As a mom to an energetic five year old boy, it’s a little tough to schedule in a good workout. I’ve contemplated about getting a gym membership, but that would mean taking away from the 3 hours I get to spend with him after work. (You see, I get home at 5pm, and his bedtime is at 8pm.)
So instead, I’ve opted to workout at home using my free weights, tension bands, elliptical and workout videos. I even have a nice little work out area in our master bedroom with enough room to get my Zumba on or skip rope.
When I’m not lazy pressed for time, I will squeeze in a workout between dinner and bath time. Usually I can get half an hour done with no disruptions, while my little guy is busy playing Legos with daddy. Sometimes, I can even get a whole hour in!
But usually when I work out, I have a little shadow following my every step, jump, or stretch. Even when I’m on my elliptical, my little guy will sit on the bed and patiently wait for me. We of course will have wonderful conversations about his day, and I’ll even try to squeeze in a moral lesson here and there.
I added burpees to my workout for the first time yesterday, and each time I would go down to the floor to start a new burpee he would run up from behind me and jump on my back.
I was starting to worry that I might hurt him, so I asked him why he was doing it and to stop because he would get hurt.
His reply to me was, “But Mommy, you are doing it wrong!”
Me: “Doing what wrong?”
Him: “Leap frog, didn’t anyone teach you how to play leapfrog?”
It was really cute that he was genuinely concerned, and because I cherish the fact that he loves participating in everything I do, I decided to let him lead me in my work out.
Me: “Okay honey, why don’t you show me your exercise moves and I’ll follow you.”
His beautiful brown eyes grew bigger with excitement. I turned up the music and for the next half hour he led me through the most rigorous workout I had in a long time! We did jumping jacks, marched around, did high kicks, and even slithered like snakes. He even asked me to carry him while we danced saying that it will help me get stronger.
Today, I can feel the ache in places my normal workout could never reach! Thank goodness I didn’t get that gym membership. Who knew my five year old was badass fitness trainer? Hmm, I wonder if I can market this, Jillian Michaels, move over! Ha!
dirt and pixie dust 