My Kids Are My Workout Partners.

They See More Than You Think

I like to say my kids are my workout partners.

They don’t count reps. They don’t correct my form. They’re not logging their macros or spotting me on bench day. Most of the time, they just sit on the makeshift “chairs” they made in the garage, devour Goldfish crackers, and ask me multiple times a minute if I'm done yet.

And honestly? I love it (most of the time). Them being there, even if distracting or too loud at times, still feels like accountability, and that keeps me going.

Watching Effort, Not Perfection

They see the sweat, the grunts, the part where I pause halfway through to say, “Don’t touch that, it’s heavy,” and the part where I finish, exhausted but proud. They’re not doing the work with me, but they’re learning from it. And that’s what’s important.

The lessons of trying hard, importance of practice, and effort are not absorbed through lectures but through what they see day in and day out.

Every time I go to the garage to work out or set up in the living room to do Yoga, at least one of them wanders in. Usually, they’ll mimic me with a wobbly squat or their attempt at a pushup. But most of the time, they just watch. Silently. Curiously. And at first, I thought they’re bored.

Until one day, my son said to my daughter while holding a can of corn, “This is heavy. I working out like Dada.” That sentence stuck with me. They aren’t tuning out, they’re tuning in.

Fitness and Fatherhood Fit Together

Let’s be real, fitting workouts into dad life isn’t smooth, or into any life really. You don’t just say “I’m hitting the gym” without running a mini logistics operation. Spills, sibling fights, snack requests; it all hits right before your warmup.

At first, I worked out around them out of necessity. Now? I choose to. There’s something special about doing yoga while your toddler lines up trucks next to your mat.

Or riding the Peloton as they say they will ride with you in their toy car. It’s not a gym; it’s a space where movement is normal.

They’re Learning Even When They’re Playing

In those moments, I’m not just building strength; I’m building memories. Fitness becomes a part of normal life. It’s not an option or choice; it’s something you just do. Like brushing teeth or reading before bed, it becomes a ritual. One they might not fully understand yet, but one that’ll shape how they care for themselves later. It’s not about pressure, it’s about exposure.

Some days, it’s all comedy. I’ve had a kid climb my back mid-plank. I once did yoga while my daughter recording the whole practice.

“And now Dada is going to say Whew, that was a tough workout. Hit the button to subscribe.” She went through a phase where she would say that all the time. It always cracked me up. There are the days I laugh more than I work out. But they’re still worth it.

The Interruptions Are Part of the Process

I’ve paused workouts to clean up spills, help them with the potty, or referee toy negotiations. But I come back. Even if I only finish half of what I planned, it still counts.

Because showing up counts. Especially when it’s hard. Especially when they see you doing it anyway.

There’s this idea that sticks with me: kids don’t do what we say, they do what we do. I can tell them to be strong. But when they see me struggle and persist, that’s where the real lessons live.

They’re always watching, even when they pretend they’re not. To be honest, that’s when they are probably watching most.

It’s not about raising athletes. It’s about raising aware kids. My daughter once asked, “Why do you work out so much?” I told her, “So I can keep picking you up.” She smiled and said, “I’m getting heavier, huh? I hope you can forever."

Do I want abs? Duh. But mostly, I want to last. I want to chase my kids, hike with them, and wrestle my grandkids someday. That’s why I train. For endurance. For energy. For presence.

There was a day I almost skipped. Work was draining, dishes were piled high, and all I wanted was to relax. Then my son said, “Dada, are you going to workout?”

I didn’t crush that workout. But I showed up. Because sometimes your kid reminds you who you are, and that’s stronger than any alarm clock.

Some Things You Do, Even When You Don't Want To

That’s what I want to show my kids: health isn’t about perfect streaks. It’s about staying in the game, coming back to what matters, and trying even when you don’t want to.

I don’t force fitness on them. There are no “10 jumping jacks before iPad” rules. I just let them see it.

I let them be around it. To know that fitness isn’t some mysterious, extreme thing, it’s normal. It’s part of life. Just like reading, or playing, or brushing teeth.

Maybe one day they’ll say, “Dada, can I work out with you?” And I’ll smile and say, “You already have been.”

Because even when they’re just watching with Oreos in hand, they’re absorbing something powerful. They’re learning what it means to try. What it means to care for your body. What it means to keep showing up.

Final Thoughts: They Don’t Just Watch; They Remember EVERYTHING

There’s a quote I love: “Children don’t need a perfect parent. They need a present one.” And I’d add: a persistent one. So yeah, my kids are my workout partners.

They don’t lift weights. They don’t do cardio. But they watch. And they remember.

And that’s enough.

-SavePointDad