Did anyone tell us that suddenly our bodies would no longer be ours? If you nursed for sure it wasn’t yours. Even if you didn’t, the sudden realization that you are completely responsible for another human is a sobering awakening to your new reality. Trying to navigate and juggle taking care of babies and toddlers and taking care of yourself is really hard. I remember when my son was 1 year old and I decided I needed to get back in shape. I took him to a gym with daycare. It had a glass divider and as I was leaving for the short hour down the hall to attend a fitness class, my heart sunk as both his arms and face were pressed on the glass, mouth wide open screaming “mama!!”with crocodile tears streaming down his face. Like I was leaving him at an orphanage. God it was awful and was my first and last class for a long time. I then tried running with a double jog stroller for my oldest and middle. I was desperate for activity and didn’t care that sippy cups would go flying every minute or two. Those years were a struggle for me to keep some semblance of fitness and self preservation. However, I wouldn’t trade them for anything. It was an honor and blessing to be able to stay at home with my kids before they were in school. Again perspective is an amazing gift to reflect on our blessings.
Today, 25 years after my first, the struggle for fitness is different in many ways. More on this to come... I have researched and learned so much about health and wellness over the years but I still must keep it in perspective. I won’t ever again look like I looked in my twenties but that is ok. As my sister and I say, we must keep fighting the good fight!