Happy Eclipse Day everybody!! Last week I bumped my run days back up to 4 and it went well! I chopped off a couple of miles from the Monday and Tuesday runs just to be cautious of my back but made sure to do the full hill workout on Thursday as well as my 10 mile long run on Saturday. I can’t believe we’re already halfway through this training cycle!
I’ve recently discovered “magic food”. Most of the runs Bryan and I do are in the mornings so I usually have some toast and peanut butter before heading out the door but on hill nights I’ve struggled with what to eat beforehand. I need to have something to eat before the workout and, during the school year especially, I’m hungry by late afternoon. I know I can’t eat too much (learned that the hard way…more than once ?) but a snack just isn’t enough. Enter in good old KD! Every once in a while I just get a craving for it and my daughter still loves it as well so I tried it a little while ago before a run and it was perfect! No tummy trouble, didn’t sit heavy and enough that I wasn’t starving by the end of the workout. Seemed like a winner but of course every good experiment needs to be repeated to verify the results and what do you know, it has worked every time! I even have my sister-in-law eating it now! Now I know that eating processed foods isn’t great for you but everything in moderation right? The bottom line is simple carbs work for me so bring on the KD!
Is it just me or has Back-to-School become bigger than Christmas? I mean not only do the commercials start at the beginning of July but, the closer you get to September, every talk show has tips, tricks and strategies to make your life easier, fashion shows and unique recipes sure to please even the pickiest eaters. It’s all really cute and fresh and if their ideas work for you, that’s great! Maybe it’s because I’ve been a mom for 18 years, maybe it’s because I’ve been a teacher for 19 years or maybe it’s both but I don’t see the cute desk organizer made from a can and contact paper as life changing. I don’t see the perfect outfit changing my child’s behaviour or making their school year more successful. Here’s what Bryan and I have found out raising our kids…
1) They don’t have the same concept of time as grown ups. While you may be able to jump out of bed in the morning and get out the door to work, they can’t. We always found our family was less stressed in the morning when we woke them up early enough to have time to watch a bit of t.v. and fully wake up before breakfast. 2) Kids need more sleep than we do. While it’s tempting to let them stay up a bit later, trust me, you’ll pay for it the next day! 3) Sending new foods to school thinking your kids will try it….yah, please don’t do that! Just send them what they like so that they will actually eat. Try new foods at home so that if they don’t like it there are alternatives (this is the teacher in me coming out ?). 4) Learn to be flexible. When Evan started grade 1, he was introduced to homework and we made a rule that homework needed to be done right after school. We thought that was a good idea because then it would be out of the way and he could relax and play for the rest of the night. Our only exception was weekends where we made homework time on Sunday. This worked out well…for Evan. In fact, this is still how he tackles homework but Grace isn’t Evan and as much as we tried to keep the same schedule for her, it just didn’t work. By the middle of elementary school it became quite clear that she needed time to unwind right after school and was actually able to focus better on her work when given that down time first. I was afraid it would create a battle trying to get her to get out her work but it didn’t. She knew what she needed it just took us a while to see it. 5) You’re going to get it wrong, a lot, and that’s ok! As my mother-in-law always says you have to “Rise above it”, take a deep breath and keep going. Why am I throwing my 2 cents into the Back-to-School mix? Because I’ve been there, tried that and I’ve watched as others have tried it. Every family has their own unique challenges and has to figure out what works best for them on their own. Take what you see on t.v. as a suggestion only. Don’t freak out if your child just wants to wear sweats and eat PB&J for lunch, that’s OK!
What’s your favourite Back-to-School commercial? *Mine used to be the Staples one with the dad on the shopping cart dancing around the store but I have to say the new Walmart ones that use 80’s rock songs are fabulous!
Who was your favourite teacher growing up?
What’s your go-to pre-run meal?
Shauna says
Loved all of this post, including the adorable photo of your kids heading back to school when they were little! Thank you so much for the solid advice. Your kids are amazing and I think you’re just so good at what you do, so I highly value your suggestions.
I remember that staples commercial..is that the same one where, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was playing? Lol. NOW I GET IT!!