Parents: when do you make time to exercise or do things for you?

[boymama88]

My DH is complaining that he needs time to himself to decompress and he’s considering taking up some sort of exercise. The problem is, he wants to do it on a Sunday morning which means I’m left to do solo childcare after doing solo childcare two full days per week already, plus I’m the default parent so even when he is around, I do the lion share of childcare. I don’t get any regular time to myself to decompress either. I might go out with friends once a month and he’ll do childcare then (which often involves gaming whilst they’re in bed…) but that’s once a month, not a weekly thing. AIBU to be annoyed that it wouldn’t be fair? The weekend is normally our time to spend time as a family. I know he’s only talking a couple of hours on a weekly basis but around my toddlers naps, that means the morning is pretty much void of doing something together. I want to support him to do what makes him happy but I can’t help but feel like I’m being lumped with a crap end of a deal.

Those with kids, when do you do things like exercise or hobbies? Any tips of how to fit it in without compromising family time?

This is like us. Both very keen runners, I also swim and he plays tennis.
He usually gets his long run Sunday morning (I am at church with DC, also important to me), afternoon family time. I get mine on Monday evenings, he is in charge at home/ activities. We both train together Wednesdays (kids with GP - they offer and everyone is happy). I can sometimes train at lunchtimes and him straight after work. We make it work. As you say, without it we are shit humans, employees and parents. We need exercise. It’s just how we are.

I exercise at home, either once DC are in bed or during the school day with toddler pottering around me.

What kind of exercise does he want to do?

You should both have time to yourself, but in equal amounts. We try to give each other a Saturday each, once a month.

I agree.

My DH works long hours but I really worry if he doesn’t exercise that he’ll become totally sedentary. So I encourage him to use the gym. I think it’s awful when parents insist on “togetherness” at the expense of the others health. Both parents can carve sometime out.

I use the gym creche for an hour Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. They also do kids club everyday at 5.30 so that’s an option too.

Then twice a week I go before work (and start late, I work flexibly) or at lunch).

Dh usually goes at 630 before work.

Like I say different strokes that works for your family. Your original post stated how you can't understand those that say weekends are family time I was simply explaining why.

We do things in evenings or lunchtimes during the week instead. I can only manage very gentle things due to a health condition but DH does 2 gym classes a week and 3-5 runs a week this way.