I don’t know what to do. I need to exercise. It’s my therapy, my release, my survival. But, I’m at a crossroads. I’ve been running on the treadmill in my basement for months and am now at a plateau. To reach my desired goal of health and wellness, I’ve got to mix it up with other types of cardio and weight-training. This means the gym.
So I joined a gym near me, and it’s great. I got a great deal for the year that includes all classes (spinning and yoga too!), parking is always available and free. There’s even a spacious and airy daycare room with ECE-trained attendants for the Baby.
If only she would stay there.
Today, I attempted to go to a Body Sculpt class( imagine hundreds of squats and lunges to the tunes of Carla Bruni. Cool down to Tibetan monks chanting – I’m not lying) in the morning. She cried the whole time. Her cries were so loud that they echoed throughout the gym. Audible daggers that pierced my heart. I’m just not tough enough to leave her crying like that.
Should I persevere and hope that she’ll start to like it there? I don’t want to give up on my own fitness and health – as a mom, it’s even more important to me to be healthy and active. But, at what point is it just too hard?
Oh, Amreen, I have soooooo BTDT. I know what it feels like – there is not much worse than those audible daggers, is there? My advice would be to persevere, and see if she will like it there. Maybe go 30 mins before your class and play with her in the childcare room for a while, to let her know it’s a safe place and not just the room where Mommy dumps her and leaves. Or go when a different caregiver is working and see if she bonds with one of them, then go to the gym when you know she is working. Or try asking the caregiver to hold her as you leave…these are all strategies that worked (as much as anything works) for my kids around the same age. But nothing is going to be sure-fire. Sometimes they just want Mommy. At least you know we understand!!!