Friday, January 26, 2007
The boys' gym teacher sent them home several weeks ago with a New Year's Challenge. Now I wouldn't call it your normal every day gym challenge either. It wasn't about how many pull-ups they could do or running a mile in less than ten minutes or anything like that. It was a worksheet with these six questions:
1. I was able to go the whole day without eating any Junk Food (mark one box for each day you were successful.)
2. I was able to exercise for 20 minutes today--Recess and PE don't count (mark one box for each day you were successful.)
3. Please list 5 healthy snacks that are good for your body.
4. Please list 5 yummy but not-so-healthy snacks.
5. What activities or exercises can you do at home to help your bodies get stronger and healthier.
6. How did you feel about this challenge? (Kindergartner's can draw a picture)
Now, normally I wouldn't think much about such a challenge. But in a way, this homework involved me. And it involved me in a way that I'd rather not be involved in. You see, when your kid can't make it a single day of the week without Junk Food or they can't think of a single "healthy snack" on their own, you're not doing so hot in the Parenting and Nutrition department. And it makes matters even worse when you, the adult, can't go a single day without several servings of Junk Food a day and the only exercise you get is running up and down the stairs carrying baskets of laundry and babies. And the real clincher was when Noah, my five year old, had more will power than me and passed up fudge and pumpkin roll for a measley apple, just so he could pass Ms. K's challenge. And there were a few occassions when I found myself justifying things like Kettle Corn Microwave popcorn and Root Beer with dinner, trying to convince Noah he could still eat them and pass the challenge. Terrible, I know.
Now I need to be a little gentle with myself at this point and I'll use the birth of the twins as my scapegoat. See, I had Caleb and nursed him for three months. That's a year of eating whatever I liked because I was pregnant and nursing. At that point I found out I was pregnant again, but this time with twins. Hello! That meant another year of eating anything and everything I wanted and I must admit, when I'm pregnant and nursing that usually involves large amounts of cereal, ice cream and all sorts of Junk. And because it was twins that meant I could double everything and never feel guilty. And, telling a pregnant lady (or a nursing one, for that matter) that she should eat lots of fish and celery and carrots is just plain stupid. It's like my doctor this week, telling me that my case of Mastitis was a mild one and that taking an antibiotic four times a day on an empty stomach while I continue to nurse the twins should be simple. I'd like to kick that doctor in the pants and tell him that his penisitis is just a mild case!
Anyway, I'm getting off the subject. In a nutshell, popping out six human beings in eight years takes its toll on your eating habits. And it's no surprise at this point that I find myself struggling to eat less and change my ways, especially cause I'm still nursing. And let me just say, exercising when your nursing twins is no simple task either--it definitely has to be low-impact whatever it is and I've never been a fan of low-impact. When I exercise I gotta feel it burn, it's gotta make we sweat, or it really seems pointless to me. Plus, we're in the dead of winter and that makes it especially hard to take the kids outside and run them around. And because we haven't fenced our yard yet (see upcoming projects) I have no way of containing Caleb so I can play with the big kids. So to say the least, the timing of this challenge was less than ideal and I shouldn't be too hard on myself.
But still, it has made me think. And I've decided a few changes are necessary, if not for me, especially for the kids. I've come up with two areas that I'd like to work on and this is where you come in. First, I've started making a more substantial after school snack for the kids and requiring them to sit with me and eat. This has been wonderful in several ways. First, with a big, healthy snack after school they nag me less for snacks during witching hour which makes dinner prep time a little more peaceful. Second, with us all sitting together after school it gives me a chance to hear about their day and give them some "mommy time" before I get busy again with dinner and the babies. So that's all great and good but I'm still lacking in the "healthy but substantial" snack department. Homemade mini bagel pizzas, canolis, baked french fries, cereal, mini sandwiches, giant pretzels, apples and peanut butter, fruit and yogurt smoothies, crackers and cheese and tortilla crisps are already on my list. But what great after school treats do your kids get? I'm trying to stear away from things like fruit snacks and pudding and teddy grahams (the prepackaged stuff) because they take those sorts of things to school and they don't fill them up enough. But I also don't want suggestions like carrots and veggie dip or "ants on a log" (celery and peanut butter) because my kids aren't big fans of veggies and if they don't like the snack they'll never sit and never eat.
The other change--twenty minutes of exercise a day. Twenty minutes of reading, twenty minutes of physical activity. Not a lot of time involved in either but they make such a huge difference in our children's lives. I'd love to eventually make that sixty minutes a day but we must start small. . . keep it simple. For now we've got the bouncy castle downstairs and the boys could spend hours jumping around and wrestling in there. But after that, then what? I need suggestions. Taking all six kids outside is impossible right now. I need ideas, such as "Freeze Dance" that they can play inside but that will really get their blood flowing. Anyone? Anyone?
I've never been good at keeping New Year's resoutions. Never. But after all the shame from Ms. K's challenge and watching my children struggle and then fail miserably, I can't help but give it a try and make a change or two, even if they are small changes. Hopefully they'll make a big difference in the long run. Right? Right.
posted by Shana # 12:04 PM 
|
|
|
