Ok, I have three days for one of you to talk me out of my latest rash decision. I bought a gym membership last night. I woke up this morning and saw the papers on the counter and cringed, remembering what I'd done. It's 100 city blocks away (can't take the freeway). I already have an elliptical machine in my house and a gym in my building, both of which I use consistently. The new gym costs money. I have two herniated discs and don't go for a lot of intense exercise anymore. And, frankly, I'm not feeling totally motivated to work out since I don't really give a hoot about being super fit right now. I know, that sounds so funny. But really, I don't want to be fat, I want a moderate level of fitness, but beyond that I just don't care. I think I've given over to the idea that there are times and seasons in our lives and I've just decided that being super-fit is just not a priority to me right now. It used to be - I used to be a total gym-goer back in college, during the mating season, you could say. But now? Well, I don't really feel the need to impress anyone. My husband pretty much hasn't worked out since we got married and I'm a mom with three kids who sees just about no one most days of the week. If I look a little soft at the beach, I'm ok with that. I'm already a misfit there since I don't have implants anyway. :)
Those are all the reasons it's so silly that I got a membership. Here's pretty much what it boils down to: I can get rid of my kids for a couple hours a week!
Truthfully, since there are no feasible options for a preschool for the twins for a couple hours a week, it's actually the cheapest option for getting myself a break. What started me thinking about it was that a friend mentioned she had a membership there. I realized that I could change my mind and sign Cash up for a Montessori school that's up that way for pre-K next year. I hadn't really considered it before because the thought of having to drive 20-25 minutes to school every morning for a whole year and get myself and three kids there by 8:30am made me a little sick to my stomach. And with it being so far away, I definitely wouldn't go and come back home only to go pick him up 3 hours later, so I'd have to have myself and three dependent and quite resistant children dressed and ready, with snacks packed, diaper bag stocked and everyone out the door - all by 8am every morning. Phew.
So when my friend mentioned the gym I thought, hmm, I guess I could drop off Cash, go to the gym and have an hour or two to myself a couple mornings a week. That sounded pretty appealing. I realized additionally, I already go up that way at least two mornings a week for playgroup as it is, and Costco and anything else I go to is up there as well. So, I guess even if I don't feel the motivation to go sweat my guts out on days I go to the gym I can just go sit in the sauna or the hot tub and just hide from everyone. (That's usually my request when Ryan gets home anyway - can I just go lock myself in a room alone and hide from everyone for like 5 minutes? Or even just go to the bathroom by myself without three kids touching me?) But I do go back and forth, thinking really, my idea of a break from the kids is to go force myself to expend more energy? On purpose????
So now I just have to get over the fact that I didn't have a wonderful experience touring the school I thought I would sign him up for (think of another awful experience dragging all three of your kids into a school filled with tons of hands on materials and having your tour guide keep yelling at you to get your kids out of everything - even though I called specifically to ask if I could bring kids....oh, not to mention an entire bag of jelly bean bribery dumped all over the floor...) Anyway, the friends I have that have their kids there are really happy with it. So I guess I'll give it a try.
Unless someone can talk me out of this gym membership nonsense. I have three days to cancel!
17 comments:
Cancel the gym. Take the two hours several times a week and go to Barnes and Noble...by yourself. Doesn't cost anything. Get yourself a magazine and a latte'.
But then who watches the kids while I go? That's the gym benefit - child care!
I have to say after James was born I have a new found respect for mothers of little boys. He keeps me on my toes. I can't even imagine 2 little boys running around causing trouble, let along three. You can do what you want about the gym, but I am counting down the days until we can do preschool for James at our house. :)
I would of done the gym thing if my twins weren't so attached to me. I think its an awesome idea...plus even though you don't see anyone, you still have to feel good about yourself....so I think you are killing two birds with one stone. Time to yourself and Staying fit and healthy! win win situation.
Good Luck with the 8 a.m. thing, I have no advice on that one, still haven't figured out how to do that one smoothly.
Keep the gym! That's my sanity. I go 3 times a week and I LOVE it. You get used to the 8 am thing. And if you go to the gym, you don't really have to get ready. Some days I really do go sit in the hot tub. It's great! :)
As I was reading this, I thought, "Why did I cancel our gym memberships to save money? This is a great idea!" Then I realized there is a drawback to the childcare (at least for me): germs. It may not be a big deal, but there is the potential for your boys to get sick more because they'll be around other toddlers/little kids more. Think of it as nursery three times a week.
Just a thought--not saying you shouldn't do it, though.
My first thought was yay! But then I wondered, what kind of gym is this? Does it have things that you can go and relax there too...like a hot tub? Or is it just machines? Because if it's machines, cancel it. But if you can do other things there, I'd keep it.
Although the germ thing is a pause for me too. I hate it when the kids are sick. But Cash is going to be exposed to stuff and bring it home too...so...
Hmm...maybe try it and see? Do you have to pay for a year or can it be month to month?
DO NOT CANCEL! Don't cancel! Use it as much as you can. Bring a book and sit in the hot tub. Your kids will learn valuable skills, like going to play without you. I'm shopping for a gym right now for this reason. I totally get it about not needing to be super fit at this time in my life. But you might enjoy a yoga class, or something! My vote is to not cancel. You will love it!
If money isn't the biggest issue, I would say KEEP IT!!!!!! If there's no working out, it's still 2 hours of blissful peace and quiet. AND the boys learn to adapt to a structured environment outside your house. AND if they do get sick now it means less sick later-they'll be building tolerances to all kinds of stuff. AND you can have Cash at a place you like more (or so it seems from your posts). The morning thing will take a while to get used, but you'll get there. AND it will be easier to get your errands done-instead of finding a day and time to go, you can just stock pile errands for those days when you're already around everything.
Anyways, that's what I would do if you can manage the money part. Good luck! Oh, and by the way, this is Mandy, NOT Adam.
Keep the membership! Even if you only use it once a week I bet you will be glad you did. I just got a membership to our YMCA and they have free child care. It is nice. I'm not gonna lie. And I only have one kid.
The bummer about our rec center membership is child care isn't free. Although it's pretty darn cheap. Cheaper than a babysitter. We renewed a few weeks ago and the boys were with us, longingly looking in the windows at the kids room. I'm thinking we'll start using it now that they aren't so attached to us anymore.
If it isn't going to break the bank, do it! I would totally do that if I could! Good for you!
Dont Cancel!!!!!! I go to the gym all the time and for the exact reason you signed up! Harrison plays for 2 hours while I walk at a nice pace on the treadmill, take a steam, take a long hot shower, and do my hair. Get a gym bag and keep it stocked with socks, undies, gym outfits and a pair of shoes, and shower stuff(think travel size). I just keep it in trunk so I dont forget it. Once a week I bring it in wash everything. I put everything right from the dryer into the gym bag. You will never regret getting out of the house and getting a little time to yourself. Keep snacks in the car. I bought a insulated lunch bag and put reusable ice packs in it with cheese sticks. I make peanut butter and honey sandwhichs (light on the honey so they dont drip.) You will live out of your car but it really is OK when you get in the routine. Then everyone will be ready for naps when you get home. It will be choatic at times but Im sure you will get in a routine and you will have energy cause you are getting physical exercise. The kids may cry but they do that at home too, right?
I saw this a couple of days ago and didn't have time to post, but I've been thinking about it. Now that I have time, it looks like everyone has pretty much covered it! As far as exercise goes, I've been so jealous of your setup with the elliptical at home and gym in your building. But for getting a break AND getting a workout, this does sound like a great deal. My gym daycare is also not free, so I haven't added it yet. I think it was a good suggestion to think of it as nursery. Also, is it okay with you for them to interrupt your workout to change your boys' diapers/if they are super fussy? At least, that is what my gym does. Not sure what your gym will do. Also, would your boys possibly sleep in the car on the way home and then not sleep in the afternoon? It sounds like you've done playgroup in the same area in the same time frame, so you would probably know that, and maybe your boys are old enough now for that not to be a problem. Finally, how long do you have to sign up for? 1 year, 2 years? Is there anything foreseeable in that time frame that will make it so you can't make it over there? I can get out of my gym contract at any time, which is super nice. Overall, it sounds like a great deal - plus then you can get your break and your workout early in the day so maybe you won't have to stay up so late to fit in a workout! If you stay, you will just make it your new routine, and it will work out great. Good luck!
(ps - Oh, to be as "soft" as you - you look awesome!)
Personally, I started leaving my kiddos once a week just for a few hours in the morning on Saturdays, and it has been a blessing . . . to us all! Enjoy!
I say swap with a friend weekly. She watches her kids and yours one day of the week for a few hours and you do the same for her on a different day.
I've been doing this for about 6 years now and it is a great relief for both parties.
What did you decide to do?
I initially joined the gym for exercise (& because they let me out of physical therapy after my knee surgeries if I promised to go.) It didn't take me long to figure out that it also meant a break from the 2 youngest!
Here's my take. What is the gym like, and how are your kids about being left?
Our daycare was as boring and neglectful as all get-out (a ball pit and a TV) and my kids HATED going.(Even though they are really easy for me to leave other places) As much as I was (am) in need of the break AND the exercise I was always wracked with guilt peeling them off me to leave them.
Also, it was SO lame for me. I'd circle forever trying to find a parking spot, then haul us all inside only to be told the daycare was "full" and I'd have to sit there and wait until someone left & took their kids out for them to get in - which more often than not took at least 1/2 the time I had free to spend there.
After my 2 year commitment was up last summer I dropped it. Now I exercise at home and have a babysitter a few hours a week. I can do that 'cause they are in a great pre-school close to home. The pre-school thing for Cash is a whole other factor.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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