Am about to become a first time dad in about a month and just wondered through your experiences how it affected your running. I appreciate that obviously time will be more limited and also sleepless nights may also be a factor but I would still like to have some ME time. Will this be possible or am I being selfish by thinking this way??? Please share your experiences and advice.
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Wasn't a runner when Lyra Junior was born (she's 4.5 now), but when babies are very little, they do sleep a fair bit during the day. You will need to work around little Miss or Master Zip to begin with until you can establish a bit of a routine.
You're certainly not being selfish! Especially as you will be providing your child with a healthy, fit role model in years to come.
All the best!
x
You each need to make time for yourself – but you need to bear in mind that OH will need support too – and will definitely need some me time herself so disappearing out of the door when you come home from work and she has had a cr*p day may not be appreciated. I don’t run anymore (although can jog) but that is more to do with a long term injury
Above all enjoy it – being dad is the brilliant experience (so is breaking 3 hours though)
Totally off the subject so back on it
It is a brilliant experience and love being Dad despite the tears and tantrums (he's 3 now) and the sleepless nights and the nights in the spare bed with him because he wants to sleep in with me! - good luck again
Found the 2nd and 3rd months of being a parent really tough - all those long car drives just trying to stop the crying! Apparently that is normal and when baby gets to 3 months old, things just seem to get easier.
Zip, have you thought about getting one of those prams you can run with?
child giggling for the first time
taking their first steps (and you feeling so proud)
giving the magic kiss and making it all better (that worked for all of us)
"Mamma" or "Dadda" for the first time
the first smile at you (that is not wind)
you being able to stop the tears
and being so proud of your wife for giving you such a beautifil child.
Carving out some me-time for both yourself and Mrs Zip should be straightforward provided you don't make the mistake of letting yourselves be outnumbered by your children ;o)
If you DO have to take some time off running to support Mrs Zip or because you're just plain exhausted, please hold on to the fact that it DOES get easier. It really does.
I've got 4 children and wasn't awake enough to run until the youngest was well past her third birthday.
One of my biggest running highs was crossing the line with my three year old at the end of the mini Great North Run. She managed the whole mile on her own two feet, and when she crossed the line I swept her up and felt tears in my eyes.
As has been said above, it's about balance. No reason at all why you can't find time for yourself as well as enjoying the joys of fatherhood and supporting Mrs Zip. And, if you can combine the two some day, it's magic.
When my kids were babies, i can remember getting really worried if DH wasnt home when he said he would be...i think motherhood brought out the anxiety in me! So, if you go out running, maybe stick to routes that are close to home, and tell Mrs Zip where you are going, and when you will be home, and then make sure you are....there is sometimes nothing worse than having a baby crying, for no good reason, and not knowing when daddy is coming home!
Enjoy your baby! It is such an exciting time!
The little buggers will drain you of all your energy.. empty your bank account.. deprive you of sleep.. you can forget ever having a sex life again.. your childless friends will stop calling.. your newly painted walls will have felt-tip pen srawled over them.. you will find baby sick on your clothes 30 seconds before you go to work, or (even worse) when you arrive at work.. you will understand just how far projectile vomit can travel in a car and just how much stitching your leather upholstery has when you try to clean out it.. your 4 year will ask in a clearly audible voice in Sainsburys "why is that lady fat?", pointing to the lady in the next aisle..
All these things and much, much more...
Is it worth it...??
Of course it is..
I have two and wouldn't change these things for anything...
Best of luck.. run when you can, be flexible and maintain your sense of humour through it all...
For all those of us with 2 or more babies/toddlers/under 5's - How annoying is it to talk to new parents with one baby and they say how they have no time to do anything and are always tired!! You want to hold them by the shoulders and shout "GIVE ME A BREAK, YOU DONT KNOW HOW EASY YOU HAVE IT".
Phew, where did that come from? I'll get my coat.....
Loved Dark Vaders comments!
Exactly how I would put it.
That said I took up running when S3 was 6 monts old as way of getting fit now and just juggle my runs around rest of family - its harder now they are older as we have to fit round their social and sporting activities - I did get day pass out on Sunday to run Slog - no wonder I enjoyed it.
Best of luck - and enjoy them!!
'I CAN'T COPE ANYMORE'
Sadly his boss had answered it for him cause he was busy.
Apparently he just passed it straight to husband saying 'I think this is for you'
Not saying I disagree with you, but when you first became a Dad were you thinking, 'This is SO much easier than having two' ?
I bet you wouldn't have appreciated being told that you had it easy.
Because of Mrs FR's condition the baby was put on a "high risk" register, and various harpies and harridens from Social Services made it their business to remove the child. I spent so much time overturning cauldrens and setting fire to broomsticks that I didn't have time to go running.
But it was a joyful time, and Mrs FR turned out to be the most wonderfully attentive mother and I did get back to running eventually.
Congratulations Zip - you'll have the best Christmas present.
Just thought I'd mention.
My daughter is almost 4 and I was looking after her alone on Saturday night as my wife had a few days in Bath. My daughter would not sleep so I left her in her room playing. At 9.00pm I thought I better go and get her settled (for the 5th time). I walked in and she had got hold of some nail varnish and she had painted her fingers, feet and all around her eyes!! What a fright I got and spent the next 30 minutes carefully cleaning the varnish of her eyelids and eye lashes. The next day I could still see the purple shade when she blinked.
Our 3rd is due in May.....
;-)