time by giving Melissa her break the week before. Plus, our kids have gotten to be such good friends and enjoy the swap time as much as the moms do!

Ok, so back to how this relates to triathlon training. I almost always use my swap time for working out. And every so often I use it for a massage - a key component to any workout regime! (Perhaps more on that another time;) A 90 minute block of time is sufficient for most of my training for sprint distance triathlons and half marathons. When I need to do a longer brick workout, I coordinate the 90 minute swap time to end right when my husband gets home from work, and I have him pick the kids up from Melissa. That way I can continue my longer workouts as needed and meet back at home when I'm done.

If you're a stay-at-home mom and find it difficult to figure out time for working out, you are not alone! I would strongly encourage you to consider starting a swap with a neighbor or friend. Try it once a month and see what you think. One point to keep in mind is that your swap partner need not be a triathlete or even into working out. There are no rules for what anyone uses their swap time for. For example, my neighbor Melissa (who happens to be a runner) will occasionally use the swap time to do multiple returns at various stores. It's amazing how many quick returns you can do when you aren't unloading and loading kids;) Or, sometimes I have just needed a solid 90 minute chunk of time to clean or organize. The possibilities are endless. I hope you will give it a try and that it works well for you. Be sure to let me know how it goes!

Brooke

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