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

@DisgruntledGuineaPig I think sometimes you find yourself in a period in life when it’s hard. You move, use the schools you get into. Cheapest childcare. Only job you find. In time they may change, kids grow and it gets easier. We had to move and didn’t plan it. It will get easier, but right now here the options are tight. The school changing may come up, maybe a job, maybe a car lift. Buts it finely balanced and it’s not easy to change right now from where it is.

@SmileCheese he’s hard working, not lazy and with a long commute I don’t think he’s having a rest much himself. He’s definitely fine and a good support. The best bit, and what works, is that even in a tougher time than we planned I feel loved and supported by a man who will bust a gut to keep it together

What happens when your 7 year old is 8? 9? 10?

Your buggy isn't the answer.

As others have said, I wouldn't judge, mainly because I would assume that the child had some sort of disability. It's a bit weird to use that as a justification though.

To the posters who are out at 6am or whatever, I’m just being honest. I cannot sustain that, I’m trying to fin something that works for me.

I’m clearly not the supermum the rest of you are with the early mornings and better planning.

@Nicknacky I guess you are quite fabulous and would manage everything very well with a far better handle on it all. 5am
Run, 4 different drop offs etc. Well done.

Would your finances stretch to getting a sitter to mind the kids twice a week for an hour? Or babysitting/playdate exchanges with other parents after school?

I've had to do this to get my running in now and again (single Mum).
It's £ well spent IMO as that down time is SO important to me in so many ways. I also think it's good for the rest of the family to recognise that everyone needs some time to do the things that are important to them, whether that's reading, cooking, walking the dog, a class, or exercise.

Is your job term time only? If not then I'm assuming you must use some sort of childcare during the holidays. Is there any option to use that once or twice a week?

of course its fine. your family, your life. you know what works for you. dont look to a bunch of strangers to ok it for you. if shes happy then go for it!!

I think you should do it op.
Getting out for a brisk walk each day is great not just for your physical health but your mental wellbeing as well.
It took me 40 years, but just this past year I have managed to stop giving a shit what people think. I have a disabled son who was in a buggy for longer than most. I found the judgemental looks so hard to deal with at the time, and it often stopped me from doing things I wanted to do. I really wish I'd had the strength I have now.
It sounds like you need to do this, so get out there.
Doing a workout video etc indoors is really not the same, and so isolating I think.
Fresh air will do your kids good as well.

Actually OP, the more you post, I'm changing my mind and thinking you should just do whatever you need to do. I can sense you are almost at breaking point with juggling all the balls, and exercise is obviously a stress reliever for you.
I wouldn't judge a 7yo in a buggy and anyone who would judge doesn't deserve a second of your thoughts.

Did I say I was fabulous? I don’t run at 5am, can think of nothing worse. But people do that when they have no other options.

You are so rude to people that are offering suggestions. You think you have it so so much harder than everyone else.

@Nicknacky I have a feeling you, and some others, are blithely offering a load of solutions you know you couldn’t do yourself. Without considering that I can’t either. It’s not really helpful, it just makes me feel shit I’m not doing enough.

@Gazelda @memememe thank you

I was just about to suggest a buggy board and see someone has beat me to it. It might actually help your dd with her core strength which would help her coordination. So then she would be benefitting too.

How about a babysitter to watch the kids while you go for a run?

I guess you are quite fabulous and would manage everything very well with a far better handle on it all. 5am Run, 4 different drop offs etc. Well done.

Its one thing to not take on board any of the ideas people have suggested but can you please stop being so flaming rude to people who are just trying to help. We are only posting suggestions because you made the blooming thread. If all you want to hear is people say sure do what you like then why post?

If it means that you can fit in a good walk, then of course do it.

I'm a big believer in getting kids out of to house, in any form.

There'll be plenty of 7 year olds sat in front of the television all evening or loaded into cars. Why is putting one in a buggy any worse?

Or how about signing up your dd for an after school club a couple of days a week? A lot at our school are free or very cheap. You could pick up your youngest and go for a walk or run with her in the buggy then collect dd an hour later.

And @peoplearepeople

I guess I can’t relate to the reaction from the the majority, the level they judge. Jog past me carrying your ten yr old and I’d probably give an impressed thumbs up. Jog up a steep hill with a buggy and is I’d just think you were fit.

I’ll be honest, I am sensitive to it because I get it a lot with a kid who struggles. She can’t for example read, so it is presumed we don’t read with her (we do and love it, and her siblings too. She adores books). I don’t need more in my life so maybe I’m trying to manage it.

I'd do it. Why should you care what strangers think? In the real world, away from MN, I (and most people) probably wouldn't notice, but if I did, I'd just assume an older child in a buggy had a disability or was hitching a ride with their sibling for a bit of fun, I certainly wouldn't be judging.

If you see an adult you know, just tell them that you've roped the kids in to give you a hand with your new fitness regime by giving you a bit of resistance. The only thing that would concern me would be your DD's friends seeing her and teasing her but maybe you can take a route where that's unlikely to happen.

You should do it. A bit of heavy pushing, out of breath, fresh air for you all, cloud spotting, the children will have after school downtime outside instead of mindless tv for an hour.

My DD's were annoyed when I got rid of the pushchair at 5&7, it was a single and they climbed in together, we lived rurally and I didn't drive

You can’t put a 7 year old in a buggy god forbid if anyone from school sees them.

Do you work? Sorry haven’t see whole thread . If you do cant you walk in your lunch break? There’s almost an exodus of people that leave my workplace at lunch to walk. If you don’t can’t you walk whilst older kid is at school?

@SmileCheese I have explained that I find you rude, as well as you finding me rude. It’s a mutual thing. I also found @Nicknacky pretty rude in her tone.

I have not been rude to helpful people, including those that haven’t agreed. Just a few ones I have found persistently rude in their tone, presumptions or patronising comments.

You and a few others have been really frustrating to interact with. Not everyone

@stucknoue we are semi-rural and I think the timing combined with the route I think it would be really unlikely to see kids out.

As a compromise could you do some running and some exercise at home after the kids are in bed? I know you don’t have room for equipment but yoga or Pilates following a YouTube video could be good for toning up.
I completely understand - sometimes no time means NO time, not 5 hours of lunch breaks each week.

@Myshinynewname I did look into it, the ones for her age are sports based (gymnastics, football and multisports) or chess club. They aren’t really accessible/ potentially confidence crushers.

All the tricks I used for the older three aren’t really working I’ve found. I’ll admit it’s a combination of being really tricky, plus me having enough with dealing with ‘inclusion’. I think we both need a school break at 3:15

If your kids don’t mind them go for it!

@Myshinynewname I am doing 20min if yoga each morning, or a bedtime if I don’t manage in my PJs. It has helped tone massively, but I want to get my heart rate up: get out too. I have toned arms and legs... and a jelly belly, combined with mutiple pregnancies I look about 6 months gone!