I haven’t posted much this week, because I kind of quit running. (I do this somewhat regularly, only to take it up again a couple days later.) I had two insanely great runs last week, a 5 mile run and then a 4 mile run the next day, both averaging sub 10 minute pace. Thanks to how running karma works, that means I’d had two steps forward and was due a step back. Sunday was a horrible run (quitting after 1.5 miles horrible) and I haven’t run since.
I took Monday off, because it was Andrew’s first day of school and I was too emotional to deal with another bad run.
I was going to run yesterday… but I was more excited about arranging flowers and de-cluttering for a Mother’s Forum event I got to host for new members. (Wine, appetizers, thirty moms… it was a great time!)
I was going to run today, but I had a rare and amazing opportunity to spend one-on-one time with each of my kids! Their preschool orientations didn’t overlap, so I dropped Andrew off and Will and I had time to go for soy hot chocolate, bagels, and do some train watching. Then we picked up Andrew, waited for a bit, and dropped Will off at his school. Andrew wanted to go see the fish and check out new books at the library, so that’s what I did with him.
It was AMAZING. My children are angels when they have my undivided attention and we’re doing their very favorite activity. (Shocker, I know.)
The morning was filled with precious moments. Will telling a police officer on a bicycle that he has a red bike but his has training wheels. Will getting a punched ticket from the conductor who saw us watching the trains and came over to say hello. Andrew telling the fish at the library that they are “good, good swimmers”. Will drinking his hot chocolate and asking me to explain the train map in great detail.
These moments were so magical, so wonderful, and I actually got to experience them in full because I didn’t have another child running in the opposite direction or competing for my attention. We could look at the fish as long as Andrew wanted, and the train map as long as Will wanted.
I could have put one of them in the single jogging stroller and gone for a run. I could have woken up early after a late night relaxing with a group of other moms, and gone for a run. But I didn’t. Sometimes, being a mother runner means putting “mother” first.
I just hope I remember that when I’m at mile 11 and wish I hadn’t skipped a single run in my training schedule. I hope I remember that perhaps I’m lucky just to be there at all.
It won’t be too long before they’re in school full time, and I’ll have hours and hours to run if I want… and I’ll wish I was at the train station or library, instead.
Good for you. Precious moments with your children zoom by too quickly. My last two are now in college and I do not regret sacrificing “me time” in order to have “kid time.” I look at your two boys and smile. You are truly blessed.
Thanks Marcia 🙂 It’s so hard to figure out the best way to allocate time, because without enough “me” time I’m unable to be refreshed and focused enough to enjoy the “kid time” because I’m multi-tasking folding laundry or exhausted because I haven’t showered or run in days! I’m hoping with preschool starting I’ll be able to be really present and enjoy my time with the kids each afternoon, because I’ll be more ahead of all the daily living stuff!
What a beautiful post! My kids are grown now and I fondly remember-and miss-those special “mommy and me” times. Enjoy being both a mother and a runner!
Thanks Jeanie 🙂 It’s taught me a lot about life balance!