Saturday, August 10, 2013

Priorities

**I swear there is more to this blog than just pictures of the baby and weekly running updates.  I will be running several races in the next couple of weeks.  Get excited!!!**

Last week I posted on Facebook about my 12 mile run I did on a weeknight.  A friend left a comment saying, basically, that she didn't know how I balanced my time having a new baby and training.  This was a little, tiny punch to the gut for me as I've had a bit of 'mommy guilt' about training as much as I have, but there are several reasons why I shouldn't feel guilty and am finding balance in my life.

We spend a lot of time with the baby.  Dave and I both work, but the baby does not go to a sitter or daycare.  I work part time and I work really early in the morning: 6-10am.  Dave starts work after I come home from work (he works from home).  So, the baby gets daddy and mommy all day long.

We will sometimes include Anderson in the workouts.  We will either put him in the stroller and push him while we run or, if need be, he will sit in his swing while I am on the treadmill.  We also have a membership to the Y which has baby sitting, although we have yet to use this.

Dave and I split our workouts.  On our long weekend workouts, he gets Saturday mornings and I get Sunday mornings.  During the weeknights, if our workouts are short enough, I will do one and then he will do one and we will eat dinner after the baby has gone to bed.  On days we one of us has longer workouts, we will either do part of it together with the baby or use the treadmill/trainer for part of it and then when the other person is finished they will take care of the baby. 

All of this, currently, works for us as the baby is not mobile.  I'm not sure how we'll have to adjust once he starts crawling and walking.

I was talking to a friend about my mommy guilt while working out.  She said, "running helps us be the best version of ourselves - that will help you be a better mom, and a great role model for him."

Exactly.


2 comments:

Kristin S. said...

I think it's awesome that you continue to train after baby. Every family is different and what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another. But you're setting a great example for him by both of you continuing to do what you love!

Caroline said...

Meredith, I've read your blog for awhile and I've really enjoyed following along as you balance motherhood and training. I'm not a parent so I have zero expertise in the field, but from the standpoint of an athlete who someday wants to be a parent, I really admire you and your husband's ability to balance it all and I just think it is so great that you still have passions and are still pursuing the things that mattered to you before you became a mom. My parents had their own interests outside of raising us kids and I think it was really healthy and set a good example and helped us all be a little more independent. Good luck with your upcoming races!