August 9, 2004

  • Twenty Minute Mile


    I walked the kids to school this morning.  It's a pleasant walk through a quiet neighborhood, just about a mile.  (And I followed the sidewalks between the houses on my way back and discovered that there really IS a shorter way to go.)  Michael didn't make it more than a hundred feet before the complaints began, "how much further, do I have to..., are we going to do this EVERY day?  why can't you just drive us ..."  Finally we were almost there and he said, "My legs are really really tired."  Tucker had just about enough at that point, he answered, "Are you sure it isn't your mouth that's getting tired..."


    Complaining is tiresome as a dripping faucet.  I'm trying to figure out how to help my child learn to be more appreciative of the opportunities he has to do things, less focused on the negatives he sees all around.  Tucker and I played the "glad" game, looking for things to be glad about.  I'm glad that it's the season of the year when summer flowers are in full bloom.  I'm glad that I can see the mountains the whole way.  I'm glad that I have strong legs and lungs.  For every "glad" we came up with, I swear Michael had two complaints. 


    I love my child and ordinarily, (by which I mean days when I don't have to walk anywhere with him) he's quite pleasant.  He has an aversion to physical exercise though that's going to be a real detriment to him unless we can turn that around over the next several years.  I'll be working on that, pointing out how GOOD it feels to be jumping on the trampoline, how relaxing it is after the pleasant walk, what fun it is to feel the wind in his hair and the sun on his face, and I'm hoping that he'll come around.  Little by little, day by day, twenty minutes at a time, we'll cover those miles. 


     

Comments (14)

  • Outstanding mind-set shipmate! Kudos on a positive note and for motivating the Crew. I think I shall play the 'glad game' on the way home from work this evening!

    *MUAH*

    Sail on... sail on!!!

  • It can be hard to conquer complaining. Good luck, and kudos to you for even attempting it.

  • I feel your pain because I've lived that pain.    No doubt....you will cover those miles. 

  • You're covering those miles in record style, Wonderful Mom!   I like your 'glad game' a LOT, and am going to start, instantly, playing that with Ms. 6, who is (you hadn't noticed, I don't supposed ) prone to a heckuvalot of personally-inflicted 'sad game' antics.

  • My Jess would rather die than walk anywhere it seems, but we make it a regular part of "family time" as we're so close to shops & restaurants.

    atta boy, Tucker, though!

  • SHORTCUTS!

  • Go Mom!

  • Oh my! That is too freakin wonderful that you're consciously working on something like that with your kids. I mean WOW WOW WOW. How many parents do that? How many CARE enough to do that? Good luck and keep it up, Wonderful!

  • "Are you sure it isn't your mouth that's getting tired..."  That is so frigging funny.

  • My boy walked home a few times in the last couple weeks of school.  We practiced a few times first... but on bikes at first.  Then I just met him half way, on foot.  It's no where near a milie though.

  • good for you - too many people just use their cars because they can these days. and I think it's harder in the US because so many cities are not pedestrian-friendly... I'm grateful to live in the UK where I can function without a car 99% of the time!

  • ((hugs)) My mom used to take me hiking up in the mountains when I was young, I enjoyed every moment, because well it was all new, every trail different, and sometimes would be rewarded with a wonderful waterful or ruin that I could imagine about. :)

  • Maybe a boy sized hamster wheel. Seriously, I feel for you. Complainers are hard to be around. Hopefully, Michael figures that out before he gets too much older. Mike

  • Been there done that one and oh how I can relate :)   It used to be a little less than 1.5 miles to get my boys to school when they were younger and they went kicking and screaming all the way...being out in the country we are 9 miles from school so the longest walk involves the length of the driveway to get down to where the bus picks her up.  We have 25 wooded acres to walk but not a pleasant idea when tick season is here ...and especially not after the kind of rain you described...you are awesome

    Belinda

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