Racing Day

My eyes have been opened....and I am not sure I like what I see! I am lazy....yup, I said it L-A-Z-Y! There is no way to deny it now. I have seen it, and I have to accept it and CHANGE pronto if I want my daughter to be a happy, healthy,and active person.

One of Sugar Bear's favorite TV shows is The Backyardagins. I have to admit that I can't help but love this show. It is so colorful, happy and cute. There is an episode that we have seen like 10 times, because they only make like 10 episodes a season, but it airs everyday. There is a ton of repeating, but toddlers love seeing things over and over. This particular episode is called, "Racing Day!" The characters participate in a wonderful race that includes running, skiing, kayaking, and so on. It is very fun, and has catchy little songs. Sugar frequently sings these songs with a huge smile on her face. Often I can't help but chime in also.

About 2 weeks ago, while we were outside playing, Sugar Bear told me she was going to race. She planted her little feet on our deck, and squatted down with her hands on the deck and said rather loudly, as most toddlers only know how to talk at full volume, "Ready, set, GOOOOOOOOOO!" and she was off running. She ran around the corner of our deck, then around the next corner and turned around and came back. As she passed me sitting in my lounge chair she announced, "I WIN!!!!!!" She was certainly proud of herself. I was beaming too, as I am always admiring her brilliance. Then the dreaded words came out of her mouth. Can you guess what they were? Come on....I know you can! "Mama's turn!" oh sigh...you mean I now have to get off my duff and run? Say it isn't so! UGH!

I slowly pried my fanny up off the chair, and got into the position. My little pumpkin climbed up into the lounger and announced, "Ready, set, GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I started jogging around the house thinking, "gee....this is fun....NOT! I hope I don't have to do this many more times." In the back ground I could hear Sugar Bear singing the "racing day" song. As I rounded the corner coming into the home stretch, I spied the huge smile on my daughter's face as she announced me a winner! I have to say that it melted my heart a little, but it didn't make the jogging any more enticing. I flopped back into the lounger that Sugar had abandoned to take her turn to race again. This time she waited for me to yell the "Ready, set, GOOOOOOOOO!"

As my girl ran her race, I thought to myself, "wouldn't it be lovely if she would just entertain herself with this little race game, and I could sit here basking in the late afternoon sun reading a magazine? I could look up every now and again and excitedly proclaim her a winner, clap my hands for her and give her a high five. Surely that would meet both of our needs, right?"

Alas, when Sugar Bear finished her race, it was very obvious I would not be getting out of my turn. That afternoon, we took turns racing at least a dozen times. Sugar Bear loved it....and I was pleased that she burnt off some energy, and that she was learning to enjoy moving her body. It must be said that I value good health, and that as my daughter grows I encourage her to eat well, and stay active. It must also be noted though....that I haven't exercised since I as 6 months pregnant, and that my eating habits are not what they should be. It is painfully obvious to me that I can no longer kid myself that encouraging her to "do as I say, not as I do" is the best way to go about things. If I truly want to make a difference I need to walk the walk. I have to ask myself what message I want to send her? "Exercise is for children, but mommies sit on their fannies!" or "Exercise is for everyone, and it is fun!"

So, this is it.....I need to shake off my laziness...and get in there an play, run, jump, and smile while doing it. Sometimes I am tired, but honestly we all know that I'd be a lot less tired if I had a healthy body. There is just no denying it friends.....I'm afraid that everyday is racing day, and I certainly want to be a winner!

(Video removed to protect Sugar's name.)