A Problem I LOVE Having.

I've mentioned before, my 9 year old son has some issues.  He can be quite challenging, particularly with academic-related things.

This summer we started a program called Brain Balance - an academic "achievement center" - where we attend sessions, and do homework, for 12 intensive weeks, in the hopes of improving positive behaviors and academic progress. . .This requires both academic work, and physical workouts.  The theory being a strong body, leads to a strong mind - which I agree with wholeheartedly.


As of this week, we are halfway through the Brain Balance program.  It is our first week of school - 4th grade for my 9 year old.  We are hoping, hoping, hoping that we make enough positive changes to do well this year.  I'm not sure if it is because of Brain Balance, or a combination of factors, but we are seeing at least one big change.

I've also mentioned before that I am a Reader.  I love reading - and that's putting it mildly.  I always have my Kindle with me, because if there is a free 2 minutes in my day, I want to have my books handy. . .

 

 

Where am I going with this?  Well, this avid reader, who has read to her children since in-utero, managed to produce kids who love to be read to - but do not enjoy reading.  I found myself envious of parents whose children walk around hefting Harry Potter or The Lightening Thief.  I was shocked into jealously learning about a friend's daughter who gets up early - just to have extra time to read in the mornings. 

No longer.  I have a new problem in my life, and I LOVE IT:

My 9 year old won't stop reading. . .

That's right.  This child who has repeatedly scored below grade level in reading, who would not finish reading assessments because the three-paragraph reading passage was "too long", who complained when I made him read the recipe directions for brownies we were making - won't stop reading now.

I am in Literacy Heaven.

I can't get my son to do his Brain Balance homework because he won't put his book down.  I have to remind him to eat at meals, because his nose is buried in a book.  He snuck out of bed last night, and downstairs to the sofa, so he could keep reading.

This is a challenge, because we have a lot of "have-to" do things throughout the day, yet I am struggling with making him get it done, because I don't want to ask him to stop reading. 

This is a problem I can live with. . .

Running on Empty

Summer vacation is almost over.  In less than a week, I return to work, and shortly after, the kids return to school.

It has been a wonderful summer.  I think we all enjoyed the break from rushing out the door first thing in the morning, and having a more relaxed schedule during the day.

This entire summer, I've been struggling with my running - my endurance, the weather (pouring rain or horrible humidity), making time to log the miles, and most importantly my desire.  I have a blogger friend who recently posted about not enjoying running, so why was she pushing herself so much with it?  That post got me thinking about my struggles.

I have decided that I still enjoy running.  However, I no longer care to torture myself doing it.  I don't want to take 2 hours every weekend to log a long run.  I don't want to wake up ridiculously early in order to cram in more miles so that I reach a weekly mileage goal.  What I do want - is to enjoy running again. . .I want that feeling of freedom and my worries slipping away.  I want to feel that I've gotten a good workout, without compromising my entire day in order to achieve that one goal.

This morning, at spin class, I found myself thinking about all the races I've completed, and the few that I still have ahead of me. . .I realized that I have not registered for a running race recently - and I felt physically ill for a moment.  What am I doing?  I need to get home, get online and find a race to participate in before the end of August! 

No.  Deep breath.  Shift.

I do not NEED to be registered for a race, in order to run - or bike.  I can, and will, do this on my own.  I realize that initially, I registered for races to keep myself motivated.  If I had a race that I had committed to - by golly I was going to be ready, so it kept me in line with my workouts and training.

I think I have enough of a routine now, that I enjoy - I am not going to fall off the exercise wagon.  That had been my initial concern.  Now, I am looking forward to running, or biking, on my own terms.



Don't get me wrong.  I am still registered for races, and will continue to register - I am sure.  They are a good experience, and I like going to new venues (and of course, collecting t-shirts).  However, I am also enjoying just running with friends.  I like heading out on my own, and finding a new quiet road to explore - at my own pace.

This is a work in progress.  It's a change from my previous exercise path, and will take some adjustment, some shifting.  But I think it will help to bring back my enjoyment with running, which has been seriously lacking this summer. 


And maybe, just maybe, it will help me to live more in the moment. . .