By: Christine MS

Christine MS — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:07:39 +0000

Hi, Sonja,
I’ve been there with you in this. I know this problem. Training the kids is harder than training yourself. First, they don’t want your attention distracted from their needs. Second, kids are naturally drawn to movement. What could be more fun than moving with Mom?
In the beginning, it involved a serious discussion beforehand about what would happen if they interrupted me needlessly. I would make a point of addressing all needs before I began so they knew they still came first.
If they’re not visibly hesitating before interrupting, the discussion has not been clear enough. I had to get angrier than I normally would, angrier than I really felt so they would weigh how badly they needed me at that moment against how hard it might be to wait an hour.
When they were very little, I would keep a special video that they only got to watch while I was exercising so they knew enough to make use of the time.
Like with everything we parents do, kids get used to us and bored by us pretty fast.
As for the need to discuss plans for the week, well, we teach others how they can treat us, … but sometimes it is just so much better to leave the house and go to a place where no one has expectations of you.
On the other hand, you sound like you enjoy the gym and have a good system going there, so why rock the boat?

By: sonja

sonja — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:01:34 +0000

I have no problem honoring my workout time. It’s the others in my life who have difficulty with this concept. That is why I go to the gym. No one even talks to me there and there is definitely no one who needs a juice, has a bathroom problem, suddenly would like some soup with fishy crackers, must get me to make a phone call right now, wants to discuss his plans for the week at this particular moment in time…

Comments on: HONOR YOUR WORKOUT TIME

By: Christine MS

By: sonja