mom tips

Finding time away from the kids to exercise can sometimes feel more daunting than the actual workout. With that crazy, superhuman schedule of yours, your fitness routine doesn't have to fall to the wayside. Check out our suggestions for squeezing in a workout and burning a few extra calories without hitting the gym. There's no reason your workout (aka "me time") has to be cut from your "to-do" list again.

• At sports practices: School is starting back up and so do afterschool sports. While your little players are breaking a sweat, you can too. Instead of hovering in the stands or running errands, take that hour to yourself. Go for a run around the field's perimeter or take a walk through the neighborhood. Let's get real: an hour isn't enough time to accomplish many errands, but it is enough time to get up and get going!
• Between errands: The next time you're on carpool duty or running to the store (no pun intended), take note of local gyms, studios, and parks on your usual path. Choosing a convenient option that easily fits into your routine will make your workout feel seamless. A quick run or workout in the park won't waste any extra travel time.
• During vacation: We know your vacations probably aren't spent leisurely lying on the beach. Take advantage of time off with your kids by planning active activities the whole family will enjoy. Wherever you are, explore hiking trails or spend the day playing in the pool together. Kids will love the adventure, and you will be happy to sweat without any scheduling or extra effort.
• During downtime: Use those rare moments of peace and tranquility for a cardio burst. While your kids are napping, pop in a workout DVD or cue up a 10-minute Class FitSugar video. Or during TV time, fit in a quick total body workout that can be done right beside the couch!
• Exercise with the kids: Spend time with your tykes by working out together. Go on walks together or, if you have littler ones, invest in a jogging stroller like this Phil & Teds Dot Buggy ($450). If your children are a bit older, take the bikes out and explore your town. You'll find their energy makes them the best workout partners a mom could ask for.

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts over on BabyCenter, including this post from Joyce Slaton with her tips for disciplining your children!


Few things make me see red quicker than that question, or its multifarious cousins: Can't you keep that kid quiet? Don't you think your child should be sitting down? Why are you letting him make that noise? Ask these questions in my presence, and you are asking for a swift lecture in a very snappy voice that will leave you feeling about a half-inch tall.

Related: Stupid Things Parents Do

So in her blog post yesterday "I'm at My Wit's End as a Mom," when Kristina wrote "I suck at being a mom because I cannot control my kid," I wanted to reach right through the screen and give her a big, fat hug. Oh, Kristina. You don't suck! What sucks is the system that tells us we should be able to control other human beings who are all id and absolutely no superego.

We have such a thing in America about control. We're supposed to be happy and carefree, calm and in control, no matter what's going on in our lives. We're supposed to look on the bright side. We're supposed to stand quietly in line with composed faces, keeping our bodies still and our mouths closed. We're supposed to lead a line of children following meekly along behind us like ducklings, right into the restaurant where they are to sit and eat their salads, speaking only when spoken to. Children are supposed to sleep in their own beds, share without asking, say thanks for horrible presents, and wear whatever mommy damn well says to.

More after the jump.

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts over on BabyCenter, including this post from Sabrina Garibian about her tips for other new moms!

Now that my son is almost a month old, I feel like I can share mom advice.

Ha. That’s a joke. I still don’t know what I’m doing. I’m like a camel in an ocean just trying to survive. And sleep deprivation makes you think of weird analogies like that.

Related: 7 Bad Excuses For Neglecting "Me" Time

Anyway, we did survive the very difficult first two weeks well. Of course, there is the standard advice of sleep when the baby sleeps and so on, but I have some even more practical tips for the new moms who might need a little help just surviving. Here they are:

• Go paper. For the first two weeks use paper plates and plastic cups and silverware. It felt very wasteful to me to do that, but it was also a lifesaver. Just finding the time to heat up a meal was difficult in itself. The dishes would never have gotten done had we used them.
• Use straws. If you plan on nursing, you won’t have free hands available for drinking, yet you’ll be very thirsty. Fill up a few cups of water for your nursing station and use a straw to drink up.
• Take advantage of Diapers.com. Their shipping policies are incredible, and you will get anything you need within a day or two. I placed three or four orders for random items in the first two weeks and was so thankful to wake up the following morning to a package.
• Hire a lactation consultant before you have issues. This is for the breastfeeding moms. I had a lactation consultant come three days after we came home from the hospital. It was a great decision as she helped me fine tune our technique. Breastfeeding is going really well (aside from an oversupply issue), and I have that early visit to thank.
• Plan meals. We only had a few freezer meals at our disposal, and I wish I had made more. You will not find time to cook unless you are supermom.
• Don’t cut your hair. This might seem silly, but it was a crucial mistake I made. I have this one piece of shorter hair in the front that keeps falling into my face at the most inopportune times. Until I could figure out how to juggle a baby in my hand and doing something else, I had to deal with hair in my eyes. Don’t make the same mistake I did.

What tips do you have to add?

More great stories from BabyCenter.com:
Finding time for my second child
7 easy Halloween treats for kids
Should you take your kids to an ultrasound?
7 tips for great newborn pictures

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