Another butt-busting, hard-working yet fun weekend. I'm sore all over but got to bed by 8:40 last night so I feel alert and awake! Even felt fine during this morning's run, when lately I'd felt just run over by a train. Good day! Let's hope it keeps up.
Three years ago I was retreated to my home (or my mom's home) with a cranky acid reflux baby who wouldn't let me so much as get 30 minutes of Slim in Six in without me having to run to her scream fest. I was certain my life was over: no more running when I wanted to, just going out to enjoy the weather. Social events were a joke. Even pulling weeds in the yard required coordination and planning around the little fuss bucket for the first few months. All of my freedom YANKED AWAY because she hated stroller rides so I couldn't even just take her for a walk, and I'd see lots of moms running along with their little happy bundles in their strollers (Anna did like stroller rides for the first several weeks when the bumpy grass stroller rides was one sure way to get the screaming to stop). My free evenings and weekends were just wasted, even though I thought I was prepared for it all. Turns out I was a bigger selfish spoiled brat than I ever thought: Totally selfish about what I did with my time before Anna came (and duh, why NOT?). So HELLO, smack in the face that my child wasn't born as one of those happy goo-goo-ga-ga babies who sits peacefully in the carrier while mom chats over lunch with a friend or mom and dad mingle at a party.
Or maybe I'm idealizing the perfect baby that no one has? No. Those babies DO exist. I've seen them, thankyouverymuch.
Anyway, I signed up for the Yuri's Night 5k several weeks ago. I did that last year too. Last year I got up early and showed up out of shape and I took my pummeling as finishing ahead of only the stroller pushers out there. This year I signed up hoping for a better experience, and I got it (Saturday was this year's run)!
My pace wasn't super fast this year (a little under 11 minute mile pace) but I didn't want to vomit in front of friends, former astronauts, and co-workers, and I actually noticed there WERE NO stroller pushers this year (wonder: did they put a restriction or something?). Anyway I signed up for this year before Paul decided to co-sponsor the event, which meant Anna would be out there while I was running and Paul was working the Valeo PT tent with his staff, offering consults, stretches, massage, etc. I figured at most I'd be gone for 30 min for the run and he'd have to deal with Anna till I was done.
On the route, I gave her a kiss as I passed by, and she was busy picking up cups that the runners throw on the ground as the drink and run. She had a proud look on her face. I can't tell if it was a "that's MY MOMMY!" proud or if it were a "Look mom I'm helping like a big girl!" proud smile but it was really dang cute.
At the finish like she high-fived me and when I asked if she was helping, it was that proud smile again. So I gave her high-fives too! She talked about it again that night before bed when we always re-cap the highlights of the day after lights out.
I love that she was out there helping and actually did great. After the run she and I talked to lots of different people at the Valeo tent as she ate small package after package of cream cheese (she's her mother's daughter).
Occasionally I take a second to appreciate the fact that we're at an age that for the most part I can once again have an adult conversation and start to see glimpses of activity of my pre-baby life. Paul's co-sponsoring this run came AFTER I registered to run, and it all came up so fast I didn't have time to wonder what to do with Anna. We did what normal people would do: give her a chance and bring her with us. And it worked out. YAHOO!
Hmmm, maybe this blog entry doesn't make sense to those reading. But it makes sense to me so I had to post it. We've come a long way and it was so fun to have Anna out there as part of the community athletic event, and among friends. So I didn't overlook it all. And wanted to get it down here.
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1 comment:
It makes total sense and I can relate. We are not there yet with Jaliina but maybe in 2 years? Reminds me that we took J with us to a dinner with new friends a few weeks ago and I spent the entire evening chasing her; preventing her from falling down the stairs, eating the older childs toys (small parts hazards), and keeping her from mauling the dog. You can picture it. And these were "understanding" friends with a child of their own in their home no less. It was exhausting and so not fun for me. And then C wanted to know why I was so grouchy when we got home since he had had such a great time? I told him the truth--that I needed at least 3 more glasses of wine to survive another night like that! So think of how far you've come and be grateful; relish in some real adult time with the toddler along for the ride. I think its awesome and i'm a little jealous!
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