Looking back, I don’t know when I first jumped onto the exercise bandwagon. I wasn’t super active in college. I barely used the gym there. It was after graduation that I really started to get interested in working out. I joined a gym and haven’t looked back since. I’m a work in progress physically, but I love how working out makes me feel.
I have definitely had my moments where I’ve fallen off for months at a time. The last several years though have found me being consistent. I’m at the point of working out six times a week. It has a great impact on me physically and mentally. Exercise has been the self care necessity getting me through the pandemic. It’s the perfect way to work through stress.
My Kids Are Watching
The other impact is the one it’s having on my kids. We all know that kids watch what we do. It’s what they focus on far more than what we say. Since we’ve been at home together so much during this pandemic, my kids are really watching me. They’ve always known that I exercise. Knowing is a lot different than seeing me do it every day. They have both gotten really interested in what I do and joining me. My daughter does yoga, spin and other classes through our Peloton. The strength classes and some of the spin stuff have been big with my son.
My daughter tells me she wants to be strong like me. That’s how she sees me and it makes me proud. I love that one of the things I’m modeling for her is fitness being a part of self care. It’s not something I have to tell her. Instead, she watches me show up for myself daily and she wants to do the same.
As for my son, not too long ago, he walked in on one of my weight lifting sweat session and said, “That looks hard.” Then he said, “Wow, you’re determined. You don’t let anything stop you.” You have to know I was beaming through my deep breaths as I continued to exercise. That’s a lesson I didn’t have to voice for him. It’s important to be determined and work through things. I’ve always known that the way we live would be lessons for them. It’s just amazing to see it in action.
The feeling is mutual
The inspiration goes both ways at times. My son is a huge reader. Seeing him race through novel after novel reminded me how much I have always loved to read. In the last few years, I’ve jumped back into my love of reading and I have him to thank for the inspiration. In working out and reading, I’ve had to make time to do the things that are important to me. They both feed me and are vital to my self care. The one thing that I do that they don’t seem to pick up on as much is cleaning. I’m always straightening or organizing and putting things away. They are real sporadic about that. We’ve got some work to do there. Ha!
These are the things I’m thankful for. So much of life has changed lately that it can be hard to see a silver lining. Looking for the silver lining in every situation comes naturally to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that it’s easy. There are days I don’t care about a silver lining and I’m not interested in finding it. If there was ever a time to look for a bit of a rainbow in the clouds, this pandemic has been it. While there has been a lot to be upset or sad about, here at home, I’m finding bright spots. The time with my kids and the lessons we are sharing with each other along the way have been one HUGE silver lining.
What bright spot have you found in all that’s going on these days?
1 Comment on Lessons my kids learn watching me exercise
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Kids do watch and learn from you. It is important that you set an example especially if you want them to join in.
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