Thursday, August 18, 2011

A Mom's Thoughts During the First Week of Kindergarten

Our running conversations are one of the best unexpected benefits of having a running group.  My group of girls talks about anything and everything.  I've have some of my longest uninterrupted conversations over the past couple of years with these girls.  If you are a stay at home mom, you know what I mean.  It's nice to talk without having two needy kids.  Even though I've taught mine that we don't interrupt  adults' conversations, those leave-in-the-middle-of-the-sentence moments still occur.  So I love our uninterrupted time while we run.

Kids were the topic of one of our recent runs.  It's been a busy week of back-to-school, and all of us are processing the fact that our kids are another grade older.  Inevitably, the topic turned to my ever present "third child" conundrum.  Here's the boat that I am in (and several of my friends too): Two kids, a boy and a girl.  Each child getting older and more and more independent every day.  My biological clock ticking LOUDLY in my ears (my 34th birthday is Saturday).  This year is a crossroads year for me, the precious last year before both of mine are in "big school."  So it's either stay at home and have another baby or start thinking of ways to fill the hours while mine are away at school.  There are pros and cons to having a third baby.  I could list them for hours (and have as we've weighed our choices).  But mostly, I just get sad thinking that all of the baby moments are almost gone.  There is nothing like these first five years.  I've watched two miracles grow from baby to child, and I'm not sure I'm ready to leave this stage behind.

My son started kindergarten at our preschool this week.  He's loving it.  I remember a song I first heard at his newborn baby session.  It was so fitting and true.  It became one of the lullabies that I still sing to my children as they go to bed at night.

It is "Lullaby" by Dixie Chicks

They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

They really didn't have children from where I came from (though I was a school teacher, it is not the same).  I really didn't know that the best was yet to come.  And life really did begin when I saw their faces.  Nothing else seems to matter.

And yet, what is one of my biggest cons for having another baby?  ME!  Giving up my body, my sleep, my running, or at least putting it on hold for several months.  Of course, finances, time to devote to each child, and other issues are also at hand.  For now, we weigh the options.  And I savor what I've been given because, truly, I never knew what I was missing until I had them.

4 comments:

  1. I randomly came across your blog as I was typing a search for mammoth marathons. Let me say I LOVE IT! I have often thought about starting a blog trying to be a runner and raise kids. Like peeling an orange while running on the treadmill. I'm about ten months out from giving birth to my third child and all I can think about it running. I actually only started after my first baby so it's been kind of amazing to see what I'm capable of. Right now I'm training for a Marathon in November and loved reading your post about training. It's nice to know I'm not alone in what I go through.

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  2. Thank you, Little luo, for your kind words! They made my day! I love hearing how people find my blog (I did write an entry about a mammoth in one of my posts, but not the Mammoth marathon!). You are right, it's this everyday stuff that we moms do--while also trying to run on top of that--that is the focus of this blog. I love having a venue to share my stories with others. You should do the same! I hope you enjoyed relating to some of the things I have gone through (I can relate to your story about peeling the orange on the treadmill. I do similar things while on my elliptical.). Keep up your training, and good luck!

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  3. Thanks Katie. Right now I shooting to do the Mesquite Marathon in November and was considering doing the Maui in January. I noticed that you have ran it. Do you have any feedback on the race. I have some frequent flyer miles I need to use before February and I'm trying to debate taking the family to Disney World or going to Maui with Hubs where we would both run the race. I have to tell you I loved readying your training logs. I too am doing the advanced program and I think we are right about the same place in our training. I did my 14 mile run yesterday. I had to do it a day early cause today was softball tournament. Anyway I wanted you to know you gave me a lot of hope cause your training paces are similar to mine but your goal 3:15 is freaking fast so maybe I can move mine up from a sub 4 hour. I have you on my google reader now so I will not be stocking your blog. I hope you don't mind. It just nice to have another mother runner.

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  4. Hi Little Lou,

    I checked out your blog to see who you are. I love your kids' names! They are blondies like mine. :) The Maui marathon that we did was in September, so I am not sure the one you are talking about is the same? Still, I would recommend that one! We loved the experience of running a marathon without having to worry about the kids.

    My goal is based on my previous times and my marathon experience (you can see my marathons on a page on the top of my blog). I am one of those people who can train somewhat slower than I run race day. My friends and husband scratch their heads in wonder about this! It is not for everyone, nor is everyone capable of doing it! So, I recommend basing your time goal on your previous marathons too. If this is your first one, a sub-4 hour makes a nice goal.

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