Baby Got Back

Last summer, I had an epiphany.... although I am not a natural athlete, there's no reason why I can't TRY to get in better shape. So, I joined Maine Running Company's 5k Training group (with a section for the true blue beginner... yeah, that's me). I bought good shoes, I went to training group, I followed the instructions, I ran and walked and ate and stretched and iced my legs when they were achy.... and lo and behold, I lost some weight, felt great, and ran TWO 5k races! I did it!

And then December came. And ice and snow and cold weather. And holiday food, and the darkness.... O, the darkness. And I curled up in a ball on the couch with an afghan and Dave and LM, watched WAY too much TV, and 5 months later I've put on all that weight I lost... and then some. This morning I discovered that NOTHING is fitting the way it used to. I feel like that commercial where the girl has two giant cinnamon buns stuck to her butt. I got my spring/summer clothes out of the bins earlier this week, and ugh, everything is tight. I don't look chic, I look sleazy. Frown.

Ok, back to the drawing board. My goal now? The Beach to Beacon 10k. I'm strapping on the shoes. Baby's Got Back, but I'm going to get back in the game. Now is the time to beat that spare tire I'm starting to cart around! I can use your encouragement!

I'll Never Be Like My Parents!

Growing up, many of us say we'll never turn into our parents.

But as we get older, a lot of us eventually resign ourselves to our fate-- I am sounding and looking more like my parents every day.

I think it's just natural. We learn to parent from the example of our parents; where else would we learn this skill? I had a wonderful childhood with two parents that were open-minded, inclusive, educational and extremely loving. Now that I'm a mother, I actually hear their words coming out of my mouth when speaking to my own child. It's literally like going back in time 30 years.

First, it's the silly things. I call her bottom a "bum-bum". I even said it in my aerobics class the other day when referring to the lower region, which was a tad embarrassing. That word came from my parents and I have not heard it in 25 years, but it came out naturally after I had a baby.

Also, it's the important things, like saying good-night to my daughter. Every night my father would always say: "Daddy loves you". If he got home late from work and I was already asleep-- he would whisper it in my ear. I still remember that, and I relished it. Now, with my own daughter, part of her night-time routine includes me telling her "Mommy loves you so much." I want Rosa to close her eyes every night with that security, just as I had.

Finally, it's the odd things. Rosa had a small melt-down the other day at her grandfather's house. Her nose scrunched up and she yelled out in tears, and I couldn't help myself but laugh. She's just so darn cute, especially when she's hysterical (or scared of her grandfather, who also thought it was funny!) Rosa's father Matt, did not find it funny and actually found us cruel. The whole point of this story is that after the event, I had a flashback remembering my own parents who used to laugh at me when I was upset. It was literally the same scene-- one generation later.

So to end this all... you can't fight city hall. Give it up-- we all turn into our parents, it's just our fate...but perhaps that's not such a bad thing.

Been There, Done That!

I recently found out my daughter needs braces...other than the foreign tooth (a.k.a. "alien" tooth, as we like to call it) on the roof of her mouth and a little bit of shifting, they don't look so bad. We thought this "alien" tooth would need to be pulled...the orthodontist actually said it was one of her bicuspids and due to overcrowding on one side of her mouth it had no place to go. My daughter is very accepting of the fact that she needs braces now...it sounds better than having a tooth pulled right? Initially she will get separators...a week later she'll get braces on her top teeth. First they will make room for the bi-cuspid to move back into place and eventually she will get braces on the bottom to correct the alignment. Shouldn't be too bad right? Easy for me to say.lol. I remember having braces and it wasn't so bad...maybe a little inconvenient and unconmfortable at times but tolerable. Now it's her turn:)