Being a parent has made me fitter than I thought

OK, so I admit it. I was online, possibly tweeting and definitely not doing anything with the enormous pile of laundry that has taken over the utility room.   My alarm had gone off to let me know it's nearly time to go and get the kids from their various schools but I knew I had one snooze before I really had to leave.

As I finished submitting something unimportant on some website I glanced up at the clock.... what?  I looked at my phone....nooooo, I've hit 'stop' instead of 'snooze'. Blast that recent iPhone update that's switched things all over the place!  "Ahhhhhhh" I yelp as I literally jump out of the kitchen chair and launch myself towards the counter, "I'm going to be late!"

Let me explain.  For just over two years I've spent a ridiculous amount of time in the car ferrying my kids to schools. Mostly this is because they both had special educational needs linked to their autism (or Autistic Spectrum Disorder - ASD) and other conditions they have.  They have different requirements and so need different educational settings - that's school to most of us mummy types.  In the year that Anthony was in Yr 2 at his primary school, David was in a special needs nursery school 4 miles away.  Sounds like nothing right.  Except we live in south west London.

We were fortunate that drop of and pick up times were a bit different, if nothing else because David was just in 'afternoons' sessions.  But I did the math several times and I was spending over 2.5 hrs every school day just driving the kids to school.  Add that all up and it's like spending an entire month, 24 hours a day, in my car over that year.  Insane! And poor little Jane was thrown in and out of the car constantly - guess where she had most of her naps as a toddler?

When David started at reception we were very fortunate to get him into a specialist autism unit next to a mainstream school.   It wasn't Anthony's school but and it was only half a mile from it.  As Anthony also has ASD we were not planning on moving him from a school he was doing well in - so that meant it was a double drop-off and pick-up.  I tried driving between the schools but traffic and parking made it unpredictable.

I spoke to David's school about it and was allowed to park in a car park at David's school, drop David at 8.45am and then semi-jog/quick walk with Anthony on a scooter and Jane in a buggy (despite being three she couldn't keep up with the pace we need to make it) through a cemetery to just make it to Anthony's school for 9.55am. Then Jane an I would walk back through the cemetery to get the car.  In the afternoon I only had a five minute window (pick-ups were 3.15pm and 3.20pm), but as traffic was better I tended to drive. I have developed superb parking skills as a result.

This year, Jane is now at pre-school at Anthony's school too.  She's dropped at lunchtime and her pick-up is at 3.30pm (seriously?).

But this means that after spending what feels like months in a car (no wait actually months) I've been taking the opportunity since mid September to walk(!) back home.  After the cemetery speed walk each morning, Jane and I do whatever is on the agenda for the day and then I take her to pre-school at 12.20pm. Because there is no general school pick up at this time I always get a prime parking spot within 20m of Anthony and Jane's school.  So I figured, why move it?

Instead I've been walking back across the park which is a bit shorter than a car journey and takes about 35 minutes.  Then later walk back over the David's school, collect David, walk to Anthony's school where I'm usually about 2 minutes late, but just close enough for the everyone to still be OK about it, then go collect Jane.  Finally I'm not spending my life in the car.  It works well..unless. Unless I'm a complete idiot and forget to leave the house on time.

As I'm stood in the kitchen staring frantically at the clock, I realise the car is waiting at the school, the bus will take too long ... the only thing I can do is run to get to the schools.  Being late isn't just a bit embarrassing (thought it obviously is), but it can be really difficult for my kids to understand.  Quite often things have to be 'just so' and change and variation from the norm can be upsetting and confusing for them.  This is extremely common in autism.  It means if something happens I can't just phone another parent and ask them to collect Anthony or David today... that just can't happen.  It used to be that even collection by Anthony's Dad or grandparents needed prior warning if he wasn't going to meltdown at the door of the classroom or on the way home in the car.

So, in a slightly mad panic, I abandon my coat and rucksack, grab my car/house keys and throw myself out the door.  Yep.. I'm running to school (past three other schools on the way) and on a day that's just turned sunny, I'm doing it in jeans, a wool jumper and my converse.

Now I did do a bit of running. I randomly decided I wanted to run a marathon just over ten years ago. Despite all my training, I can honestly say that running it was the second most painful thing in my life after childbirth, but all I got at the end of it was a lousy medal. I haven't done any running since and have absolutely no idea where my trainers are... if I still gave any? So, as I get to the end of my road and pass school number one, I'm pleased that I haven't yet collapsed, seem to be still breathing and mostly that there are only two parents watching me (the obviously mad woman running in jeans on a sunny day) .

Then across a zebra crossing (quick walk there to be safe) up the hill over the bridge (well hills are agony is all I can say.  That was barely running up there). As it flattens out, I slow down to a fast walk as I cut past a road that leads to another school and cross the high street to get into the park.  Fortunately it's pretty empty which is just as well - as I look down at my phone I'm panicking again... get running Ann!

Running in the shade of the lovely tress was fine, but in the sun was rubbish,  I got hot really quickly and the jeans started to stretch and sag.  I also began to worry a bit - my pelvic floor never really recovered from the last birth.  Heck, it never really recovered from the first one never mind the next two.  So I stop for a second at the gate out of the park to focus a little then head off up the remaining quiet residential streets to get to David's school.

I can nearly wave at Anthony's school on the way but ignore it as I've to get to David's first.  I'm held up a minute at traffic lights about 200m from my target.. but take the opportunity to breath and double check I've not leaked anywhere ... phew!

I stop running as I round the main drag for David's school, partly in case I accidentally but enthusiastically  bowl over a scooter riding infant, but mostly cos it's just embarrassing and I'd like to look less like a sweaty mess on arrival at David's unit.  I make it 90 seconds late.  Not bad.

As I collect David, I check his day has been OK - apparently he's got a bit a thing with a girl going on... soooo sweet. I always grab a kiss when I collect him as he's only just started allowing kisses so I encourage it, well, as much as possible to be honest. Then we set off through the cemetery to collect Anthony and Jane.

I breath.. apart from the slight stickiness from my jeans (yuk) I'm OK.  I'm not out of breath, I'm not collapsed.  And I (except for the odd stop at traffic lights, zebra crossings and gates) ran three miles, in jeans, a jumper and converse.

Turns out that despite having spent weeks in the car over the last two years, looking after the kids must be doing something for my fitness after all.  Because basically that's all I've done.  I'm often worried about things like carrying David when he's having a meltdown hurting my back or the like.. but I guess running around with them has it's plus points.

When we get back home I celebrate by removing my somewhat sweaty converse and heading for the fridge.  Nothing like a bit of random exercise to make you hungry.  We all celebrate being back home with a bit of Kinder chocolate.  NB. Don't buy any more kids chocolate Ann, you'll only eat it!

Do manage to get any fitness into your routine since becoming a parent?  How do you cope with being late?

Links
Our blog - It took five years for my son to let me kiss him on the lips - I'm not stopping now
Our blog - The slightest change can be difficult
Our blog - Accessing specialist units or schools
Our blog - Meltdown - my son's despair at only one shoe


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