Getting to gym with 2 kids after work
Spouse is out of town, I'm determined not to break a recent gym streak. Planned to go to the gym this morning after dropoff, but had a minor emergency at home & couldn't make it.
So, plan B: logged off at 4pm, picked my 6 & 3 year old up around 4:30 (an hour earlier than normal), and took them to the gym with me. The gym has childcare (which they whine about beforehand, but always have a great time). I brought seemingly ample snacks.
Getting to the gym was absolute torture - non-stop bickering, the 3 year old went boneless on the sidewalk & needing to be carried for 10 minutes, incessant whining about what we'd have for dinner. We take public transportation, and they were climbing all over each other.
And then, the same thing on the way home. I'd premade dinner, but didn't have the energy to reheat it by the time we got home, so we ordered pizza
HOW DO I MANAGE THIS? We usually go straight home after pickup, we don't do evening extracurriculars/activities. Any tips for keeping them calm/well-behaved during this 4-7pm window?
I'd usually be smug/proud of myself for making to the gym under these circumstances, but honestly, it wasn't worth it today - I still feel wired up/frustrated from the whole ordeal