I fully support this - one thing that is so hard as a solo parent is that nearly every act of "self care" has to happen in the house. Unless you are lucky enough to sneak away during the day when the kids are at day care or school, if you want to do something for yourself, you have to do it at home. Gone are the gym memberships or the yoga studio, gone is the indulgence to get a massage or even take an evening walk. You simply cannot just leave the kids alone and hiring a babysitter for these things is just so expensive. So I applaud this indulgence. Not only is it for you, it's also one of the few things you can do for yourself before the kids wake up or late at night etc.
Thank you! Several people have also told me that I could get a gym membership where they watch him, but that requires a whole lot of work that I simply do not have time for. I don’t have time to add a commute or an additional event to my day on a regular basis unless I want to start getting up even earlier or cramming it into our dinner/bath/bedtime routine. At home is really the best way to go for me!
right?! what well meaning people don't understand is that "working out" and "self care" sometimes has to come in 20 minute increments. It's rare to have 1.5 hours of commute time to get to the place where they might also have childcare. And those places are expensive and also... trusting someone else with your kid can be scary. Honestly, even though I restrict TV in my house, I do a lot of "watch this episode of sesame street while mom works out next to you"
Bought the Peleton tread mill and LOVE it. No need to think it's extravagant - it will last a lifetime. I have replaced the belt twice and have logged over 30,000 miles - remember:
I identify with so many of your thoughts in this! I don’t have a peloton but I religiously use the app. I think it saved my mental health over the last few years. I not only love the workouts but the instructors, too. They are funny and inspirational and people I look forward to hanging out with each morning!
Also, the money struggle is real! It’s so hard to justify some purchases when I could be buying my kids their next clothing size up. It’s hard to know how to factor everyone’s needs into the budget! 🤪🤪🤪
I used the app for a year with a previous job (we got it for free) and loved some of the classes. I forgot how much I enjoyed them so getting back onto the app has been double the fun because I get both the cycling AND my old favorites! I have yet to do a live class (I don’t want to come in last no matter what I tell myself about being confident about “where I’m at”) but I imagine that’s not far off!
My SIL loves the Peloton- I prefer an in person group fitness class right after school drop off with my class full of retired teachers and people twice my age BUT they do have a peloton at the Y so maybe I will try it! I went back to working out again because my kids are back at the same school in K and 2nd grade and it has been really nice to prioritize myself and my mental health. I also have late diagnosed ADHD, found out about 2 years ago right before I turned 35 yo. There is a lot of reframing!
I recently got a $8 coffee drink at the Greek festival that had ice cream in it- I had always seen it and deemed it overpriced- but after years of wanting it, I finally bought it a couple weeks ago and it was delicious. I don’t know why mothers are socialized to not buy things we want just for ourselves.
Hooray for $8 ice cream coffees! I hope you were able to try out the Peloton. So far I’m loving it and it was a great investment, so I’m optimistic that will continue.
For me, it was reading. During my marriage, I became trained that reading was doing "nothing." Took quite a long time, but I am now joyfully reading as much as I want to. Of course, now I'm having guilt about having a stationary bike and never using it! But don't feel guilty about that - that's between me and my bike.
Reading is fundamental! And I hear you on the languishing equipment. I'm not a runner and do not want to be one yet have bought and sold two used treadmills....
I fully support this - one thing that is so hard as a solo parent is that nearly every act of "self care" has to happen in the house. Unless you are lucky enough to sneak away during the day when the kids are at day care or school, if you want to do something for yourself, you have to do it at home. Gone are the gym memberships or the yoga studio, gone is the indulgence to get a massage or even take an evening walk. You simply cannot just leave the kids alone and hiring a babysitter for these things is just so expensive. So I applaud this indulgence. Not only is it for you, it's also one of the few things you can do for yourself before the kids wake up or late at night etc.
Thank you! Several people have also told me that I could get a gym membership where they watch him, but that requires a whole lot of work that I simply do not have time for. I don’t have time to add a commute or an additional event to my day on a regular basis unless I want to start getting up even earlier or cramming it into our dinner/bath/bedtime routine. At home is really the best way to go for me!
right?! what well meaning people don't understand is that "working out" and "self care" sometimes has to come in 20 minute increments. It's rare to have 1.5 hours of commute time to get to the place where they might also have childcare. And those places are expensive and also... trusting someone else with your kid can be scary. Honestly, even though I restrict TV in my house, I do a lot of "watch this episode of sesame street while mom works out next to you"
If it weren’t for Paw Patrol, I would never even get a shower. I consider screen time a tool for making sure I can take care of the basics.
Allison,
Bought the Peleton tread mill and LOVE it. No need to think it's extravagant - it will last a lifetime. I have replaced the belt twice and have logged over 30,000 miles - remember:
Right foot - Left foot - Right Foot...
That's so good to hear, thank you!!!
I identify with so many of your thoughts in this! I don’t have a peloton but I religiously use the app. I think it saved my mental health over the last few years. I not only love the workouts but the instructors, too. They are funny and inspirational and people I look forward to hanging out with each morning!
Also, the money struggle is real! It’s so hard to justify some purchases when I could be buying my kids their next clothing size up. It’s hard to know how to factor everyone’s needs into the budget! 🤪🤪🤪
I used the app for a year with a previous job (we got it for free) and loved some of the classes. I forgot how much I enjoyed them so getting back onto the app has been double the fun because I get both the cycling AND my old favorites! I have yet to do a live class (I don’t want to come in last no matter what I tell myself about being confident about “where I’m at”) but I imagine that’s not far off!
My SIL loves the Peloton- I prefer an in person group fitness class right after school drop off with my class full of retired teachers and people twice my age BUT they do have a peloton at the Y so maybe I will try it! I went back to working out again because my kids are back at the same school in K and 2nd grade and it has been really nice to prioritize myself and my mental health. I also have late diagnosed ADHD, found out about 2 years ago right before I turned 35 yo. There is a lot of reframing!
I recently got a $8 coffee drink at the Greek festival that had ice cream in it- I had always seen it and deemed it overpriced- but after years of wanting it, I finally bought it a couple weeks ago and it was delicious. I don’t know why mothers are socialized to not buy things we want just for ourselves.
Hooray for $8 ice cream coffees! I hope you were able to try out the Peloton. So far I’m loving it and it was a great investment, so I’m optimistic that will continue.
For me, it was reading. During my marriage, I became trained that reading was doing "nothing." Took quite a long time, but I am now joyfully reading as much as I want to. Of course, now I'm having guilt about having a stationary bike and never using it! But don't feel guilty about that - that's between me and my bike.
Reading is fundamental! And I hear you on the languishing equipment. I'm not a runner and do not want to be one yet have bought and sold two used treadmills....
I’m not a Peleton person (or an exercise person 🙃) but I’m so happy that you made this investment in yourself!
Thank you for the support!