Who has young kids?
- Thread starter HorTs
- Start date
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Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
I have 3 kids 3 years apart. Granted they are now older, but I was there, and I can remember it.
I got around it by accepting that I could trade in my "sleeping in" day at the weekend for a bike ride. The other day of the weekend I'd look after the kids while (or if) my wife slept. Given that when you have kids you tend to find you can't sleep in anyway, I found it was more a mental acceptance I had to get up early to cycle rather than a real hardship. Other things? Whenever and where ever possible cycle somewhere -though this may mean you have to have an understanding partner (e.g. if we were going as a family somewhere locally I'd always cycle there to meet up and put the bike in the back). If you can commute into work, all the better.
But, I have to tell you it's hard. But you can do it fairly if you can square it with your partner. I have a couple of strong memories about this: one year I traded in a complete Saturday to do a century ride, but I had the kids all day Sunday (not sure I have the energy to do that nowadays!). Another time I took the morning off, set off early, did 60 miles and then came back to look after the kids for the rest of the day. Yeah, I was tired
I got around it by accepting that I could trade in my "sleeping in" day at the weekend for a bike ride. The other day of the weekend I'd look after the kids while (or if) my wife slept. Given that when you have kids you tend to find you can't sleep in anyway, I found it was more a mental acceptance I had to get up early to cycle rather than a real hardship. Other things? Whenever and where ever possible cycle somewhere -though this may mean you have to have an understanding partner (e.g. if we were going as a family somewhere locally I'd always cycle there to meet up and put the bike in the back). If you can commute into work, all the better.
But, I have to tell you it's hard. But you can do it fairly if you can square it with your partner. I have a couple of strong memories about this: one year I traded in a complete Saturday to do a century ride, but I had the kids all day Sunday (not sure I have the energy to do that nowadays!). Another time I took the morning off, set off early, did 60 miles and then came back to look after the kids for the rest of the day. Yeah, I was tired
I was not expecting that....
KEEF
Veteran
- Location
- BURNOPFIELD
Ate mine
Yet to meet a grown man who doesn't.Well, Mr R does act like a child at times....
Being completely blunt, is the problem the children or the wife?
Are you not going out for a ride because you want to spend the time with your children, or would the wife prefer you to be at home?
The obvious answer is to go before they wake or after they're in bed, but either way it's sacrificing time with your family.
Personally I wouldn't bedgrudge my husband a few rides a week, but I'd probably start to get a bit peeved if he was spending every saturday out on a ride and sunday recovering.
Are you not going out for a ride because you want to spend the time with your children, or would the wife prefer you to be at home?
The obvious answer is to go before they wake or after they're in bed, but either way it's sacrificing time with your family.
Personally I wouldn't bedgrudge my husband a few rides a week, but I'd probably start to get a bit peeved if he was spending every saturday out on a ride and sunday recovering.
OP
OP
HorTs
Über Member
- Location
- Portsmouth
I'm not sure I have a problem as such, it's just the way it is.
What I'd like is a pause button, so I can put the family in stasis, go and have a ride and then come back and unpause them not having missed anything :-).
KneesUp
Guru
Please don't tell me mine is the only kid who gets up at half six?
A pause button would be great, I think I'd have used it to pause them while I took a nap!
I don't think having young children necessarily has to stop you getting out, you just need a tolerant wife.
Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
I agree, but I think you can make it work fairly and well, at least I think I did. Yes, you could argue being out for a ride early on a morning is taking time away from the family, but if it recharges your batteries (and regardless of having a family, IMHO you are still an individual person, and I think it's a good idea to cherish and nourish your own identity -of course family comes first, but I'm trying to say that keeping yourself mentally and physically healthy for you and your family is also a very, very good idea) I think that can be very good..... within reason*. Also, if like me, you took it in turns to sleep in, cycling in the morning when its your turn to sleep in isn't effectively taking anytime away from the family as you'd be asleep anyway. And of course, as a parent, your family should come first.
*completely agree with you about recovery, I'd be peeved and I'm not saying that you should be doing long bike rides all the time and then effectively being zonked for your family the next or same day, which isn't a smart thing, and is a detriment to your family!
*completely agree with you about recovery, I'd be peeved and I'm not saying that you should be doing long bike rides all the time and then effectively being zonked for your family the next or same day, which isn't a smart thing, and is a detriment to your family!
mustang1
Legendary Member
- Location
- London, UK
Ditto, can't seem to get out anywhere. Of course when some household chores need to be done, time is always found for that. Recently I've been on a just-get-fat expedition. My SO noticed and said I should do something about it. I asked her "just let me know when I can do that"
Dec66
A gentlemanly pootler, these days
- Location
- West Wickham
I share your pain.
I used to go out at 5am to get a couple of hours in before my youngest woke up.
Now she wakes up at 4.30am...
[QUOTE 4831400, member: 43827"]Pretty soon s/he will be saying that their old father is still able to go out for rides with them.[/QUOTE]
As each year passes I'm getting fitter and faster. I see no reason why that should change and I fully expect to be competing in the TdF when I'm around 70..
As each year passes I'm getting fitter and faster. I see no reason why that should change and I fully expect to be competing in the TdF when I'm around 70..
