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It’s so important to figure out how to fit exercise with kids into your schedule.
Every year around the beginning of January, anxiety bubbles up in my gut.
Small annoyances, like a plastic dinosaur left on the bathroom floor or a stray Goldfish crushed into the carpet lead me toward a dark path.
I begin to wonder whether I’m cut out for this mom stuff. Whether I should pack in all of this homeschool gobbledy gook and fill out public school registration forms.
And then I remember.
I.
Need.
Exercise.
When you get moving your body produces more of pretty much every feel-good happy days hormone there is.
And when you don’t exercise for awhile, because for example, it’s below freezing and a gym membership isn’t in the budget…
Well, let’s just say it becomes difficult to be the happiest mama you can be.
Here are 5 ways to exercise with kids.
And not one of them requires you to sign up for a mommy-and-me class.
1. Ride bikes.
You really don’t need anything fancy.
If you don’t have a bike, ask your family and friends.
There’s a good chance someone has one in the garage that hasn’t seen the light of day in a little while.
Just attach a babyseat to your bike for your littlest peanut, and find somewhere flat enough for older kids to ride safely ahead of you.
2. Take out the jogging stroller (even if you just take a long walk).
I got mine at Target.
It was the $150 needle in the haystack of $400+ models.
I’ve had it for three years and I have no complaints yet.
You can also ask around to see if anyone you know has one to borrow or hand down.
Then either put the baby in the stroller and let your older kiddo walk with you.
Or you can wear your little guy and put your bigger kid, usually up to 50 pounds, in the stroller.
3. Take a hike for fun exercise with kids.
Literally.
I usually tell the kids we’re going to pick berries to avoid complaints.
(And if they’re in season we do in fact pick some.)
Obviously you want to stay on a marked trail in good daylight.
And make sure to pack water and snacks and check the weather before you head out.
4. Go for a swim.
We have access to a private lake in our community.
And boy do we make the most of that.
From late spring to early fall.
You can also check out your local Y, the nearest ocean, or a good friend’s pool.
Some gyms or sports clubs have memberships that allow you pool access without paying the full membership fee.
So that might be something to check out as well.
5. Get to work.
Yard work, that is.
You don’t need to do official exercise with kids to get your blood pumping and your body moving.
I find that I feel so much better for at least a full day if I even mow the lawn, rake the leaves or pull up some weeds.
And if winter is approaching, make a useful chore out of it.
Get the kids collecting fallen twigs and branches to use as kindling in the months ahead.
The Shift From Hopeless To Happiness
You can engage your kids and change your outlook all at once.
All it takes is making the choice to get up and get moving.
You are one activity away from being one happy mama.
So are you ready to feel the joy that your Creator wants for you?
What will you do to let it in?
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