'Susan'

I remember the day my dear friend's seven year old daughter was diagnosed with type 1diabetes. Her mother was devastated, and her daughter's life would be forever changed. Coincidentally, her daughter was also one of my dancers at the studio. I learned very quickly how to make sure (lets call her Susan), Susan measured her blood sugar correctly and delivered the right amount of insulin through her pump that was connected to her body. I remember being so impressed by this seven year old who knew so much about her 'disease', the effects it had on her body, how to control it, and how to use all of this equipment (that she carries around with her in a back pack). Susan's knowledge of nutrition, diet, exercise, and leading a healthy life style was so amazing that I had her speak at a few of our studio events. Susan is someone to be impressed by.
Susan is also my eldest daughter's best friend. So, after a sleep over one night (at Susan's house-because she has to get up multiple times per night to check her 'sugar') I took the kids to breakfast. Susan ordered her meal beautifully. All clean, nutritious food. She even suggested to my daughter that she skip the unhealthy food and make a better food choice. Like I'd done so many times before, I watched Susan call her mom, tell her everything on her plate, including portions, and deliver the correct amount of insulin to her body. The conversation that took place after was inspiring.

"Susan, before you eat anything do you always have to go through this process? How does it make you feel? Before you put anything in your mouth...even a sample or a taste, you have to measure and adjust your insulin?"
The answers were clear. Before Susan puts anything in her mouth, even a bite size sample, she has to check her blood sugar, and deliver the correct amount of insulin to her body. NO EXCEPTIONS! Every single time...no matter the size. No matter the food. Susan goes through this process. And, she doesn't seem to mind. She's accepted that this is a part of her life. And instead of hanging her head low and frowning, she has gracefully risen to the occasion and decided to live a happy, productive life.

So, here is where my wheels begin to turn. If Susan, a seven year old girl, is so responsible with her body....then why aren't we? Why would we ever complain about logging our food, or skipping desert? Whats the significance of having to eat massive amounts of junk just because it's snowing outside? What do you think Susan would do? If a seven year old child takes such immaculate care of her body, while also having responsibilities in life, what is our excuse?
There isn't one.

There is no excuse to put trash in our bodies. There is no excuse not to reach all of our health and fitness goals. So, I'm giving myself a challenge for the next weeks. My body is "under construction". I'm going to be as diligent as Susan, well maybe not as diligent...but I am going to log everything I eat. I'm going to be accountable for everything, not just some things. And I'm going to pay more attention to my body and it's needs.

I am truly inspired by Susan. And I hope I can be as strong as she is.

Mommy thoughts....

After the first glass was finished, the cheap bottle of red wine didn't taste that bad after all. The room was warmer, my cheeks were flushed, and all those busy feelings were settling down. Yes, the week was coming to an end, the weekend was about to begin. I swear, Mondays should be a vacation day for all adults with children. Mondays should be Sunday's vacation. When you become a parent, you accept that your life will never be completely about you again. Your world, views, driving, everything changes. Suddenly, the world is much more full than it was the day before, and you unexpectedly care more about the little things then you did nine months earlier. You change, grow, and become a new you.
I never knew that I could love someone one as much as I do my child. I never imagined that such a love could exist. I never knew how much walking alone through the quiet isles of Target was a small valued treasure. How nice it was to watch something other than, "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" over and over again. I took advantage of sleeping past 730am.
Then you look at the face of the love of your life, your child, and think, "weren't you just in diapers?", "When did you get so big?", and "What the heck are you wearing?", and most recently think, "She can't talk to me like that...hey, I say that...." And you think about your acquaintances whose children have grown and "flocked the nest" and what a foreign concept that is.
"Everyone is getting so big" starts to sink in.

Never, would I ever have cried at the opening of the Lion King before I had children. Nor would I imagine that I would demand the grocery clerk, "check in the back" when the store was out of my child's favorite cereal. The importance of a bed time routine and 8pm were foreign concepts.

I love my kids more than anything or anyone in this world. And although they sometimes drive me crazy, and will someday give me gray hairs, I couldn't imagine my life without them. The daily chaos that three children cause a single mother, in some ways, should be treasured. Because when they have "flocked the nest" and when the house is quiet again, and when a trip to Target becomes a chore rather than an escape, those will be the days when we look back and wonder how quickly the years have past.

My New Years resolution is to live in the moment. A concept I've tried to explain to my seven year old, and have found is way beyond her understanding. If we don't live in the moment, and we are constantly thinking about what the next moment will be, how can we truly enjoy the gifts we are given. May they be monetary, or something as simple as a quiet moment to ourselves, living in the moment makes each day better than the one before.