Staying focused when kids are sick

My daughter woke up today not feeling well.  Many thoughts crossed my mind immediately after I looked into her sad eyes and heard the whining that usually accompanies a cold or other common childhood illness.  My panic-stricken thoughts went something like this:  Oh, oh, she's going to have to stay home, does she have a fever? I wonder if I'll catch what she has?(a little selfish thought) Oh my goodness what about the gym? I have a client to see and a class to teach?  Hmmm what do I do now?  Ok those thoughts came in and quickly left my mind because I knew I needed to focus and take one step at a time. 

First, make sure Baby Girl (BG) is OK.  She has a low grade fever, a little tummy ache but otherwise well enough to hang with me for the day.  She recovered from her illness shortly after I told her she could stay home from school and also when she realized the school bus had come and gone, without her.  I guess she figured it was safe to "get all better."

  Next step was to figure out what to do about my client and my class at the gym.  I called in a few favors and had another instructor teach they class and rescheduled my appointment.  That takes care of my responsibilities at the gym.  With baby fed, settled in the playroom and happily playing with BG (when I wasn't looking) I knew it was time to tackle some chores around the house.  My to-do list looked something like this:

• Laundry
• Dishes
• Mop kitchen floor
• Change bed sheets
• Work on taxes, homework, bills
• Play with the kids

However, I also needed to fit in a workout so here's what I did:

• (warm-up) Laundry – ran up and down the stairs 4X –then switched the laundry, repeated the run before folding the clean load

• (legs) Dishes –squats for 30 seconds then empty the dishwasher; calf raises as I put away dishes, plié squats for 30 seconds then fill up the dishwasher

Squats:

Plié:

Calf raise:

• (back, chest, arms) Mop  kitchen floor –push-ups against the kitchen counter—then continue to sweep/mop the floor (that's a workout in its own)

Push ups:

• (more legs, shoulders, chest) Change bed sheets – walking lunges on the way to the bedroom, push-ups and triceps dips on the stairs, went up the stairs two steps at a time

Walking lunges:

• (glutes, quads) Work on taxes, homework, bills, etc. – sat on the stability ball and bounced for 30 seconds, rest 15, bounce 30—did that for 2 minutes

Stability ball bounce:

• (abdominals) Play with the kids – Lay on the floor, rest child on my shins, then extend the legs at a 45 degree angle, bring the knees back in towards face—they love that.  While on the floor do crunches in the center, left and right obliques—BG enjoyed showing off her floor exercises.  Apparently she feels well enough to do this…hmmm funny how quickly they recover.

Abdominals:

My heart was racing; I felt energized and got a lot done in the process.  Now I can sit with the kids and watch Dora and my childhood show, Sesame Street, before lunch and nap time roll around.

My point here is that there are opportunities to fit in exercise; we just don't see it sometimes because we are blinded by all that we have to do throughout the day.  With or without the kids home from school, find the time to fit in 10 minutes here and there, before  you know it, they will be joining you and those ten minutes will soon become 20 and this exercise thing I keep pushing will soon become a habit. 

I hope some of these ideas will inspire you to get moving.  Please share your ideas for great chores+exercise routine.

Stay well,

Spin Diva

Comments

[Zandria]

Very cool! I liked how you showed examples of what you did to get your workout in. :)

[Topsy-Techie]

These sound like incredible ideas for fitting fitness into your daily "home routine." Just glad there isn't a camera around when I try it out!! :-)

[Topsy-Techie]

These sound like incredible ideas for fitting fitness into your daily "home routine." Just glad there isn't a camera around when I try it out!! :-)

[lynn]

great ideas and love the pics. i also had matthew home today and yes he also felt better after i called the school and the bus went by the house. it's something how they recover so fast

[LisaN]

Great post. I've always loved the idea of combining household chores with exercise.............:)

[SpinDiva]

It is actually a lot of fun and great bonding time to get the kids involved in my daily activities. She was really cracking up when I was lifting her on my legs-- all 45+ lbs. The baby is a bit easier as he only weighs 25 lbs- but again, he loves it, it's like a roller coaster ride for him and a great abdominal workout for me...still sore today!

By the way, thanks for stopping in everyone!

[MizFit]

I LOVE THIS Spin Diva.

swing by the MizFit if youre even in the neighborhood.

the Bumbling Band would love to have you.

M.

[MizFit]

I LOVE THIS Spin Diva.

swing by the MizFit if youre even in the neighborhood.

the Bumbling Band would love to have you.

M.