While I strive to elevate my heart rate for the recommended 20 minutes of exercise, my children consistently disrupt me every 20 seconds with various demands, comments, or simply requests for a “snuggle” while I try to hold a plank with my exhausted arms. Below is a list of the 34 things my kids require from me during my workout:
- A snack
- To turn on the television
- To assist with a bathroom issue
- To change the TV channel
- To create a more engaging story than what’s on TV
- Another snack, despite the fact that they just had one hours ago; they claim they’re starving and request seven pieces of bacon.
- To examine a minor injury, insisting it’s right there—pointing emphatically.
- To inform me that someone has an itchy foot
- To retrieve Connect Four from the shelf
- To determine who is playing as red and who is black in Connect Four
- An egg, a cotton ball, and the pillows from my bed
- One of my bras, as they assert “we’re just experimenting”
- To notify me that the younger sibling just consumed a cotton ball
- To inquire: What occurs if raw egg is placed in a bra?
- To immediately call Timmy’s mother for a playdate, insisting they haven’t seen Timmy in ages
- To research new paint colors for their room, specifically something ninja-themed
- To report that “someone” has an unpleasant odor
- To power up the computer for a game
- To request seven additional pieces of bacon
- To quickly open an email so he can write “happy birthday” to grandma
- The “secret code” for the credit card
- To ask what “life-size” means
- $124
- Snack
- To inquire about the meaning of a “pen pal”
- Also, what is a “loosie”?
- To imitate a Tyrannosaurus rex roar
- To point the computer camera at me for just two seconds
- Snack
- To ask what a “hashtag” is
- To declare “hah hah #wobblymom is trending”
- To say “look mommy, it’s you!”
- To help put away the yoga mat
- To refuse to eat dinner
This humorous depiction of the interruptions I face during my workouts highlights the challenges many parents encounter when trying to maintain their health amidst the demands of parenthood. If you want to learn more about navigating parenthood while pursuing your fitness goals, feel free to check out our other blog posts at this link. For resources on pregnancy and home insemination, Healthline offers excellent insights, while Make a Mom is an authority on the topic of at-home insemination kits.
In summary, the reality of trying to exercise while managing the endless demands of children can often feel overwhelming, yet it serves as a reminder of the joys and chaos of parenting.