I am an adventure seeking wife and mother first! Travel, and endorphins are my best friends. I will try anything once, unless I know
I would be in danger. I have a crazy love of God, running, triathlon, the outdoors, dirt, wine, friends, good Vegan food, Yoga,
animals, happiness, and life! I truly believe the only limits in life are the ones set by ourselves. So get out there and expand the limits!!
~~Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible.


Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Mother Runners

  I think the older I get the more of a sap I am.  Maybe it’s because there are many days that I am training, and have a twinge of guilt in me about time away from my family.  I know that every Mom needs her time, and it is a good and healthy thing to do for yourself, but my time away some days seems excessive.  My Fridays and Saturdays, are no less than 5-6 hour training days.  That’s a lot.  When other Mom’s are hangin’ out, playing with their kids on the weekend, I am on a bike for 5 hours.  Or running for hours.  Guilt.  It’s something I have battled with ALL of these months of training for Ironman.  Something I have battled with anytime I am away from my kids.
Some days however, I need to step back and really look inside, at where the guilt is coming from.  Certainly not from my family.  I guess as a Mom, it’s hard to have “me time.”  Being 100% invested in your kids and family, is in our nature. And we are selfless.  Time for ourselves gets put on the back burner,
But then, I have days like Mother’s Day.  And here is where the sap in me comes out.  We got up on Mother’s Day, and headed to meet some great friends for breakfast.  It was early, and our kids were excited.  Even our teenagers, coming off late Saturday nights!!  Breakfast was awesome, and we came home to hang out together.  The kids then proceeded to hand out my gifts and cards.  The cards…the cards were magical.  They were beautiful, but the things my kids wrote in them to me touched my heart the way nothing else could.  My son Jeff said things like, “thank you for being so devoted to me. It’s that devotion that made me the man I am today.”  My seventeen year old daughter Mariah wrote how much she is like me, and that she LOVES that.   That we are just like twins, and she is my “mini-me” and is so proud of me. That she thanks God everyday for me.  And little Alli; that I am always supportive, that I am always there for her, and that I care so much for her. That I am adventurous, beautiful, and love laughing.
They are proud of me, encouraging to me, are my biggest fans.  Of course reading every card, and every word that they wrote, made me cry like a baby.  They admire me.  I guess when I am feeling that guilt creep in, I need to realize that even though, I may not be right there with them at that moment, they know I am always there.  And through training I am showing them fortitude, dedication, and being a good, healthy, roll model to them.  I am showing them, first hand about setting goals, dreaming big, and reaching for the stars.  Setting your mind to something, and going for it.  Anything is attainable, be it your first 5K, marathon, triathlon, Ironman or Ultra-marathon.
Next time I am training, I will hold their words close to my heart.  I will know that even though I may be out swimming, riding or running, they are actually right out with me, in spirit.  I am not leaving them behind; I am carrying them right along with me.  They are cheering for me.  Looking up to me, and have pride in me.  No guilt can slip in when you have huge fans paving the way for you.



8 comments:

  1. I needed this, Paula! Thanks. :o)

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  2. so beautiful! paula, you had me crying...what an amazing gift for mother's day - knowing just how proud they are of you, what a role model you are, what an amazing mom.

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  3. Thanks or the tears Paula! Those cards are so special. You are an amazing mom and you truly are an insparation not only to your kids but to other moms like me too.

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  4. Awesome sweetheart...our kids look up to you a lot and you inspire all of us. Great blog !! G

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  5. What a beautiful family you have! I must be a bigger sap than you because I teared up and they're not even my kids! Haha!

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  6. look how beautiful you and your family are! Thank you for sharing these pics and the words from your kids.

    my kids are 4, and I would LOVE for them to say these things to me as teenagers;-)

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  7. I love this post! Thank you for sharing it with us! It is beautiful and so very true! And, I love the pictures at the end! You have an amazing family! :)

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  8. Paula,

    What a beautiful family! You are a great example to them.

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