Packer I do not disagree that weight training can be beneficial, I looked at it differently than you.
1. There is limited time as a parent carrying a 20 semester credit load for working out, doing ROTC and studying.
2. My arms were never in better shape than ever when I had a baby and I never went to a gym.
~Those dang car seats weigh 2x as much as a baby, and they must be in one until at least 6 months old! That means carrying a lot of weight constantly
A 6 month old can weigh 20 lbs, add in the bulk of the seat, and torquing your body, you are working muscles.
~ Lifting an 18 month old, and slugging them on your hip while they are fighting you is not easy either!
Our DS 2 followed the rule of thumb tripled their birth weight by 1. He weighed 9 lbs 4 oz. at birth. I was hoisting that child up and down every day about 20 times a day weighing 30 lbs at 1 yr old. I weighed at that time 128 lbs and I am 5'6. Add into the fact I was carrying him up and down stairs I also got a great cardio. I am not sure if Rrod is a female or a single parent, but if they are, I am guessing they have resistance training 7 days a week.
I just see that if they are carrying a car seat and the diaper bag, to and fro from the car, plus at home hoisting them into the high chair, into a tub, over the crib side. They are def. getting constant upper body training.
I think where the weakness maybe is running.
Yes, I knew of the procedure, but if you looked at my example for our DS he ran further than the min, so he was already pushing it. DS maxes all the time sit ups and push ups and actually stops early because he hit the max number, going passed the max number is wasting your energy.
The other issue is something only Rrod can answer. Are you having a form issue when it comes to the cruches or pushups? If you are you are wasting energy while not having anything count. You need to think wisely, don't do it incorrectly hoping to max the number, do it correctly to maximize your energy.