Keeping Active on Vacation

Public school spring recess was April 14 - April 21.  We used the opportunity to take a family vacation.  Because several other families in Upstate NY had the same idea, we decided that it was too expensive to fly anywhere and took an old-fashioned road trip.  There are benefits to driving to your vacation destination - especially if you travel by mini-van.

Driving for 24 hours is exhausting.  We left on a Thursday night and drove straight through to a small town just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.  Husband and I alternated at the wheel, sleeping when we could.  We kept the kids busy with electronics and got as many miles as we could behind us while they slept.

How did we stay active?  First, traveling by car, we were able to pack our active wear and sneakers.  Second, we looked up local clubs in the area and connected with them as guests.  I'd like to thank the Emerald Coast Triathlon Club and the crew at the Run With It running store for being so gracious.  Not only did we meet new people, but we had people to run, walk, and even swim with as well!

I made it my goal to be active every non-driving day.  This helped me to keep a healthy lifestyle while still enjoying some indulgence on vacation (read:  decadent dessert).  The kids saw this and were also active - swimming in the community pool and frolicking in the Gulf of Mexico - they collapsed at night, weary and sun kissed.  We also did other fun family activities including kayaking and stand up paddle board.  Connecting as a family while being active was good for the soul.

After a week, we loaded up the van and headed home.  Exhausted yet refreshed.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

How has it been 2 years since I last posted?  Time sure does fly!

It has been an exciting and emotional two years. 

Professionally, I finished graduate school!  I now have my Master of Science in Health and Human Performance with concentration in Health Promotion.  The first thing after completing my program in December was read a book that had nothing to do with health or human performance. 

Physically, I have been coming back from injury since April, 2014.  I ruptured the disc at L5/S1 (lower back) and it has been more challenging than coming back from childbirth.  When the disc ruptured, aside from being incredibly painful, it resulted in some nerve damage.  I've regained strength in the affected leg, but still have numbness.  The positive side of the numbness that I don't have sciatic pain that many people have. 

I'm back to being active!  I'm feeling good again!

Make it great, folks!

Whitmey M. Young, Jr. Heroes for Health 2015

Whitney M. Young Jr. Heroes for Health, 2015
 

A Conversation With My Daughter

I had to have a talk with my daughter last weekend.  It wasn't about behaving, listening, chores, or any of the typical mother vs. kindergartner discussions that we usually have.  It was a topic that I didn't think we would have to discuss until puberty or, at least, the 4th grade. 

Saturday morning was the first swim class during the current session at our local YMCA.  My older daughter has class first and then the younger has class a half hour after she finishes.  If my husband and I don't divide and conquer drive separately, each with an assigned child, the family is at the Y for about two hours.  We went as a family on this day.  During my girl's class, the baby went to babysitting, husband swam in the lap lane, and I went into the main fitness center.  During the break between classes, I took EV into the fitness center to walk around the indoor track together.  After two laps of walking, my little energizer bunny decided that she wanted to run.  So she set the pace and we ran together.  When she got tired she stopped, took a quick break, then tore off around the track again.  It was a great interval workout, actually. 

During one of her "rests" she looked in the mirror-wall and said "that was a lot of running, do I look skinnier?". My jaw hit the floor.

First, my child is a little wisp of a thing.  She is long, lean, and her little muscles are well defined.  She has been built like this since birth. She's mentioned her belly being "fat" before, typically after a meal.  We always tell her that her belly may be full of food but it is definitely not fat.  We also don't call her skinny and certainly never tell her she is "too skinny" - we call her lean or slim, especially when her pants are falling down. 

I try not to make remarks about my own figure in front of the children.  My husband may hear my woes but I am consciously trying to avoid instilling the same body issues in my two girls that so many from my generation (women from all generations really) are still struggling with. 

So I looked at her and said, "Let's talk about why we exercise --- We exercise to be healthy, fit, and strong and my darling, you are looking really strong right now." Then she shot off for another lap around the track.  She also wanted to know if her hair was blowing out behind her.  I said yes.  If course she pointed out that my cropped, sweaty 'do was not at all flowing.  Thanks kid.

We will probably walk/run the track again on Saturday as she has already put in her request.  I know that this conversation is far from over but it was a reminder that as much as we try to shield our children from our own insecurities, they somehow sneak up on us.  As long as my girl strives to be the strong, brave, beautiful, fit, confident girl that I know she can be that's all I can hope for.

Happy New Year!

Did you hear that?  You have to listen closely because it's really quiet.  That's the sound of time flying by.  It just sneaks up on you and then, POOF, you find yourself in a new year wondering what happened to the last year, or five, or ten even!

Suddenly it is 2014. 

I don't make resolutions.  I gave them up 11 years ago.  Since then, I want to make changes, I start around Thanksgiving so that they are habit by January 1.  I do think that 1/1 is a good day to refocus.  The stress of the holidays is behind us and the promise of springtime is ahead.

Last year I did commit myself to becoming a better parent.  I believe that I was successful and remain in the maintenance stage of change.  While my husband and I both still have challenges (last night I wanted to bury my head and escape from my children who refused to go to sleep), I have found myself more patient, especially when dealing with my kindergartner.  In fact, I celebrated the first day of the New Year with her.  We had a special day together in New York City!  It was part of her Christmas present and I think it was really good for her.  It built her self esteem; she was deemed mature enough for a "girls" trip plus she had a special experience that was hers and hers alone. 

As a working mother, I felt that taking the time to be fully present with my oldest child for a full day away from other distractions was the best gift I could give her.  It was also a day of activity: walking the city streets and ice skating. I was active with my child, both setting a positive example for her and setting the stage for another active year.  Personally, we do have a lot planned for 2014 - from relay races to half ironman races - it should be a lot of fun! 

Stages of Change - Action and Maintenance

Husband and I have been in our parenting class for 5 and 4 weeks, respectively.  I missed the first class caring for a sick child.  It has been an interesting journey.  Each parent is there for a different reason:  petiitioning for custody, court order (who knew?), personal growth, and family harmony.  We are there for personal growth and family harmony. 

The class has definitely been beneficial.  Sometimes, it reinforces what I am already doing and builds my confidence as a parent.  Other times, it helps coach me to deal with situations differently for a more positive and productive outcome.  My husband is having similar "a-ha" moments - and we are also learning new ways to communicate with each other (family harmony).

The key word last week was "cooperation".  I use that word a lot when dealing with our soon-to-be 5 year old.  Admittedly, she is more inclined to cooperate when she feels she has options (or the illusion of options as the case may be).  Who can blame her?  Don't we all like to think we have choices?

Two sessions remain and then we will be responsible to continue our growth on our own.

That Kids, Is Why You Wear A Helmet

When I was younger, I spent hours riding my Huffy bicycle.  It had a kickstand and a "banana" seat and I loved it.  This was in the 1980s: the tide was just starting to turn on seat belt usage (no click it or ticket yet) and I never ever wore a helmet.  I didn't always wear shoes either, until my foot slipped off the pedal and I scraped my toe against the blacktop.  I still have a scar. 

We lived in a cul de sac so there was an element of protection from traffic - that's not to say that we didn't venture out on the roads from time to time.  We certainly did.  We knew not to talk to strangers, rode with traffic, and never ventured out alone.  Still... no helmets.

Several years ago, I entered the sport of triathlon.  One of the stead fast rules is: athletes must wear a CPSC approved helmet and the chin strap must be fastened any time they are on their bikes.  This means that riding to and from the car... helmet.  If the referee sees you without and you are on your bike, immediate disqualification.  They are that serious.  I get it.  I really got it after my first big crash.  I also learned not to go around a corner with my inside pedal down.  The pedal hit the ground and through the air I went.  I had road rash and cuts on both knees, a shoulder (which was also separated), a hip, and my cheek.  My helmet cracked.  That could have been my head.

Lesser falls without head protection have been known to cause severe damage - biking, skiing, snowmobiling, roller blading - all carry a certain amount of risk whether you go 20 miles per hour or 2.  Click here to read the People magazine article on Natashia Richardson.

This past weekend I crashed again.  After 7 or 8 years, I guess I was due.  This time, my cheek was spared - my sunglasses did get scratched though, and my helmet has divots and dimples from the impact. 


This Garmin has seen better days




When my daughter rides her scooter she always wears her helmet.  Often knee pads too, as she is prone to falling like her mother.  When she learns to ride a two wheeler, she will also always wear a helmet.  I can't protect her from lousy or distracted drivers (big fear) and I can't stop her from falling, but I can certainly make sure she learns the value of protective gear.





Toddler + Tired Mom = STRESS

I love my child.  She brings me joy, makes me laugh, showers me with affection, and does something amazing every day.  She is smart, creative, eats her vegetables, and loves to run.  She is also one of the happiest kids I have ever seen... most of the time.

There are also times when she is what I call "Jekyll and Hyde baby".   I can deal calmly with stressors at work, with family, time, and even money.  I am most likely to lose my cool when my child acts like she belongs on an episode of "Super Nanny".  The difference is that Super Nanny is not going to show up on my door step and when my adrenaline is flowing from the anxiety and stress of any whining, crying, screaming, or just a flat out refusal to listen, all child rearing logic goes straight out the window.  Fortunately, she is generally even tempered and her outbursts are predictably when she is exhausted or hungry.  Add the exhaustion that accompanies early morning wake up calls, a full time job, and expectations of being a wife and mother - there comes a tipping point where my patience wears very thin.  Sometimes this mommy needs a time out. 

I have a fierce Italian temper and when I feel the tension bubbling to the surface I need to manage the stress.  In a perfect world, I'd go for a run to release the tension but I can't leave a 3 year old alone in the house.  Instead, I have to step away and focus on breathing and calming myself.  On days where I'm rested and prepared to handle the "Jekyll and Hyde", I can calmly speak to her or put her in time out.  On days when I'm exhausted explosive mom, I have to really focus on patience.  I feel terrible when I yell - and I do apologize because even a 3 year old deserves respect.  In a perfect world I'd always respond like the Super Nanny but I'm not perfect.  Instead I try to understand my tipping point and hers.  Sometimes she's stressed and just needs a cuddle.  Believe it or not, that usually calms me down too.

According to HelpGuide.Org

About Stress:
Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger – whether it’s real or imagined – the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or the stress response.
Physical Reaction to Stress:
When you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones rouse the body for emergency action.
Your heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and your senses become sharper. These physical changes increase your strength and stamina, speed your reaction time, and enhance your focus – preparing you to either fight or flee from the danger at hand.