The things we give up....

When we decided to have children we knew there would be things we would give up...lots of things in fact.  This post is by no means a whiny tale of a mom who wants her life back...I love my new life.  I am just torn...but we will get to that in a minute.

First I want to focus on what we have given up. We have given up big things like my income and little things like space in our living room which is now filled with baby stuff.  We have given up tough things like sleep and easy things like watching tv whenever.  We have given up important stuff like date night and frivolous stuff like hanging out in bars.  All of these things are not that a problem for me...in fact I cherish them because in exchange I have an amazing baby and a great husband that has turned into a great father. 

But here is my dilemma.  I need to lose weight and I need to exercise.  Both make me feel better and obviously the more exercise I get, the easier it will be to lose the weight.  But both my Weight Watchers meetings and Baby Boot Camp take place smack dab in the middle of Baby S's morning nap.  A nap that he used to take while I was doing those things or after we got home, but he has stopped being able to nap when there are lots of people around and waiting for the nap just results in a whole lot of crying screaming on his part. If he happens to make it through the morning without the nap and without the crying, he has a tough time going down for a nap in the afternoon and then barely sleeps.  This, of couse, then results in one really exhausted and crying screaming kid.  So what do I do?  Clearly Baby S's needs supersede mine, but if me being healthier and happier from the exercise and weight loss makes me a better mom, doesn't that benefit Baby S?  The answer is yes, of course, but I need to find another way to get to that result.  I might need to go to a different Weight Watchers meeting, which would be fine I guess.  I might also need to start exercising on my own, which is the real tough part because I am not very motivating...at least nothing like the instructors and fellow moms at boot camp. 

So I know the decision that I have to make and considering how well Baby S is sleeping this week when I have stayed home, it really isn't a decision at all.  I am just going to pout for a little while and then figure out a way to get my butt into gear to go for a run when he wakes up....

Mommy C