Sorrasak Jar Tinyo/Getty Images
- I spend $50 a month on a gym memberships that includes childcare.
- Working out is integral for not only my physical health but also mental health.
- The gym has cameras in the childcare area so I can keep an eye on my kid.
When I first moved to my Long Island, New York home from Queens, I was happy I found a gym less than a 10-minute drive from my home that had my “then qualifications” — less than $75/month, group fitness classes with a variety of cardio/yoga/strength, and one that would let me pause my membership (without fees) when was pregnant and/or postpartum.
Little did I know the best feature the gym had for me would be the one I wasn’t looking for at first.
My local gym offers free daycare every morning for a few hours (and weekday evenings) as part of my membership. Having this service paid for itself many times over.
Working out helps me be a better parent
Working out is an integral part of my mental health and I truly think it helps me be a more patient mom who’s able to handle the squabbles, irrational demands, and complaints that arise when my little boys are home.
My husband has an erratic work schedule and we don’t have family around to help watch the kids, so I rely on my affordable gym membership ($49 a month) to help me work out three-plus times a week and get a child-free break without having to coordinate a sitter and pay them.
While I can do home workouts, as a someone who works full-time from home, leaving my house for exercise and having a space my kids can play (without me supervising) while I’m exercising is very helpful. Not having to listen for squabbles, breaking up fights, fielding snack questions, and wondering “why they’re too quiet” makes for a better workout at the fitness center, knowing the sitters will call my cell if someone needs me.
The childcare is priceless
As any parent of small children knows, you need a break. There have been plenty of days when I don’t have the energy or motivation for a tough workout and feel better after simply walking on the treadmill and listening to a podcast to chill out while my kids are playing and being looked after.
Having free childcare has a host of benefits for me that go beyond my time to work out.
My kids go to summer camp at the gym and get a discount because I’m a member. It also makes it so easy to work out after summer camp drop-off — no excuses if I don’t have a work deadline.
We found a great babysitter to use at night from one of the gym childcare providers our kids not only already know, but also like.
They have a free “family swim” night in their indoor pool that I take my oldest son to sometimes. He’s also taken swim lessons there and, as a member, I was able to drop my youngest at the childcare center to play so I could sit and read a book or work on my laptop instead of juggling a bored toddler for 30 minutes.
They allow parents to drop their kids off for up to two hours at a time. Sometimes, these extra minutes help when I want to shower after a workout and run an errand with them on the way home. My kids get a much-needed change of scenery, play with different toys than we have at home, and get to spend time with kids of varying ages.
They’ve been going since they were babies
My kids know that this is part of our weekend routine and that mom “exercises to be strong and healthy” so I can do things like give them piggyback rides, chase them, and have energy to play with them the rest of the day. I’ve been taking my youngest child to the gym daycare since he was 4 months old and since he’s about to turn 4 years old this fall, he’s grown up with some of the caregivers there.
Beyond the babysitting perk, I love the gym community. Bumping into women from my classes during the week and chatting a bit makes me feel less isolated as a work-from-home mom. I’ve also found the group fitness instructors to be very kind and understanding if I tell them that I’ll be a few minutes late to their class each session because I have to wait for childcare to open.
The gym has an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam room. My membership covers those days when I feel like I want some extra “me” time and don’t have the time or financial resources for a spa day.
I highly recommend if you’re a parent who wants to start or stick with a workout routine, you find a gym with childcare services available. In my experience, you’ll be way more likely to go.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The post For $49 a month, I get to workout, ‘me time,’ and free childcare — it’s the best deal I’ve ever found appeared first on Business Insider.
