Monday, November 7, 2011

Racing around


I talk about this whole parenting gig fairly frequently here and the thing about it all is that it's constantly changing.  My kids are changing.  I'm changing.  And the demands of modern life are changing.  All this change makes this parenting thing a quadruple-overtime-knock-me-on-my-butt kind of deal.  And I'm not complaining. 

Because good parenting should be a quadruple-overtime-knock-me-on-my butt kind of deal.



There are moments that aren't so shiny and happy.  Like the waking before sunrise and the swirling and pushing around each other trying to locate socks and shoes and hats and gloves.  And the impatience in my voice at the disorganization of it all.



But the post dawn reality of seeing my children run a 5K and my husband run a half marathon? 

Magic.



I thank this man for being my partner in this parenting journey.  For pushing the girls in ways I wouldn't.  For recognizing they are capable when I sometimes may not.  For patiently allowing me to grumble about the pointlessness of getting up before the sun does so I can stand out in the freezing cold.  And knowing at his very core that I'll be so filled up inside because I did.

I'm lucky to be part of this well oiled machine of a family of mine.

-dana

21 comments:

Trudi said...

lol Any time before sun up is unreasonable in our home! No-one speaks till it's daylight! We don't 'do' mornings :) Congrats to Razor, that's a fantastic time, and congrats to the girls, they make it look so easy!

Nancy D. said...

Awww, this is such a sweet post.
Parenting is definitly an ever changing task. My son who has grown so much in the last 6 months alone (14 yrs old) - I find myself just staring at him in wonder - while he just calls me a creeper for staring:0}. Then there's my 15 going on 21 year old daughter who definitly keeps me on my toes with those quadruple-overtime-knock-me-on-my butt kind of deal.

Leah said...

Congrats! To all! Great job supporting your family.

Razor had a wonderful time on his half... Keep up the good work!

maggiegracecreates said...

I love being a mom. Mine are 18 and 21 - Bobby's are 22 and 38. He also had two grandsons, we get lots of practice.

I am running a 5k on Saturday myself and My oldest is running the Atlanta 1/2 on Thanksgiving day.

hang in there - it gets better from here.

Kar said...

Way to go Razor and the girls! I'm like you Dana in that I would never do something like that. I would be grumping about getting up early and standing in the cold also. The only time you would have caught me running like that is in the AF. Those days are over and the only way I will do that now is if someone was chasing me to do me harm. :)

Andrea said...

so so so beautiful to read...thank you for that!

Elissa said...

wowee for your girls! I was in track (ok, not cross country mind you, but STILL...) for 5 years before I could run 2 miles without stopping :-) I still hate running.

have to admit though, seeing those pics, kinda hoping none of my kids want to do ANY outdoor sport that requires me to be up before dawn on a cold day....

and, glad to hear you have a well oiled machine.. around here we're more like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang...

Jenny said...

wow, what a great accomplishment by your family! what a neat post.

Dirt Road Quilter said...

Congratulations to the atheletes and the woman behind them! What a precious post! Aren't those moments, when you feel like balking, and then you unexpectedly discover the magic in the moment, the best? You are truly blessed!

oh, jenny mae said...

we've been talking about taking the kids out to run with us. maybe this weekend we'll finally do it.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Yay Dana!

Kristie said...

Yay! What an awesome accomplishment for your family. Something the girls will always remember :)

p.s. your hubs is a hottie ;) What, where you hiding him while at SS? lol!

Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane said...

That's awesome. Way to go family!
:)

DebbyMc said...

Beautiful =-) This is what it's all about, isn't it...

Artfulife said...

So awesome having a good man at your side. Isn't the same without em :) By the way this post makes me want to go outside & run!

KendasCrafts said...

That's awesome that your daughters are running with their dad! My husband just started running marathons and he can't wait until our son (2-years-old) is old enough to start participating in running events with him.

**nicke... said...

ahhhhh, this kind of stuff gets me all teary and blubbery. i love it. and i am in complete agreement... parenting is a hard hard hard job and i am not complaining. i love my family and am soo happy they are mine and i am theirs!

amylouwhosews said...

This made me cry! I love your family! I had my first 'grown up' parenting moment this week. And I got a glimpse of the heartache that can happen as your kids get older. I now have a glimpse of what parenting is going to shift into as my kids get older. The exhaustion of littles is going to easily give way to the stress and worry of school aged kids turning young adults. I'm not sure I'm ready!!

QuiltNut Creations said...

an hour 46? wow, go Razor! and good for your kids for getting out there too.

Mama Said Sew said...

Very impressive! BTW, when did Licious get so tall? Please tell your girls to stop growing up so fast!

Lara said...

Such a cool post Dana. Well done to all of you :) Fantastic results all around.