To think it’s not ‘cruel’ to take DD to the gym at 7.30am

[Eastie77Returns]

I attend an early gym class every Saturday morning. I leave the house around 7am.

I leave DS and DD at home with DP. He takes DS to football practice around 9am and DD tags along but she has become increasingly unhappy about having to go. I therefore gave her 2 other choices: come to the gym with with me or stay at home alone for 10/15 minutes as I’m home from the gym by 9.15-am latest. This morning I asked her what she wanted to do (I gave her the options earlier in the week so she had time to consider). She began complaining loudly saying none of the options were good ones and she just wanted me to stay at home with her. I explained that I was not prepared to miss my class and in the end she decided to come with me. As we were leaving DP began muttering that’s it’s unfair and cruel to drag her to a gym at the crack of dawn when Saturday morning should be her down time.

If it makes any difference, it’s a David Lloyd gym. DD is a member and she enjoyed a breakfast in the restaurant area and read a book while I did my class. She played with another girl in the play area and the two of them have signed up for a taster kids class so she was fine. But I’ve now received a text from my dad saying he’s heard (obviously from DP) from that “poor DD is being dragged to a gym on Saturdays” so she can stay with him on Friday evenings if she prefers. Obviously I would be expected to drop off and pick her up. I said no.

AIBU to think this is a load of fuss about absolutely nothing?

The OP doesn't want to do that - why should she have to?

Yes - I agree. This thread is so weird especially where people haven't properly read the OP. @Eastie77Returns you've been given some quite unfair drubbing by some people who seem to expect you to put everyone, including your husband, ahead of you, your needs and wants, including managing the health condition you mention.

How dare you not become a Stepford Wife - I'm sure that would please your husband and your father. Or keep doing the reasonable thing, which is what you're currently doing. 🌹

Now wonder why that is...😃

It's 45 fucking minutes!

So it was ok for you to prioritise work? I assume that meant a lot more than 45 minutes. So hypocritical!

Of course children have to do whatever the family need them to do, but this is not a need, at all, the OP is forcing the child up and out of the house unnecessarily, or leaving her behind alone when she is frightened, for nothing other than a gym class.

So you cant go to a gym class while your child is this young, big deal, go when they are older.

Completely normal not to be able to do things because you are a parent. You don't do stuff like this to your kid over a gym class you could do online at home

How about dd goes with Dad then you go and get her?

I think we have all probably been 11 years old, though for some posters it must be a very long time ago, back in the depths of the early 20th century, so backwards are the attitudes!

Or the child can sleep in and go to the football with her father at 9.

That's crap. The OP is fully entitled to have her own interests.

You're not a gym-goer are you?

And as for your subsequent post, her DD doesn't want to do that either.

It makes for a happier parent when they get that tiny bit of 'me time'. Do you never leave your children's sides?

Id see this as an ideal way for her to get used to being at hope alone. Its 15 mins. Even if you're running late its no time

Op... is she nt? I ask because you mention she's having swimming lessons at 11. Most kids round my way are done with them by about age 9, quite unusual to still be in lessons in year 6.

If she is ND is there more to this?

When I was 11 I was downstairs watching tv from 7am on a Saturday morning. It was one of the few times I had no supervision and I loved it!

@sheoaouhra

lol “don’t do stuff like this to your child”

lol, it’s getting up early and sitting in a cafe or staying at home. Hardly like op is throwing her kid in a prison cell so she can go to gym is it? Get a grip hun!

More shite.

Mine did lessons until they were 11. None of them are ND.

The OP has already said that her DD is NT.

Totally different if they actually want to be doing an activity. Obviously.

would you want to be forced out of bed before you were fully rested every saturday so someone else can go to a gym class? I bet not

I actually can't believe that anyone posted this!!!

"So you cant go to a gym class while your child is this young, big deal, go when they are older."

WTAF?

....takes out the world's tiniest violin...

She can go to bed earlier then.

You don't do stuff like this to your kid over a gym class you could do online at home

Jesus. Some of these posts can't be real.

@sheoaouhra

erm yes I would be , and I have been!
because I understand the importance of health and fitness and my parents being able to do something for themselves, for them to have some self care. I didn’t think the world revolved around me when I was a kid.

@Eastie77Returns 😂😂😂

Still had them out of bed at sparrow's fart!!

Compromise isn't in your vocabulary is it?

She hasn't been forced to do anything - she can stay home on her own for 15 minutes, or go with her dad and brother to football practise.

There's a whiff of ableism in some of these posts that are critical of the OP. The OP mentioned that the class is important to help manage a health issue. But some posters think that the OP's health should also take a back seat to the desires of the rest of the family.

The mentality of some of these posts is mind-boggling and frankly, somewhat disturbing!

Totally agree with this