December 2025 marked one full year of being a dad to a baby who is now 13 months old. It was also another year of being a bonus dad to two boys, running a business, trying to stay healthy, and figuring out how to hold everything together without losing myself in the process.

This was one of the busiest years of my life.
And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I’ve owned and coached at BayWay CrossFit since 2012. Over the years, I’ve heard just about every reason someone can give for not making it to the gym. One excuse I never fully related to was, “I don’t have time because of my kids.”

Now I do.

What “Making Time” Really Means Once You’re a Parent

Before kids, I believed something very simple: if something mattered to you, you made time for it.

That belief wasn’t wrong.
It was incomplete.

Making time and actually executing it are two very different things.

Both boys need to be dropped off at school. Both need to be picked up. Cloud and I split that responsibility Monday through Friday. In the fall, they were in different sports, with practices spread across the week and games on Saturdays at different locations. I also coached one of their soccer teams.

Cloud managed the gym. I handled practices.

None of that is a complaint. It’s just reality.

And when life looks like that, fitness has to fit into the cracks, not the other way around.

Why My Training Had to Change (and What Didn’t)

I picked up running last year because it was flexible. I could do it early, between commitments, or on days when class just wasn’t realistic. Signing up for races gave me a reason to train, which matters for me.

I’ve never been motivated by aesthetics. I know how to eat, and my weight doesn’t fluctuate much. What drives me is having a goal. Something specific. Something measurable.

That mindset is also why I tend to get injured. When I train, I train with intent. Sometimes that means pushing too hard for too long. Last year felt like a chain of one injury leading into the next.

CrossFit remained my foundation, even if I couldn’t attend as consistently as I wanted. Fridays were usually a lock. Mondays at noon if Cloud was coaching. Not ideal, but sustainable.

And sustainability matters more than perfection.

Being a Student Again Matters More Than I Realized

Jiu-jitsu became something I genuinely enjoyed because it put me back in the role of the student. I wasn’t teaching. I wasn’t leading. I was learning.

That’s the same reason CrossFit hooked me early on. You show up, get coached, learn new skills, train alongside other people, and leave better than you arrived. It’s not just exercise. It’s structure, accountability, and community.

The challenge with jiu-jitsu is class timing. Evening classes at 7 or 8 pm don’t always work when you’re a parent with early mornings and full days. Midday classes were the compromise. Twice a week was what fit.

Could I compete? Sure.
But doing something halfway has never been how I operate. That’s a future goal, not a current one.

The Hard Truth About “I’m Too Busy”

I said it last year. More than once.

“I’m too busy.”

And sometimes it was true. But more often, it was a reflection of mental fatigue, not lack of opportunity.

Staying active makes me a better dad. A better husband. A better coach. A better business owner. It’s not optional. It’s foundational.

Cloud understands that instinctively. She’s consistent in a way I admire. She works out because she knows it’s important, not because she needs a competition on the calendar. That’s something I’m still learning.

Why Fitness Still Matters in Busy Seasons

Right now, my focus isn’t chasing podiums or stacking events. It’s staying healthy enough to keep up with my kids, set a good example, and manage stress in a productive way.

That’s the same reason most adults walk into a gym in the first place.

They’re not looking for perfection.
They’re looking for something that works in real life.

Fitness shouldn’t require everything else to stop. It should support the life you already have.

The Takeaway After One Full Year

Making time matters.
Wanting it matters more.

Busy seasons don’t mean you give up on yourself. They mean you adapt, simplify, and stay consistent where you can.

Life doesn’t slow down.
But you can still show up.

See you at the gym.