Reasons I Run

It was late at night, after the kids had long been asleep, when I took a break from my computer and made my way to the kitchen.  That was my first mistake.  My second mistake was taking the container of ice cream out of the freezer.   Using my best motherhood justification, I reasoned there wasn’t enough ice cream to split four ways.  I saved myself the trouble of a dispute between children. 

In the past, this scenario would've loaded me with guilt, and I would’ve gone to bed beating myself up over my lack of willpower with food.    

No longer.

There are people who don't understand why I run.  There are people who think I'm crazy for wanting to run a marathon.  Why would I want to spend hours running each week?  Why would I want to run 26.2 miles all at once?  

Well, for those of you who feel that way, here's my list of the most important reasons I run:

1.  Donut shop Fridays 

2.   I buy treats for the kids that I like too (see above example).

3.   There are some days I just want to run away (Who can't identify with this?)

4.   It’s hard to cry while running (goes along with reason #3).

5.   It’s cheaper than counseling (see reasons #3 & #4).

6.    I’m trying to set a positive example for my children (the antithesis of reason #2).

7.   To prove to my first track coach (my dad) that I may have some athletic potential after all.

8.   I’ve seen parts of my city on foot I would never have seen otherwise.  

9.   Donut shop Thursdays 

10. I just like to run. 

   

Crazy, I know.  But I'm okay with that.

Talking Tech

Last week when I was cutting my youngest son’s hair, I asked him if he’d like me to do something different this time.  He thought for a moment, then gave me a serious look.  “If I don’t like it, can I delete it?”

My daughter was searching for a missing shoe in the closet.  She came to me and asked, “Can I use the flashlight on your phone?”

My oldest daughter sent me an email from school one day to let me know something she wanted for Christmas was on sale. 

My husband asks me why I still say “Hello” every time I answer his calls.  “...like you don’t know who it is?” 

I find it funny, especially with children, how everyday speech and actions have changed due to technology.  My children have changed in the way they talk and interact with others.  They usually follow my example.  These changes are not unusual, but part of a new normal. 

Some of the changes from technology do make me a little crazy.  A text is no longer just a noun, but it has become a verb too.  Texted is an actual word (an intransitive verb) according to the Merriam-Webster app on my phone.  As awkward as it sounds, I guess I’ll have to live with that one. 

But there are positives with technology I wouldn’t change.  My quiet child has communicated with me in ways I couldn't have planned.  She sends me funny texts, pictures, and random sayings.  We have ongoing jokes that we send back and forth.  We are closer because we communicate even when we're apart.  Although, I could do without the texts that ask me to please come turn off her bedroom light because she is comfortable and doesn't want to get out of bed.   

How has technology changed the things you say or do?     

   

My Mommy Quirks

My youngest child has a birthday this week.  He’ll be six years old.

To mark this occasion, and the fact that there are no more babies in the house (sigh...sniffle), I’ve decided it's time to eliminate some of my mommy quirks.  My oldest is now fifteen years old, so I’ve had a few years to build up these habits.  They won't be easy to break.

1.       I will no longer go to the potty, nor will I ask one of my children if they need to go potty.  I will go to the restroom, or I will go to the bathroom.  I once heard a woman tell a friend at work that she needed to take a potty break.  Her children were grown and married.  There comes a point...

2.       I will no longer refer to myself in the third person.  “Mommy is tired.”  “Mommy went to the store today.”  “Mommy is hungry.”  All of my children are now fully capable of understanding pronouns.  I don’t do it all the time, but I find myself slip into it sometimes with the younger two.  I'm instantly reminded of this episode of Seinfeld.

3.       I will no longer finish off what’s left on my children’s plates.  That one chicken nugget will not feel left out.  The fries in the bottom of the Happy Meal box are cold anyway.  The crust from their pizza can be tossed.  Yeah, I know.  Pathetic.  And another reason I run.

And for the change I’m most resistant to…

4.        I will try to let go of the word “mommy.”  With such a wide range of ages between my children, it’s hard to be “mom” and “mommy.”  So I resign myself to just be “mom” now.

It's all part of growing up.

Am I making my children weird?

My daughter came home with a homework assignment to watch a weather forecast on television.  It should be an easy enough assignment to complete, right?  Well, my third grade daughter had to let her teacher know “we don’t have TV.”

Now this little girl has flair, and she doesn’t mind the limelight one bit.  I’m sure it didn’t faze her one bit to speak up and let her teacher know this in front of class.  But it got me to thinking.  Am I making my children weird?

We made the decision to eliminate satellite from our home almost two years ago, partly to save money and partly because there were so many conflicts between the kids about what to watch.  I’ve always felt TV was a big time waster anyway (not to mention a lot of junk to filter through) so it was a positive change to me.  My children didn’t agree, but they've moved on.         

 As a mother, I often wonder if I’m doing something to mess up my kids.  This is one decision I haven’t second guessed.  What have we missed out on?

 Absolutely nothing.

My children play games together, read more, and it's a treat to rent a movie.  I don’t have to worry about the negative factors because I can control what’s in my home.  Evenings are quieter, and bedtimes come earlier.  We are not inundated by pop culture, at least at home.

So am I making my children weird? 

With these results, I can live with that. 

Make an Investment

I was thrilled yesterday when the mail came.  When I order something I really want, I’m like my son with his birthday.  I can’t wait!  So I’ve been anxiously checking the mail every day.  My children didn’t exactly share my joy when I showed them the contents of my package.  In fact, they looked at me kind of funny.  I told them this was a very important key to my future.

Why should I be ecstatic over ordering a book that contains over a thousand pages?  You may be looking at me kind of funny right now, too.  Well, let me tell you why I’m excited.

I am cheap.  I hate to spend money.  I am a low-maintenance, discount, red-label, bargain shopper.  I see that as a good thing, although the rest of my family may disagree.  At times, though, my thrifty tendencies can keep me from doing the things I need to do. 

Now back to the book I ordered.  This is a valuable tool for me to have as a writer.  I have looked at this book several different times over the last few years.  A professor in my first Creative Writing class recommended it.  I’ve just never taken the step to buy it.  I don’t know why; it’s not that expensive.  It would be an investment in myself.  Of course, we know that investment really just means to spend money, right?  That’s where my cheapness kicks in.  So I’m thankful that I have my number one fan to push me to spend the money I need to, or else I would not move forward.

It’s not impossible to pursue goals without the right tools, but getting to the finish can be easier if sometimes we take those small investments to help manage our resources and time.

Have you put off buying any of the tools you need to pursue your goals?  What’s stopping you from moving forward?