To get the double buggy back out for my 7 and 3 yr olds

[Kuio]

No size issue, they are usually petite, and not bothered by the buggy. They probably miss it if anything

My main fitness was walking, long distance and speedy rather than pottering around. It’s so hard with kids, they aren’t bad walkers for their age but can’t really stride fast enough or cover distance in a way that will make a proper dent on my fitness levels.

I’ve still got my double, I live in a hilly area. My husband works long hours and I just don’t have time otherwise. I’m thinking of each afternoon popping them in the buggy for a really brisk hilly 3-4 mile walk. With the double it’s not easy. I do other things, like cycle, but this is a super easy no prep way of actually sticking to something for fitness tat works.

I’m getting flabby, odd? If you saw me regularly would you think it was odd...? We do walk together, but as I said it’s just not going to keep me fit staying at their pace

As for buggies being an ‘inflammatory’ topic. Is that is genuinely the way you perceive it it’s so far outside what I’d consider a normal response I can’t relate or predict. Ask me and I’d have a neutral and practical chat about it! What else is inflammatory? Any parenting choice outside the norm?

but it’s really presumptuous that you can just label her as special needs when I’m not saying she is.

You said she has mild LD and don’t think typical seven year old’.

I understand. I have dc similar ages to yours and my 6 year old sounds very similar to your 7 year old except he is tall. I would do this if he fitted in a buggy. He has a wheelchair that we use when we need to get from a to b without him taking ages and falling over every 5 minutes although it's like pushing a wonky shopping trolley.

your type would be the first to have a go if I just kept repeating ‘we can’t travel alongside me’ without offering further explanation. You’d be shouting away I wasn’t answering so how could you help, or if I tried to squeeze every detail in the OP you’d be moaning I wrote an essay.

Or maybe I wouldn't have done any of that. Maybe I would have been ether able to answer you because the fact that your DD has these issue is the most relevant part, except you missed it out.

I'm not out to have a go at anyone, but it is really frustrating to read posts like this.

I struggle less I guess without the level of detail I need for someone to spell out for me before I understand a question 🤷‍♀️

Nike would say just do it

I think you need to build up the seven year old's stamina a bit, OP. Take her with you and walk at your regular pace for as long as she can then stop and rest. Then repeat- it'll build her fitness too.

The solution to not being able to walk far is not to walk less. Most kids can walk at a normal adult pace by seven if they have a decent fitness level.

I struggle less I guess without the level of detail I need for someone to spell out for me before I understand a question

I'm torn here between 2 replies:

1. Of course you do, another drip feed

and

1. I'm sorry, I'm autistic so I can be abrupt and don't really understand when people leave out such information for an OP asking advice

So, based on that I am both sorry and unsure and I think we should probably just leave it there

Do it. Some time in the fresh air with Mum talking to them whilst Mum gets fit. Not a problem.

Do it OP. Bollocks to what other people think. Enjoy your walking. TBH I’m not sure that anyone will particularly notice the ages of your children in a buggy.

Get a baby sitter for an hour

I need real exercise of some kind, really to get my heart rate up and burn fat and build stamina

Do burpees at home then. In the time you would be out walking. There are plenty of exercises you can do. You can't put a 7yo in a buggy.

Do it. It'll be really obvious you are doing it for your fitness. Then you'll have more energy to help her with her cycling and scooting. You know your daughter! We've got to look after ourselves sometimes! You'll be a good role model for her to get active too.

My friend used to pay her friends teenage daughter for an hour after school so she could go out for a run.
Is that a possibility? Think she used to give her £20 a week for an hour after school.

Sorry OP but I think you're being selfish. Yes you need self care but you also have to prioritise your two children.

It's not fair to shove a seven year old in a buggy because you want a run.

Hiit training and strength training will sort out any fitness needs and can be done in a shorter time, and at home.

Give it a go...see how you get on...you don't need anything other than yourself and a tiny space. If it's still an issue ask your little one if they're happy to sit in a buggy and go running.

As an aside sounds like an OT and maybe an SALT assessment would be helpful for your dd. You mention physio declining referral so I'd hope it was suggested then but thought id mention.

@littleducks I’ve had all those rejected from school but I’ve been to the GP and got a developmental paed referral now. I’ve heard it’s an easier way in round. here and it ties together better. School haven’t been great and I’m guessing the referral quality is poor.

@Kuio I’m so glad you’re going to give it a go!

I’ve been reading through the whole thread with varying degrees of empathy for your needs right now, and cross ness when the thread has followed the usual stuff that happens sometimes... which can be really too much when you’re not quite in the most resilient and patient frame of mind (!).

Anyway, I think it sounds a great idea, please do it.

You need to give yourself this... both the exercise but also the time outside, away from screens and into nature. It sounds like it will also be a great time for your 7yr old too, a time to relax and have a mental space carved out of a routine where she has to try really hard to do everyday things that seem to come so easily to others.

I ‘get’ the way that you are feeling on this thread, I really do though I’m rubbish at expressing myself.

I find it hard to understand why people are still wanting to argue and punish you for the way in which you laid out your young child and her emerging and yet to be defined difficulties!

It’s wearing enough trying to deal with all that in real life, with the inadequacies of a system that means many children slip through the gaps, as well as the emotional load you take on as you try and grapple with, well, whatever ‘it’ is since there’s not even a diagnosis or noun yet!
Advocating for your lovely girl all whilst trying to ensure that she herself as a unique and wonderful child doesn’t get lost in the way others might end up talking or labelling her.

So... Ignore ignore ignore and get that buggy out to experiment with the walking idea.

Perhaps get a bike light and stick it on the front of the buggy to help with the dark early evenings now? I have a wheelchair and have done this, works a treat.

@WellThisIsShit Totally agree.

I'm a little bit agog at the posters who think it would be better for OP to work out at home while her DD watches TV, than for them both to be out in the fresh air. Sitting in a buggy, chatting to Mum, watching the world go by, with the option of getting out for a walk, as opposed to being stuck in front of a screen? I know which I would chose for my child.

And for those suggesting getting a bike trailer for the kids - how is that any different than them being in a buggy? Other than it being additional cost and storage for the OP?

Not fair on a 7year old to be put in a buggy op.
I appreciate you said a treadmill too expensive and bulky,but you can get some really good foldable ones on sites like Gumtree.people sometimes but them,use them for a week as intended,then use them as coat hangers😀so you can get something hardly used for little money.
Better than taking your dc in a buggy in winter....think the dc will agree!💏

@IToldYouIWasFreaky that’s a fair point about ignoring her indoors.

@WellThisIsShit thanks for being pleasant, it really helps

My kids (nearly 7 and 4) would love this. I’d do it if I were you. If it doesn’t work out at least you tried.

How much chatting to your 7 year old will you be doing if you are running/jogging fast? Not much I imagine. When it's raining and the poor thing is getting soaked or is stuffed under a rain cover?
You've got a child with physical developmental delays but instead of building up her stamina and strength you want to stuff her in a pushchair because you want to get rid of your wobbly bits? Selfish.

@Phoebesgift are you upping the ante because I didn’t rise to your last post or get upset? Have a good evening

@roses2 cheers, we had a laugh. I mixed it up with the earlier idea of laps and a play in a spot they like. It’ll just see how it pans out, cold may end it but it can end or adapt