Look at that photo.
Happy kids, working together. My 3 year old is picking out a favorite vegetable to dip into hummus (snap peas!) while my 5 year old holds the bag open (I forgot my re-usables, sigh).
It’s amazing… and it takes some calm, patient parenting to facilitate this type of peaceful and purposeful scene in the grocery store.
Which brings me to why I exercise.
I exercise so I can be a happier, more patient and more peaceful parent.
That’s the real reason, the most important reason.
I went to spin class this morning, and I spent 50 minutes sweating it out with an elevated heart rate, and when I left I felt fantastic.
It was a mood that lasted through lunch and all afternoon.
I’ll be honest; I haven’t exercised all that much the past few weeks. The holidays are busy, we spent time in Maine with family, the kids have been home from preschool on break, my college babysitters are away for break, you know… the standard litany of excuses.
Today’s noticeable mood shift reminded me why it’s so important for me not to let the days tick by without breaking a sweat.
I was a ROCK star today at the grocery store. I was in a great mood. I took extra time to let them pick things out and get them themselves. I stopped and explained things like the names of all the different kinds of mushrooms, and how I can tell time on the Whole Foods clock even though it doesn’t have numbers. I gave them little missions and let them go down aisles one at a time to retrieve things and bring them back. I let them show me the way to the next items. I did all the things I wish I always did, but that you can’t quite manage if you’re not in a good mood.
I felt so chill after my work-out that I didn’t care that we spent almost an hour at the grocery store just picking out two days worth of groceries. I mean, what was the rush? We didn’t have plans. That realization doesn’t come naturally to me.
They loved this grocery trip. I loved it.
It doesn’t happen every day, and I don’t think it would have happened today if I hadn’t gone to spin class.
Exercise boosts me up a level from wherever I was at. If it was a good day, it becomes a great day. If it was a horrible day, it suddenly feels survivable.
When I exercise, I increase my chances of saying “yes” to that cooking or art project or being patient enough to settle sibling disputes without sounding snippy.
And that means everything to me, because these guys mean everything.
