This past Saturday, my boys ran their first cross country meet ever. CME and I encouraged both the boys to try cross country this year. Though they are "active" in activities, they are not active in any kind of physical activity (sports). Our rule is that if you start something you can't quit - you must finish the season. Neither of them really complained to try it, but as time went on, we were asked if they could quit. Answer was still no.
So Saturday morning, they ran for the first time competitively. Our oldest did better than what he thought he would and not bad for not giving much effort at practices (summary of what his coach said). He actually came in 3rd for his school and 47 out of 67. Our youngest son's goal was to not be last. And he wasn't. That being said, he really struggled during the race. When he got to a spot where we could see him, CME and I met him at the corner... cheering him on and encouraging him to keep jogging. We moved along the course as we could shouting out words of encouragement to our tired red-faced son. My heart was full of mixed emotions: sadness for his struggle, pride for his effort, love for CME as I watched him jog along side our son the last stretch of the race.
On our drive home, I couldn't tell my youngest enough how proud I was of him. I asked him what he thought of the race. He quickly said, "It was hard and it was not fun." I get that! I really do! I told him, "Neither is Body Pump, but Mommy still needs to do it." He looked at me and said, "Touche." LoL And that got me thinking about what I recently heard that we (parents) are examples for our children whether we want to be or not. It really did strengthen my desire to get healthy. Had I not been working on my health, I wouldn't have been able to share an example with my son that I knew how he felt...it would have been an empty talk. So even though I felt like we were the ones encouraging him...in the end, he has encouraged me.
Exercise and I are still not "dating". It's not who I want to be hanging out with. But I know that to have a healthy life and to be a healthy example, exercise and I are going to have to become close friends. My children's health depends on it.
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| Before the Race |
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| Cooling down after the Race |
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| Victory hugs from Mom |
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"I praise you [God] because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~Psalm 139:14
This story made my heart swell. The health journey of your entire family is deeply moving. Love you all and want each and every one of you around enjoying life to the fullest for a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna! Love you too!!
DeleteI am SO proud of these boys for running cross country! What a great feat to even finish a race. I used to do it & you couldn't pay me to run it again ;) Look at how you're turning your family's health around. Such a great example to ALL of us!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO proud of them too! Second meet was today...hilly and hot, but they did it! Little by little we're definitely working on our family's health!
DeleteThank you for being a great example and friend!
I think today is a harder one for the boys then my initial "need to stay in" stance. The whole debate of conflicting schedules and more than one after school activity on the same day. Thank you for being the one doing the talking tonight. Though you think the boys listen to me better, I think that when they have to do more actual "listening" rather than obeying, they do better with you. hugs.
ReplyDeleteConflicting schedules are always tough. Listening rather than obeying...interesting thought there... :)
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They are used to me being called in once the listening has stopped and you want backup on the obeying portion. My section of the talk tends to be much blunter. Shrug.
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