Who Has Ideas for Keeping our Energy Up with Our Kids?

I am 40 and we just had a one and five your old place 10months ago! I was 22 when my second birthchild was born! Big difference let me tell you. Along with keeping energy up also remember your personal safety--I learned the very hard way that my 40 year old body could not recover from the things my 20 something body did...for example when my birht children were 4&5 I fell on my but, roller skating and bruised my tail bone--OUCH but, recovered in a few weeks... and kept on skating! Six weeks after we had our adoptive children I fell over the baby gate and needless to say I have a lot of time right now to spend on the computer---BECAUSE, back surgery takes a long time to recover from!!!!! My husbnd and I have taken a renewed committment to SAFETY issues and following them to the letter. He is a man that in the past didn't always use those safety glasses while cutting wood on the table saw--He does now. We have also noticed it is not realistic to stay up for Saturday Night Live anymore.... the cost on Sunday morning is far more then the tradition of our youth! Our approach as "old people" with kids is to first watch our safety and then take measures to keep our health as good as possible... We enjoy walks in the evenings with the children and choose activities we can handle as old people...It is not realistic anymore to plan a five-mile hike, we are to tired to give piggy back to the children along the way.... Eat right, keep any extra punds off, sleep the 8 hours every night and don't use nap time to do the housework.... take a nap too.

I work out 30 to 45 minutes a day (before my daughter gets up and after she goes to bed). I'd be a wreck if I weren't in shape. It really helps to have stamina.

Well, sure, you can eat right and get lots of rest... or, hey, you can just do what I do... keep your 'reds' handy... Red Bull and red lipstick (worn with sunglasses) can hide a multitude of sins.

I don't have children, but have always worked full time, and then some. I think part of the key, like the others have mentioned, is eating right. It makes a huge difference. Try going for a week of budget-gourmet and McDonalds, then go the next week making a point of it to eat fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal. I also highly recommend vitamins. I think, too, that being active helps keep up your energy levels. It might seem like the last thing you want to do after a hard day at work/parenting, but try doing something aerobic for 30 minutes a few times a week and then see how you feel. If you've been out of the fitness loop for some time, it may take a while to build yourself up, but it's worth it. I'm 45 now, and I still skate (I'm going to get my axel this year if it means breaking every bone in my body), I can hop on a skateboard and even take a fall (not gracefully, but not injured either). I also find that the more I do, the more energy I have to do stuff. I often see parents at the rink coaching their kids while they are PAYING for a coach, and I want to tell them to get out there and try it themselves. I think if you want your kid to have it more than the kid does, then you should be out there doing it for yourself. Have you tried joining your child in physical activities? It's a good way to model lifelong healthy habits, and that active play shouldn't stop at adulthood. You might find yourself more exhilerated than exhausted.

Liquid vitamins and sleeping when the kids sleep works for me. Both DH and I have always been very active so we were already in good shape when the first child came at 40 and 35. My now 12 year old just got to where he can out run me at 49. We just adopted a new child who is 21 months. He goes to bed at 8pm and so do I. Other than that I still throw myself into hard physical work and play. I carry him around in a backpack or sling, push him 2 miles at least 3 times a week in the jog stroller and am trying to figure out how to take him cross country skiing. An active lifestyle helps a lot. I am in better shape and more active with my kids than my 2 sisters in law who are 10 and 12 years younger. Think young, be active and go for it. :)

I love this thread. Many of you have mentioned vitamins. Any good recommendations on what kind and or brand. I get so confused at the stores and so many people have options on these things. Thanks for any insight.

I read the book The Diet Cure and it has helped a lot. It's about taking amino acids (NOT HERBAL, just what your body is supposed to produce anyway) to balance the neurochemicals in your brains that are so out of whack in this society because of environmental factors, additional stress, poor nutrition, poor exercise, etc. It's a great book.

If you find that you don't have much energy.. have your B-12 levels checked! Eat more red meat (my apologies to vegetarians..) or other foods that contain lots of B-12. You could also simply start taking a supplement. My son used to run me ragged.. I can now keep up with him.. (I'm 43). No, I'm not selling Vitamins!! :D He was the best diet I could possibly have found. I went from 125 lbs to 115 within 2 months of his arrival and have maintained that weight...

I am always amazed to see children at 5 PM with SO much energy! How can we keep up with them? Well, of course diet, exercise and taking time for oneself are vital. I also think it's important for parents to take time for something they absolutely LOVE to do - it might be gardening, working on writing a book or a poem, having time with friends on a regular basis, taking a bubble bath with candles in the evening ... I'd love to hear some more ideas too ~ Let's not forget about what nourishes us as parents, because it can only help us be better parents to our kids. NancyNic

Vitamins are great... be sure to take a multi vitamin everyday. I add to that B6 and B12 plus an Iron pill (not a big meat fan) I'm gearing up for when our baby finally finds his way home to us. I like this thread, I've also been worrying how my almost 40 year old body will adjust. I can't wait for the day to come that I'm finally going to be a mom. The energy will just have to come from somerwhere! :D

Hi ~ Good for you for planning ahead! Let us know when the happy day comes! Nancy

I joined the 'Y' last week! WOW what a deal! I had no idea how much support the 'Y' has to offer families. I signed up myself and two children and the monthly dues are not a big issue considering the benefits I recieve! I now have 2-hours a day--7-days a week where I can leave my kids in a Fun Activity area and work out--swim or take another fitness class!!! In addition the children have free pool time, reduced price swiming lessons, and activities to do and be part of everyday of the week.... I have only been going for one week and already my energy is improved. Each morning I am using the tred mill for a mile walk, then taking a water areobic class! All the while the kids are playing and learning new kilssa as well as making friends! EXERCISE is a great benefit the more you do the more energy you have...the less stress will get you down and the better you feel and the longer you might be around to feel!

Hi Anna, Even your post is filled with energy! thanks! Nancy

Love this thread. I'm not worried about the energy level, too much. I go to concerts and bop all night long. I dance in my kitchen to the radio and do yoga. I stay up way too late though and I can see from reading these posts that would be wise to change when we accept the referral for a newborn! Speaking of wisdom, I find that what I have gained in wisdom and patience as I have moved into more 40s far exceeds in value the energy I may have lost since I was 20 yrs. old. I don't get myself stressed out which is the key. Stress makes one tired and old. Everyone had great ideas and advice. Keep it up.

Hi, Talk about tired????? I have 2 VERY ACTIVE fc in our home right now. The oldest is 3 and her brother is 2. We also have a medically fragile foster baby that's 19 months. I can totally relate to being tired. the 2 year old has not slept through the night - EVER! Weve had him since he was 4 weeks old and are in the process of adopting him and his sister - they're 1 yr. and 9 days apart and just had their birthdays (I am 43 and my hubby is 42 and we've raised our biological children who are now 16 and 20 so we're starting over)! We do okay, even tired, until our medically fragile baby is hospitalized - then it gets crazy. I don't know what it is but the ER visits kill me! He can do a 4-6 day stay that's a direct admission and I'm okay afterwards but if we have to go through the ER forget it, I'm washed out for 2 weeks afterwards. I take a nap almost every day when they nap! We are exhausted all the time. I don't know if respite care is an option for you or not but you really should utilize it if it is available! I know that diet and exercise would help but WHO HAS TIME LOL???? Well, maybe someday I will LOL!! Enjoy every second of your sleep deprivation! They grow up too fast. Michelle