HomeFull Moons and Safety Glass
Full Moons and Safety Glass
Balancing money, time, self, and family
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Let Me Count the Ways
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Do you burn more calories when you're irritated?
One of the things I love most about the neighborhood where we live is our close proximity to Pond Park and the bike path. Before marriage, before kids, we lived in a dumpy little duplex in a million-dollar neighborhood. We loved it. We spent more time on that bike path together than we ever did gazing at each other over candlelit dinners or holding hands staring at sunsets. When it came time to buy, we couldn’t afford anything right off the park, so we crossed Fair Oaks Blvd. to stay in the area and stay on budget.
Nearly six years married, two kids later. This past Saturday. In a desperate attempt to stay on track with the ridiculously over-zealous training plan for my September walking half marathon I struck out for the bike path. Five miles. Can I reach a 14 minute/mile pace today? I tried to ignore the temperature that was steadily creeping towards 90 degrees. I also tried to ignore the bickering from the back seat. Oh…didn’t I mention?? Paul was up at the boat, washing it, and trying to get it in the water. That meant, I had the distinct pleasure and honor of trying to “do something for myself and get some exercise” with the girls in tow. My reality was distinctly different then theirs. Oh, you know them. The “super fit”. They are the cyclists, walkers, and runners zipping by on the bike path at an unbelievable clip. Sometimes they are in packs and sometimes they are alone. They are intense. Focused. In the zone. The only zone I was in was the no parking zone of the parking lot. This I realized after unloading my car, reassembling the Burley, situating snacks, sippy cups, My Little Ponies, books, and the girls. I moved the car, strapped on my iPod and set the timer on my watch. Five miles, 70 minutes. Finally…I push out onto the bike path. People smiled and waved to the girls, who seemed oddly content. My iPod sent Dolly Parton coursing through my veins (the first song on my walking mix). I started to notice some of the regulars…The super-walker woman in her 50s (thin, tan) who always walks while reading a book…they guy on the recumbent bike that looks like the Speed Racer car…the man who pulls his big red dog in a bike trailer. Five miles, 70 minutes. At then…at mile 1.5… Don't touch me. Mom, she's squishing me! I dropped my cup (binkie, pony, book). I'm poopy. I want out. I want to walk. When are we going to be back at the car? I tried turning up my iPod so I couldn’t hear them. It didn’t work. Neither did positive reinforcement or the promise of candy at the end of the walk. Neither did threats of moving toys to the garage, timeouts, or telling on them to dad (don’t judge me for resorting to this periodically, please). It was awful. As I tried to ignore them, I found myself feeling more and more envious of my husband. Sure…he was up in the heat cleaning the boat...tired, sore, sweaty. But at least his exhaustion and near-heat stroke was occurring in a virtual solitude. At about mile 2.5 I really began to get more and more angry. Can they really keep doing this for anther 40 minutes? I started to think that I wasn’t going to make it. That I was actually going to start to cry. All I had wanted was my 5 miles, my 70 minutes. And then it happened (this is true). Two deer jumped out of the bushes, stopped, and stared right at us. I have never seen deer during that time of day and in that kind of heat. The girls were mesmerized. They were awestruck. They spent the next 10 minutes laughing, bantering back and forth, looking for more deer…and then… Don't touch me. Mom, she's squishing me! I dropped my cup (binkie, pony, book). I'm poopy. I want out. I want to walk. When are we going to be back at the car? I still had at least 20 minutes. This was crazy. I was crazy. I was going to be “the crazy lady on the bike path who screams at her kids”. And then… …(really, this is true)…a coyote walked right out in front of us. I stopped. The girls stopped. Never, ever have I seen coyote on the bike path. The girls didn’t know what to do. They were stunned. We made it back to the park (yes, I got my 5 miles, just not my 70 minutes) and waited for Paul to bring us our picnic lunch. I sat in the shade and watched the girls laugh and run around. I saw one of “them”. She was tan, fit, perfectly outfitted and rode towards us on her expensive-looking road bike towing a bike trailer behind her. As she approached I heard “Stop screaming. You are not being a good friend. Mommy is very, very angry.” I couldn’t help it. I laughed out loud. 6 comments from 4 users
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posted by
hmoeckli
on Apr 28, 2008 at 07:14 AM
posted by
MomoMama
on Apr 28, 2008 at 10:56 AM
I screamed so loudly at Alex Saturday night by throat was sore (I believe I actually said, "I can't take it anymore! Drink your f$&*@ milk!!"). Frustration and the need to just get some damn peace and quiet gets us all. The only mom I know who doesn't yell/bribe/or otherwise grump at her kids has the two weirdest, least adjusted kids I've ever met. Congrats on getting the walk done. I've got big plans to get back on track today. posted by
AmandaS
on Apr 28, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Yes, I considered the 5 miles in the heat a true milestone. I must be crazy, because I took the girls out for another walk on Sunday morning (much shorter--3 miles) at Ancil Hoffman golf course. I'm probably due for an f-bomb dropping. I'm trying to switch over to "Good Christ." Not much better or less offensive, but it does feel like progress.The girls really are cute and funny at times. I really did love seeing their feet hanging over the Burley (I couldn't get a picture with Carmen's feet up as well). posted by
creatress
on Apr 28, 2008 at 04:11 PM
How the heck can someone walk while reading a book?! posted by
hmoeckli
on Apr 28, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Yeah, I was thinking about that too. I have a hard time reading on the bike or elliptical trainer at the gym. Forget about the treadmill. I would die. I've trained myself pretty well with the not swearing, but I do shout a mean "GD it !" more often than I'd like to admit. My daughter is getting wickedly good at mimicking and I am afraid, very afraid... posted by
AmandaS
on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Next time I see the walking and reading lady, I'll try to take a picture with my camera. Might be a little tough. It really is the craziest thing. Actually, so is the guy pulling his giant red dog in a dog bike trailer. He's one of those serious cyclists who rides in a big pack. Its very "one of the these things is not like the other".I really do need to work on the swearing. I usually don't do it around the kids but every once in a while one sneaks out on me.
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I'm often put in the situation in which I have to work out, do pilates, or yoga while watching my daughter. My husband isn't evil...just making dinner. So I shouldn't complain.
When I'm most irritated by the situation, she'll surprise me by doing downward dog or my squats with me, then she'll say "Mommy, I'm dancing." Brings me right back to the joy (well, partial joy...I'm still working out.)