Yesterday, I was gone for a few hours in the afternoon to attend a friend's baby shower. When I returned, Norah asked: "Did you have a good run, Mommy?"
I'd been gone about 5 hours.
But this is what they think I do when I'm not around. And, it's pretty much true. Occasionally, I slip away for other purposes, but during the summer, since I'm not working, pretty much the only time I'm away from them is when I'm running, and like Forrest Gump: "I [am] always running!"
For kids, time is an intangible concept, despite the fact that they're always trying to strike a two minute bargain with me -- "Time for your nap, Caleb." "Me play two more minutes, Mommy!" -- so for them, 5 hours of my absence didn't register as an unusually long time for me to be out running.
At this point, the kids' association with me and running has solidified. We were discussing our tentative 4th of July plans for next week, and Norah interjected by asking me: "Are you gonna run your running race?" (In the past, I've infrequently run a local 5K on the 4th. But this year, I'm thinking of skipping it -- too much driving back and forth -- but...maybe.)
I think it's pretty cool that they think of me as a runner, since I do too, and like any Running Mom, I hope the influence one day rubs off on them so we can run together. Until then, it's also pretty sweet to enjoy the time I spend running alone, and when I get back, I'm greeted with: "Mommy running?" from Caleb.
"Yup, I was running!"
5 comments:
Love this! Great example for your kids and they see it as such a positive, fun thing.
this is so cute :)
This is incredibly cute!
I also have no doubt that you are laying the foundation for them to expect running or some other fitness activity to be a normal part of life.
It is so true that they pay attention to what you do more than what you say.
At least they know you like running. I asked Rylee what I like to do and she answered, "do the dishes and laundry." Ah no, I do not like to do those things! LOL!
When I put my 4 year old to bed, he asks me two questions:
"Are you going back to work?" (sometimes I do, in the evenings)
"Are you going running?"
I love the fact that he thinks I'm darting out for a nice long late-night run every night!
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