The Mom Workout™

Yesterday at the pool, I ran into a woman I haven't seen in a year or two. Her son was in Andrew's class for a while, and we volunteered together in the PTA. She was surprised to see that I'd had another baby (her first language is Spanish, and I can almost hear her thinking "Loco en la cabeza!") and complimented me on me on being back in shape already (I'm not, but it was a nice gesture).

She asked me how I stay fit and what I do for exercise. Let me describe my weightlifting and cardio exercises:

• Chase toddler and preschooler around the house for ten minutes trying to get sunscreen on both and swimsuit on the preschooler
• Run around like a madman trying to make sure I have towels, snacks, water, and all the kids are ready to go
• Arrive at 10, when the pool opens. If I don't get inside and get my stuff on a table in the first 5-10 minutes, I get no shade for the morning. Big incentive to hurry, so I'm walking fast or running as soon as I get out of the car.
• Unload stroller, buckle a squirming, unwilling toddler inside, then push stroller while carrying Lily's carseat, beach bag full of towels, diaper bag, bag of water bottles, and tote full of snacks
• Wrangle the same uncooperative toddler into a swimsuit
• Nurse an infant, holding her in one arm with a sling, while walking around the pool following toddler
• Work out the other arm when she switches sides
• Power-walk down the sidewalk, up a ramp, around a corner, and up to the front gate to catch toddler, who has decided to leave the pool while I'm changing infant's diaper
• Repeat this, doing laps two or three times, as toddler continues to test boundaries and assert his independence by going adventuring on his own
• Do several reps of lifting and carrying said squirming toddler, who does not want to return to pool, while still carrying infant
• When older child's swimming lesson is over, repeat initial uncooperative child routine while buckling toddler into stroller, since he has now decided he doesn't want to leave after all
• Trek back to car while carrying infant carseat, bag of now-heavy-and-sopping-wet towels, slightly-lighter-weight bag od water bottles, and empty bag of snacks
• Wrestle toddler back into a diaper while trying to hold him onto the car seat so he doesn't fall
• Work out arm muscles by buckling five children into carseats in five minutes or less, because you have to rush to pick up another child from somewhere else
• Repeat routine daily

Who needs to go to the gym? I've got the perfect workout already.