So, before I had kids, when I was a young college student studying english and child psychology, I had this whole parenting thing figured out. I would never bribe my kids, yell at my kids, let them watch TV, and the thought of children on a treadmill? Shudders. How could you? They should be running around outside playing, getting their exercise the natural way.
Fast forward 10 (or so ahem...) years to this. My 6 year old on a treadmill. And yes, I do think she should be outside running and jumping and playing and getting her exercise the natural way. But what happens when you live in Oregon and it's been pouring for 5 days straight and everyplace outside is flooded or muddy? And your kids don't have PE except for once a week for 20 minutes because the school budget has been cut? And they have been jumping on, off and around your couch for days? And they are fighting with each other and you and building forts with every blessed piece of furniture in your house? And then there it is, an exercise machine and they are begging you to use it. Do you say no because it's against some stupid pre-parenting principle? No. You say "here's how it works, here's the safety strap and have a good time." And that's what I did today.
I love the treadmill. And pretty soon, Miss E is going to be faster than me on it. That girl is a gazelle.
"and have a good time."
ReplyDeleteOh, parenting. Isn't it funny how we continuously learn that we know nothing? And we're all just flubbing through it?
I wish we had a treadmill. I'd send the kids to town on it today!
The longer I do this, the less I "know" what I'm doing. You just have to get through each day doing the best you can. Today it involved putting the kids on the treadmill and boy were we all happier for it!
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