We have always tried to encourage Smallsteps to be physically active and since we have largely kept her away from screens, she spends a fair time outside playing about. However, I myself haven't been anywhere near as active with her as I would have liked and wish that I had put more effort in when she was younger. It isn't too late of course as she is only ten, but I am also not getting any younger. Being an old parent was not what I had originally planned.
Plans don't usually go to plan.
(I remember taking this shot many years ago)
Despite my failings, Smallsteps is a surprisingly good runner - at least over short distances - and today she is going to compete against runners from other schools, after topping her year in her school. Though, it is largely a music school, so athletic ability isn't high on the agenda. But, she was the fastest in her year and she is also the shortest by far. A couple of the girls she was racing against are taller than me.
We will go and watch her compete in the afternoon and see how she handles the situation. She is excited to be involved and is looking forward to the competition. This is where we differ heavily, as while she isn't competitive (nor am I), she wants to still gauge herself against other people. When I was a kid, I would remove myself from most direct competitions so as not to bring attention to myself. Probably a defence mechanism due to my school experiences. So I like it that she is willing to give it a shot and put herself out there.
If she enjoys the experience of running against people today, I think I will put in some more effort to get her out to a nearby track and have a few runs. It will be good for me too obviously, as I have been pretty reserved with running since having leg surgery last year. I have been on a bike a bit at the gym, but haven't pushed too hard on things. I think it might be a good activity to do together and maybe, just maybe my wife will come out for a run too. When we first met she would train outside with me - but that was a long time ago.
Parents set an example for their kids and at least Smallsteps sees that we go to the gym regularly and eat pretty well. Inclusion and shared experience is obviously better though, so we should be doing better to set the example now, because later it is likely too late. They say it is "never too late" but when it comes to what we learn as children, it can be very hard to break old habits. And then all that energy used to overcome poor childhood experience can't be used in growth activities. It is better to spend resources developing, than correcting.
I know this all too well.
So much of my life has been spent on correction rather than growth and it has applied to all parts of my life. I wonder what potential I had in me, if I had directed energy toward other endeavours. I wonder what potential we have as a species if we could channel resources to where they are the most effective at improvement.
No one can go back in time.
But we can use the lessons that we learned to make the future a little better. The future always happens through what we do now though. So, will I be able to change my own habits and spend more time active with Smallsteps? I think so, but I reckon it has to be something systematic, where we have a particular day, or schedule for it where we can put half hour aside to learn and practice. It doesn't matter how much we improve or if it leads anywhere else, just that we can do it together and set a foundation that keeps Smallsteps active as she gets older. Many kids do very little by the time they are mid-teens, and it shows.
Teens isn't too far away now.
And that will bring a host of other challenges.
Enough movement shouldn't be one of them.
Taraz
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