We recently joined the Upper Main Line YMCAand we love it! I don't know why we never joined before. I guess with out children we never had a reason to. We each had our own gym memberships (which cost more than one family membership at the Y), got in, worked out and got out.
Now that I'm home with my daughter, the Y has become my new sanctuary. They offer free daycare for members (for up to 2 hours) and the daycare center is clean and fully staffed with experienced care givers. So I feel comfortable dropping my daughter off for a couple of hours while I go work out, take a steam and maybe even sit in the cafe and check my email for a minute or two. We have also been taking advantage of the outdoor pools this summer, especially the "froggy" pool, which is a whole pool for tots complete with a froggy slide. The "deep" end is 2.5 feet. I thought my daughter was too young to take swim lessons this summer, but luckily the Y has indoor pools as well, and offers swim lessons, Mommy and Me, and other programs for us to take advantage of year round.
The Y is keeping me from aimlessly wandering the aisles of Target when I just have to get out of the house. But I also feel like when I'm there, I'm a part of a community. I chat with the other parents at the pool, and I complain about my sore muscles with the girls in my aerobics classes, and my husband has been making friends through the tennis program. So all in all, I would say joining the UMLY was a slam dunk!
