All of sudden my little girl comes up to me, with chalk all over her hands and wants to be placed on the pull-up bar. She wants to do some toes- to- bar and pull-ups. We were laughing so hard, because at not even 2 yet, she has seen me each week head to the chalk in the garage, chalk up my hands like a wanna- be- gymnast and start doing pull-ups. (yes, girls and moms can do pull-ups). So why wouldn't she do the EXACT same thing.
We had some new people at our house and I was a bit nervous as to what they would think. My 2 year old chalking up like a 300 lb weightlifter and owning that 7 foot bar like she was a crossfit phenom. But they were in awe of her skills. Most of my KHOP girls are jealous of what she can do. The joke is that they channel Carter Mae's strength when they need to get through a hard workout.
Heres' the thing: She knows no different. Since our Holden and Carter Mae were born they have seen their parents be active. And yes, Grant and I compete in events and we have taken them to races and competition, but it is about way more than competitions or races to us. It's just a way a life. For us to go outside and play on the pull-up bar or do handstands in the yard is just PLAY to them. It isn't WORK, it isn't about looking a certain way, it isn't about being skinny, it isn't even about winning. Exercising is just PLAY.
Mommy jump roping or doing handstand push-ups just looks fun. The sweat that is dripping down my face is an indication that this isn't a walk in the park, but they don't know any better, to them, mommy just looks like she's having a blast.
Some might say, "Well, it's easy for you to do this, you love exercise, you have always been athletic." This is true, but I don't always love working out. Like right now I am procrastinating by writing this blog post so I don't have to go outside and sweat. I also know the importance of taking the time to take care of myself. Not just for me, but for my family, to have energy, to run and play with my kids, and to be responsible for the only body I will ever have.
There will never be any pressure to exercise in our family. I never want my daughter to associate working-out with losing weight or a certain type of body image. Yes, working out produces a fit body but that's not why we do it. The pressure society will place on her to look a certain way from every billboard, magazine cover, and internet site, will have no place in our home. I never want either of my kids, but especially my daughter, to see me look at myself in the mirror and say negative things about my body. I want her to associate exercise with PLAY, FUN, LIFESTYLE. It's what we do to be the best version God made us. That's it.
I have talked with some of my KHOP girls who never had a family who modeled any type of exercise. Because it wasn't modeled it wasn't a big deal. This means unhealthy habits were displayed in their lives. Now, more than ever, they are adamant that they will be an example to their children to be fit, healthy, and whole in all areas. I love this picture of the daughter of one of my KHOPPERS . She has seen her mommy work out and come home and foam roll. She thinks it's PLAY and she foam rolls too. She's not even realizing that her mom is giving her a lesson in life as she is stretching out her sore muscles from a day of facing her fear and doing something new, something that was never a part of her life until now. She does this because she wants to be the best version of herself for her daughter. If that's not motivating I don't know what else is!
Whether you are a parent now or will be one day. Be healthy for you, but also for the little ones who are watching. Not because you HAVE too, but because it's a way of life. Because you only have one body. Take care of it, and be a model to those who want to be like you.
Momma's and Daddy's be brave. Some of you are afraid to start. One of my favorite sayings is: "Brave moms (parents) make brave kids."
If there is ever a motivation to start taking care of yourself let it be for these little ones who want to follow in your footsteps or in my case handstands!