And, sometimes, they surprise you

Sitting on my to-do list for the last couple of weeks was to finally take the kids to the childcare room at my gym. M and I have belonged to this gym almost since we moved into our house (*cough* four years ago *cough*), as a couple/family membership, and it includes use of the childcare room. I went regularly for a while before I got pregnant, did some personal training, etc.  Then miscarriage fears and a higher-risk pregnancy got me out of the habit and… well… a few years passed.

Anyways, I decided that today was the day. I told the kids we were going to the gym and there was a big room with toys and kids where they could play while I exercised.  I barely had them signed in when they took off exploring.  A castle over here, a big play kitchen over there.  A lego table, a play-doh table, a craft table.  Door open to the fenced-in outdoor play space since the weather was cooperating.  I could barely get their attention long enough to tell them I was going to go exercise.  Told one of the caregivers it was their first time, just in case, and off I went.

I decided to make it a short stint for our first time.  20 minutes on the elliptical.  I was anxious most of the time (though it helped that many of the cardio machines had TVs and I could just watch an episode of Cash Cab), and kept looking over my shoulder, waiting for someone in a red shirt to come looking for me with an annoyed and/or apologetic look on their face.  No one came.

I cooled off for a minute and went back to the childcare room.  Daniel was at the Lego table, Rebecca outside on a rocking toy, content as could be.  I got their attention, and they seemed happy to see me.  I asked if they were ready to go home. “No.”  Did they want to stay here and play some more? “Yes.”  Should Mommy go do some more exercising? “Yes!”  And off they went.

Seriously.  My kids essentially sent me away so that they could play some more.  So, away I went and did another 20 minutes on the elliptical and some stretching.

When it was finally time to go home, Daniel shed his first tears because he didn’t want to leave.  He was maybe a touch on the frayed/defiant side after we got home, but hard to pinpoint whether that had anything to do with our gym experience, since it was on the spectrum of his normal behavior.

I was hugely, pleasantly, awesomely surprised by how well they did.  I know there will be days when things don’t go as smoothly, and my turn will come when the red-shirted lady comes to tap me on the shoulder. But in the meantime, say hello to our new Tuesday/Thursday activity!

I feel like this is yet another door opened in our world.  While I could have dropped them off there at 6 months (they have a little gated-off area for the littlest ones with someone tending to them full-time), I don’t think I could have done it at 18 months when they were at a peak of clinginess.  But two? Perfect.

It also is a great way to feel like I’m getting a great benefit for myself (alone time, exercise), while not “taking anything away” from the kids.  They’re in a fun environment, lots of things to play with, other kids, and some time away from me, all of which I think are positive things.  So, there you go.  For an hour or so, we all get something good.

And I may have stashed some fruit snacks in my bag as a reward for spectacular behavior.