Calling the Marriage Ref: Where do we put the elliptical?

mlbohannon1120

So the "nursery" used to be a guest room which housed my awesome elliptical (which I use very regularly). Now we have a dilemma on our hands. The husband and I cannot agree on a place to put it. Our house is already pretty full of stuff anyways, so it's not the easiest to make room for this GINORMOUS piece of machinery.

My idea: Let's put the machine in the basement (very large, finished room) full of miscellaneous man cave items (ie: pool table, foosball table, TV, fishtank, antique stuff, old wheels/tires, motorcycle parts, you name it.) My rationale for this: there is plenty of room down there. It's not too difficult to move the foosball table over about 3 feet and slide the elliptical in right behind the door. It shouldn't be in the way. There is AC in the basement so I don't die of over heating. There isn't any formality to this mancave - this piece would fit right in with the hodgepodge of stuff he collects.

His idea(s) : What's wrong with keeping it in the nursery? You can watch the baby while you work out...(and I can also wake the baby up with my music and huffing and puffing while I'm trying to burn off baby weight) Not to mention the "nursery" is not very big as it is, so having that piece in there would just make it super crowded. Has he even thought about how safe this piece would be for a crawling toddler? I can just imagine pinched fingers and who knows what else!? Any way we can squeeze it into the kitchen/dining room? (Classy, elliptical in the area where we prepare and eat our food, super). And, last but not least, we have a screened in porch without a fan or any heat or AC - he thinks that's a perfect spot. Let's put it out there so when it's -13 or 108 degrees outside, it will be the perfect opportunity for me to work out (needless to say I highly disagree with this one).

Now let me just say that I completely understand his personal desire to NOT want my exercise equipment intruding on his man cave, but at this point however, it seems (at least to me) to be the best option for functionality and it's not out of the ordinary to find exercise equipment in that type/style of room. Am I being out of line for thinking this is the best option? (The elliptical was literally just moved to the basement, and he seems to agree that this is the best spot for usage, but he's just not happy about it). My intentions are not to upset him in any way, but I'm feeling pretty certain that having one item of MINE in a basement completely FULL of his stuff is not that big of a deal.

Lena122

Personally, I don't believe in man caves... if you share a mortgage than you both have equal rights to every room. But aside from that, I think putting the elliptical there is the obvious choice. It definitely does not belong in the nursery! If he feels like you're intruding on his "cave" than can you come up with an agreement that you won't use it when he's doing his "man things?"

NicoleD715

Lena122:

Personally, I don't believe in man caves... if you share a mortgage than you both have equal rights to every room. But aside from that, I think putting the elliptical there is the obvious choice. It definitely does not belong in the nursery! If he feels like you're intruding on his "cave" than can you come up with an agreement that you won't use it when he's doing his "man things?"

I agree with this.  

MamaVantobe

I vote for you!  It definitely makes sense to put it down there.  Pretty soon it will be filled with baby toys/things so he'll need to learn to share his space  

We're having a workout equipment dilemma, too.  My husband has a bowflex in the soon to be nursery.  He hasn't used it in the 3 years we've lived here, yet, he won't let me sell it.  He says he "wants to use it".  If he can't find time or motivation now he really won't find it with a baby here.  Now I'm making him sell his foosball table to make room for the bowflex in the basement.  grrr...

mlbohannon1120

Well I definitely use our machine (and will continue to NEED it) because we do not have the money for a gym membership, nor the motivation or time to leave the house to get in a little cardio.

I am fairly certain that if the elliptical were in any other space, I would be much less likely to use it. Hopefully having it in the basement will warm up on him and once he sees how much stuff a baby will require, he'll understand why the nursery was definitely not a good place for it. Hey, maybe even he'll feel motivated to jump on it a time or two if it's in his space

andreabeth913

We also have an elliptical in the soon to be nursery and my husband feels it can stay there.  We also have a finished basement but use it mostly for storage and cat litter boxes so it's not an ideal space for us.  We don't have a ton of space but can probably squeeze it into our bedroom but it's up for debate here too.  Hopefully we will both win the it will go where we want it to.  Good luck

Mrs.MillerJune2008

I think validating his feelings about how everything is changing will likely go a long ways. He's probably overwhelmed with all the other changes/responsibilities coming and thought the basement would be his place of refuge. Like, my DH bought himself a motorcycle about, um, 5 months ago? Knowing full well we were TTC and it wouldn't take a car seat. He acknowledged it had to do with being slightly irresponsible prior to having kids. He may have thought this was his last sacred space even post baby. Good luck! I think it's the best option, but some more convo would likely help.

BunnyJenny

First off... let me just say I skimmed this. Second.... I am waiting for a similar sitiuation to occur in my marrage. I want the nursery to be a nursery. I don't feel that working out in the room that is designed for SLEEP is the best place. I'd like to put it (same it btw) in the living room so I can watch TV. If hubby has any intrest in me getting my old bod back that is where it should go. Baby can be happy and I can be happy. I think two outvote one....

 

Meh... sorry to rant on your page....

bbhalphen

NicoleD715:

Lena122:

Personally, I don't believe in man caves... if you share a mortgage than you both have equal rights to every room. But aside from that, I think putting the elliptical there is the obvious choice. It definitely does not belong in the nursery! If he feels like you're intruding on his "cave" than can you come up with an agreement that you won't use it when he's doing his "man things?"

I agree with this.  

Me too.  Any chance it folds up where you can put it up under the bed or something?  A week of him pulling it out/setting it up/putting it back up for you just might change his mind about having it in his man cave!

mlbohannon1120

BunnyJenny:

First off... let me just say I skimmed this. Second.... I am waiting for a similar sitiuation to occur in my marrage. I want the nursery to be a nursery. I don't feel that working out in the room that is designed for SLEEP is the best place. I'd like to put it (same it btw) in the living room so I can watch TV. If hubby has any intrest in me getting my old bod back that is where it should go. Baby can be happy and I can be happy. I think two outvote one....

 

Meh... sorry to rant on your page....

Oh you rant away. That's what this board is here for! Couldn't agree more. I want to get the baby weight off just as soon as I can, so functionality is key. He and the father in law are downstairs moving a few things around in the basement, and it's actually coming together very nicely! The elliptical fits right in, it doesn't stick out, and it's not in the way. I think once things are organized to their liking, he won't be so unhappy with it being down there.

The thing weighs a TON and it doesn't fold up or anything - somewhat of a PITA to move - so I think at this point it's there to stay Once he gets everything else in the right spot, he will be just fine I think. Maybe I over-reacted for nothing. He understands that it shouldn't be in the baby's room, and he doesn't seem too upset anymore. Maybe he's experiencing a few hormonal surges from this pregnancy too?

CluckyEV

MamaVantobe:

I vote for you!  It definitely makes sense to put it down there.  Pretty soon it will be filled with baby toys/things so he'll need to learn to share his space

My thoughts exactly!

cathom7

Time to grow up and make room for baby, dude.  Sorry.  LOL;0)  Here's the thing:  One of my friends was walking THRU the gym with her toddler.  He took a leap onto a treadmill as they were going(avid darter, that one).  He fell, slid down somehow and cut off the top of his FINGER!  I think it was hanging on by a tiny piece of flesh.  So.  NO.  No gym equipment in baby's room!!!  With random tires and motorcycle parts in his cave, he will hardly notice it.  AND, if he gains any poundage with you these next few months....  He may NEED IT down there ;0)  Also, you won't be down there when he is, bc when you workout, if baby isn't sleeping, he's on duty!  So, he will keep most of his privacy.  I would be SO ticked if hubs was pulling this one.  LOL;0)  Make a clicky poll and show him.  LOL

k.linn

No way would I keep an elliptical machine in my kid's room. We bought a treadmill in lieu of our gym membership when I was pregnant with DD. It's in our basement. I started running at 5 weeks postpartum, and pretty much the only time I worked out (and still do to this day) was when DD was asleep. For obvious reasons, having it in a nursery would be a bad idea.

Gem17

Man-cave, shman-cave!  Put it in the basement.  He has got to be kidding that it would better be suited for the nursery.  Not that you have to justify, but an elliptical is a piece of workout equipment and therefore fits in with man stuff anyway.  Booo that he gets all that space!  BUT I did crack up at the title of this post!!!

lindsayandjamie

Your argument is the most logical. You win!