July, 2011

Leaving your child at a Birthday Party for the first time?

birthday party princessBetween the age of 3 and 6 the question arises: Is the family invited to this birthday party or is it just kids?

 

Leaving a child at a Birthday Party is a milestone, and one that’s overlooked until it sneaks up and it’s HERE. Where you sit in your car outside the birthday party unsure of what to do and what your role is? Are you invited or just your kid? If you stay are you an inconvenience? What if I leave and she misses me? Or something happens in a house she’s unfamiliar? What if they say to go but really the host needs the help? What if….???

 

Deep Breath. You can leave your child and you should.  It’s a rite of passage for both of you.


Here are some tips to make the Solo Birthday Party Milestone a little easier on you (or both of you!!):

 

Call ahead
By reaching out in advance you know what to plan for,  gives you a quiet moment to chat with the host parent to get comfortable about the game plan and address any potential issues. For example, my child has a nut allergy, and by calling ahead I can let the parents know that  detail so they can put the peanut butter chocolate cake idea on hold. The busy front door of a party is not the place to translate important messages.

Nerves…
Does it freak you out to drop a child at a home you don’t know? This will be become a reality once preschool or kindergarten starts. Face it head on and get to know that family. Prior to the birthday party, invite that child (and her mom?) over for playdate to get to know the child and begin to get to know the family. You’ll feel better and you’ll calmly be able to let your child go at the party (promise, you can do this!).

 

Water & Feed your child before
Drop off a kid with a mostly full tummy to keep him even keeled, in good humour and happier.  That way if he’s distracted by the general merriment  and forgets to eat he’s less likely to crash. Also, take your child to the bathroom at the beginning of the party, show them where the bathroom is so he can find it quickly should the need call.

 

Prep your kid
If it’s your child’s first birthday party, go over the routine with your child. This is not a one-on-one playdate and they don’t have full reign of their playmate’s house today. Rules exist on party day that may not be there other play days – help him navigate those ‘rules’ ahead of time.

 

Bring your number
Want to be reachable? Bring a note with your phone numbers on it so you can reached (remember your cell if you are going to take those 2 precious hours to run errands). Hosts are so bombarded at the front door, even the most well-intentioned will forget to get a list of numbers from parents the day of the party. Make it easy and leave yours.

 

Say goodbye & GO!
If you want to linger with other parents, do it on the driveway! Don’t confuse your kid by kissing goodbye then hanging around forever. Also don’t mess with the schedule your host has set – likely she has laid out the 2 hours into party increments and the longer she has to politely talk to you at the front door the more drawn out the party will be at the end.

This applies for pick-up too. Have you seen a host parent at the end of a birthday party? She is exhausted. She wants the noise and sugar high kids out of her house now, so be polite and skedaddle!

 

Don’t dress kids in their finest
I’m as bad as the next mom who saves the fussy (and expensive!) clothes for “good”. A birthday party shouldn’t be considered “good”. Solo partiers are on their own to protect that “good “ Gymboree outfit from brilliant blue mermaid icing - the birthday parents are way too busy wiping up spilled apple juice  to notice impending drippy icing or strawberry stains.  Go second best on party days.

 

Make it Fun!
Birthdays are fun and memorable  childhood experiences – enjoy them! Enjoy picking out a gift with your child and making a card for the birthday child.  Have fun hosting one for your own for your child because now that you’ve entered the birthday party circuit (momstown has tips to help there too!) your kid will ask for a party too!


What age are you comfortable with leaving your child at a Birthday Party? How have you handled the drop-off party?

Posted by momstown mama on 07/30/2011 - 15:44
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Hyper parents or Playful parents?

Ever wonder as a parent if we are doing to much or to little with our kids? I am of the school of thought whereby your child develops to their fullest when taught by mommy and daddy. I know that everything we do is teaching them; they eventually get to the age where they copy your actions, your words, your attitude, but what about overtly teaching them?

flashcardsAm I wrong if I pull out flashcards for the alphabet or colors, or shapes and try to teach her in that manner. Or is playing with these learning tools enough?

If my children mimic me, surely they would mimic what is being taught. Does this get them ahead or create moments of tension and stress for you and for them?

In this world where we watch documentaries on Hyper-parenting, it can make a parent wonder if you are doing to much or to little with your kids.

There are days when I rely on play for much of the day, and I see her learning from our interactions. Then there are days, when I pull out the cards and try to teach colors, numbers, letters etc.

We have fun together no matter what activity we are doing, but I do feel more stressed the days we have the cards out. I think perhaps it is a case of pushing myself to hard to be the perfect parent with the perfect child, versus the true need for my daughter to learn all of this before she is even in preschool.

I think I am a product of modern day society. Will I be that parent that negotiates an employment contract for my children when they are older? Absolutely not, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to protect them, school them, shape and mold them; keep them under my wing as long as I can.

Thank goodness I have the momstown moms who share the same worries and joys that I have. Its good to know you are never alone.

 

Tara Ritchie, our Guest Blogger is our momstown mama for momstown Toronto Bloorwest and a terrific and playful mom of 2 who is teaching at every moment, even without flashcards. :)

Posted by momstown team on 07/27/2011 - 01:00
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I've been crowned!

mean mommy

 

Yes, it's true. I have recently been crowned "World’s Meanest Mommy" by my adoring 7-year old! Yes, that’s right – all of you who have been diligently vying for the title can now stop practicing your talent routines and polishing up your “world peace” speech. The crown has been awarded, and I have no doubt I’ll have absolutely no problem fulfilling any and all duties as required!

 

What have I done to earn this highly sought after title? What HAVEN’T I done?? In fact, just this week alone I have:

 

•    Took him to Summer Camp (yes, I knowingly abandoned him in an environment with other kids, games, activities, outdoor events and other evil tortures...)

 

•    Took him back to camp on Day 2 after receiving explicit instructions that he had absolutely no interest in returning (I obviously don’t take direction well!)

 

•    Asked him if he wanted to make his bed or brush his teeth first before heading out to the aforementioned camp (I know, can you imagine??)

 

•    Refused to buy him a ginger cookie from Starbucks as a treat for surviving Day 2 of camp (NOTE: Offering to make them at home does not produce brownie (or cookie) points!)

 

•    Suggested that he should have drank all of the water in his thermos at camp, after complaining of being hot (NOTE: Cold, fresh, filtered eco-friendly water – not pond water, puddle water, toilet water…).

 

 

And, don’t worry, I’m obviously full of equal opportunity nastiness – and have cemented my title outside of the camp venue this week as well:

 

•    Made him get out of the public swimming pool (NOTE: The fact that we were there swimming for two straight hours and the public swim time was actually over is apparently irrelevant.)

 

•    Mixed the soy sauce into the rice without letting him put it on himself (Did you know it tastes differently??)

 

•    Didn’t buy him a dog when we were at the pet store to pick up hamster food (Since when does a Retriever become an impulse purchase??)

 

•    Made his sandwich with mixed greens instead of romaine lettuce (apparently, it’s all about the crunch…)

 

•    Told him that he shouldn’t worry about the fact that the bouncy castle was covered in Disney Princesses… (Seriously, is the bounce impacted that much??)

 

 

Can you imagine if I included all of my “mean mommy” evidence from the last seven years? No one else would stand a chance!

 

But the best part of “Meanest Mommy in the World”? The hug, the kiss and the “I love you, Mommy” I still get at the end of every day. And that’s even cooler than the crown… (most days!)

Posted by Christy mama of... on 07/26/2011 - 18:29
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Why mompreneurs thrive with a team and mentors

halton momstown team

I am a member of so many teams these days, that sometimes it’s hard to keep track of which team I’m talking about.  It’s ok though, because these teams are all there for a reason.  I have teams to keep me motivated, teams for fun and teams for my momstown business.

 

Since my first son was born, I knew I needed to be part of a mommy group.  None of my friends or family had little ones and as a Child and Youth Worker, I definitely knew the importance of having a team around me while raising my family.  I, like so many other moms, was lucky enough to find momstown.  I found it when I was searching for a mommy group, but quickly realized it was so much more.   

 

I benefitted so much as a mom from being part of this team that it only felt natural to take it to another level and buy momstown Burlington when it went up for sale.  As a mom entrepreneur, I was nervous – would I get the same network of support I needed as a mom and as a business owner?

 

The answer was yes!  As a business owner, I have so many teams around me that when I need support, which happens all the time, I have so many teams to turn to that I never feel like I’m doing this alone!  I have my momstown team, my Halton momstown team, my momstown Burlington mom entrepreneur team, and my momstown Burlington members.  Each team serves a purpose, but overall they connect and support me in the ways I need, just like momstown did when I first joined.

 

As a mom entrepreneur, I have tough times, I have successes I want to share, I need to bounce ideas off others and I need advice.  When I worked in a traditional office setting, I always knew who to turn to when these things came up.  Now, as a mom entrepreneur, and having so many teams around me I know where to turn when these things come up too. 

 

I am lucky enough to have a mentor too.  Ann-Marie Burton has done so much for me as a mom entrepreneur and supports each momstown chapter so well.  It’s amazing the things I learn from her in our formal conferences and in casual conversations.  She’s kicked my butt into shape when it’s been dragging (sometimes I think she’s too easy on us!), and she’s celebrated my successes with me – no matter how small they are.  I can’t imagine owning momstown and having anyone but Ann-Marie lead our team. 

 

Lisa Beraldo, the owner of momstown Burlington, leads the largest momstown chapter and is still always encouraged to include new people to her strong circle of friends, support and mentors.

Posted by momstown mompreneur on 07/25/2011 - 21:49
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Little Kids Have Big Ideas

Kids say the funniest things and have the best perspectives. Sometimes their viewpoint is so self-centred it can make me pull my hair out. Other times, their thoughts are so over-the-top kind and compassionate that my heart grows 10 times listening to them.


Other times – they make me go hmmmmm….


kid eating ice creamRecently perched on the porch devouring ice cream cones my 3 and 5 year olds got into a discussion with their Papa about ice cream and how wonderful it is. So sweet and delicious. Wouldn’t it be great to have ice cream ALL the time?


My son (3) announced, “We could make our own ice cream and have it all the time! We need to grow Ice Cream TREES!”


My daughter in her infinite almost 6-year-old wisdom and serious tone stated matter of factly “Andrew, ice cream does NOT grow on trees.”


Starring at her with his ice cream mustache, Andrew piped up at the challenge. “Well, there are ice cream TRUCKS.”


Conversation closed with no further debate.  Lauren nodded to agree that was a totally logical connection because if there are ice cream TRUCKS there probably could be ice cream TREES.


Score one for the little brother with the broad mind, imagination and belief that anything is possible. I hope he never loses that flexibility of mind and creative thinking. I also hope he figures out a way to make ice cream grow on trees – because that would be awesome.


Share with us - what kinds of things have your kids said that stopped you in your tracks and made you think?

Posted by momstown mama on 07/24/2011 - 22:52
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My Journey to Home Birth

It's now been a little over 4 months since I gave birth to my son at home... Yes, I said it... AT HOME!! It seems whenever people find out that I had a home birth that they either assume I'm crazy or that I just didn't have time to get to the hospital. Neither apply to my situation. My home birth was simply my decision and birth plan.

 

birth at home

My pregnancy with Cameron had been a rocky one, and not always had I had the home birth vision. Being put on bed rest at 20 weeks as result of complete placenta previa led me to believe that my hopes for a natural birth had been crushed. The midwives and doctors all prepped me for the inevitable c-section. You see with complete previa, the chances of a placenta moving are slim. At 32 weeks, I took a bad spill down a flight of stairs while holding my one year old daughter. This spill brought on contractions, and found me in the hospital for fetal monitoring. It was at that time that I received the news the placenta had cleared! Woot!!



At 32 weeks, I had to start making decisions on my birth plan. Home birth was something I was very weary and skeptical of, but the midwives had really wanted me to consider it given my fast 5 hour labour with Cadence.



Did I always want a home birth? Did my family agree? Was the decision to have one easy? No... no... and no.

 

Plain and simple. My conscience pulled me in every which direction. I constantly reminded myself that my epidural never took during my horrible back labour with Cadence. I reminded myself of the horrible experience I had at the hospital and that the hospital was 45 minutes from my house. Really I think for the longest time I had my mind made up that I wanted a home birth, but I couldn't bring myself to admitting it. Most of my family didn't agree with my decision to have a home birth, which has been hard for me to swallow... To this day it is something we just don't speak of.



I was 3 days overdue when I went into labour with Cameron. I had been feeling off all day. It felt like I had the case of the flu. Come 8PM my husband insisted I page the midwives. Just my luck the midwife clerk was in the area. She came by with my main midwife and checked me. I was 3cms. They performed a stretch and sweep, went out to dinner, came back a half hour later... When they returned I was 8cms, and I was going through the emotions and stages of active labour. My Mother-in-law had come to pick up Cadence and I broke down, fearing I'd never see my daughter again. The midwives and my husband decided at that point that keeping my daughter home during my labour was the best decision.

 

I spent most of my labour in the water; it was the only place I could find my zen. The midwives vigilantly monitored the baby. Around 10:35PM they decided to move me to my bed to try and get things to progress. I had stagnated at 8cms for too long, and was in a lot of pain. At 10:40PM, I had the urge to push. The midwives wanted me to restrain, but I couldn't stop myself. They quickly broke my bag of waters and I pushed the remaining cervix out of the way (very dangerous... this was why they were trying to restrain me from doing it). At 10:42PM... just 2.5 hours after my initial page to the midwives... Cameron was born, his arm was delivered first followed by his head. I'll never forget the moment. Heck, I'm getting teary right now thinking about it! It was phenomenal experience to be in the comfort of my own home, giving birth to my son.


The bond my son and I share is unreal; Whether that be from the home birth or not, I really don't know! Cadence had been taken from me straight after delivery by NICU and respiratory nurses, so perhaps I feel the stronger bond because Cameron was placed upon my chest immediately following his delivery. Who really knows. What I do know is that given what an amazing experience I had, I'll definitely consider home birth for any future bundles that I may be blessed with!

Having experienced both a hospital and home birth, I'm happy to say that I have both experiences under my belt. I know home birth isn't an easy decision, nor is it for everyone.

 

Is it something you're considering? Have you had a home birth?  Leave us a comment :)

 

Kudos to our guest blogger Nicole King, our momstown mama in momstown Whitby-Ajax , for her emotional story.

Posted by momstown team on 07/20/2011 - 01:00
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What My Kids Taught Me When My Dad Died

child drawing of grandfatherMy father died in December. He had spent the last several years very unwell, and my mother spent a lot of her time taking care of him. That is a difficult situation for any family, but it is even more difficult when the person you are caring for continuously makes choices that contribute to their bad health. And so, although he was a loved man, the result was a team of fairly frustrated family members.

My biggest frustration was trying to understand why he didn’t make choices that would allow him to be involved more fully in the lives of his grandchildren. He adored each and every one of them. Every morning he asked my mother which of his grandbabies was going to visit that day. He had frequent visits from his collection of loving grandkids, who called him The Gaffer. Kids would disappear into his man cave and they’d have the place trashed instantly – toys everywhere, cushions off the couches and the TV channel changed to their station. Every visit was a kid invasion into The Gaffer’s space. Interestingly, he was not at all bothered by the noise or chaos. He was never impatient with them and he certainly never snapped at any child. Visits ended with hugs, kisses and “I love you’s”.

I felt that relationship wasn’t good enough because he didn’t actually DO anything with my children. His illness made it so he couldn’t – that pesky illness that didn’t really have to be there. My dad never read to the children, and certainly never played a board game or did a puzzle with them. He didn’t take them out for walks or do any of the other things I see active grandparents doing with their grandchildren. It made me sad that he was missing out. And, so were my kids.

Apparently, I was wrong. A couple of weeks after his death, my 9-year-old daughter emerged from her bedroom at midnight to share a drawing of him. Included in the illustration were several messages and statements – one for each day since he had died. The most striking message to me was “I loved EVERYTHING about you”.

All that time I thought he wasn’t DOING anything with his grandchildren, he was very actively doing the thing that was most important to them. He was loving them. And it was all they needed.

Posted by Julie mama of many on 07/18/2011 - 19:52
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Do's and Don't of the Family Beach Trip

Many momstown chapters have been taking field trips to the beach this month to frolic in the sand and sun.  I’ve just returned after 17 days at the beach and it’s safe to say I’ve had a good sand exfoliating, am wind blown and water-logged.  I have 3 exhausted, sundrenched and happy kids.


We survived with 3 super-busy young kids at the beach on the shores of massive Lake Huron.  A safety gate would have been an enhancing factor to keep them all corralled. But by the third day we figured out a good rhythm.

kids at the beach
How to manage with wiggly excited kids at the beach?  How to get organized enough to actually enjoy yourself once you’re there? Here are my handy tips to having a super beach day.


1. Dress & prep before - critical to arrive with bathing suits and hats on and sunscreen pre-applied.
It’s near impossible to apply sunscreen to a sandy leg without ripping off skin (highly recommend the spray sunscreen for the reapplications). Plus it takes 20 minutes for it to activate so don’t risk the sunburn.


2. Cover up - Leave the little glamour suits at home and cover everyone in UV shirts and suits. Even cotton t-shirts provide coverage  of SPF30.
The cute frilly bathers are darn cute but a red sunburn isn’t. Covering means you don’t have to be quite as perfect with the sunscreen – which is good with kids running away into the water non-stop.


3. BYOS - Bring Your Own Shade
We lugged a UV tent every day but honestly only set it up once as it took too long. Last year when beaching with a newborn, we needed that shade but this year a plain old beach umbrella was quicker and easier and still gave us refuge from the sun.


4. Go Light – leave stuff at home
You’ll only need half of what you think. We lugged down 2-3 folding camp chairs every day and finally had the smarts to leave them at home. Who has time to sit with 3 young kids?? If I’m sitting, I’m in the sand building castles or wiggling toes in the lake.  Bring some beach toys like a few pails and shovels but the less you bring, the more imagination will be used.


5. Safety first – take no chances.
Lifejackets or water wings are common with kids by water, but not nearly common enough. Beware of strong currents, quick depth changes and the general excitement that causes careless behaviour. Read this to brush up on the signs of drowning – scary how fast, and silently, things can go wrong. Don’t take your eyes off your kids - forget the beach scenery - glue your eyes to them to keep them safe. Have a running toddler? Bring a stroller to strap her into for the moments when you can't keep your eyes on her.


6. Don’t be a lobster – cover up yourself and be a role model.
Are you wearing a floppy hat like you make your kids wear? You should. Applying sunscreen as liberally? I missed my shoulders and burned my first beach day this season – don’t forget yourself in the keenness to make sure everyone else is taken care of.


beach snacks apple7. Picnic time!
All this beach fun makes kids hungry – super hungry! Pack lots of healthy snacks (they’ll eat almost anything!) and drinks. These picnic tips are terrific suggestions for beach friendly foods.


8.  Shoot away!
Pack your camera and capture the awesome memories at the beach. Ensure you tuck it away so the sand doesn’t get into the lens and crevices though.


9. Collect memories
Bring home special rocks, shells and sand to make a collage or put in a bottle to showcase their beach treasures.

 

Have an excellent beach day! What’s your favourite beach activity?

 

Need some beach crafts? Use egg cartons to create momstown's crab and octopus crafts! Sensory fun with paper sand castles.

Posted by momstown mama on 07/17/2011 - 21:46
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What are some easy ways to help stimulate and develop your child’s senses?

Fisher Price Milestone SenseIt might not be obvious, but your baby is hard at work all the time, absorbing the world through sight, sound and touch.

 

Though babies can see, their focus is limited and they’re best equipped to make out contrasting colors and movement – a great time for a mobile as they’ll love to watch the movement! 

 

A soft floor gym is a way to stimulate baby's senses with hanging toys and activities that offer a variety of sights, sounds and textures to explore. 

 

The senses are baby's introduction to learning about the world!

 

Posted by Dr. Deborah S. ... on 07/15/2011 - 14:57
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Should obese kids be placed in foster care?

We’ve just spent two beautiful weeks at the beach and as I’ve played with my kids I’ve had the chance to see loads of other kids too. With elementary school out for the summer, I see more older kids than I normally do and I’ve noticed something alarming.

 

The whole childhood obesity epidemic that’s all over the media? Yes, it’s true. It’s alive on the beach. Particularly in kids around 8 -12 years old. Honestly? I was shocked.


My head must have been in a bubble as I’ve read about the issues that this generation is facing with obesity.  I’m still surrounded by little momstown kids with super cute “baby fat” and I haven’t yet had to deal with this epidemic personally.


But 2 weeks at the beach and you can see it for yourself. Lots of kids are struggling with their weight. Way more than I recall in past years.


Mostly, it looks like kids are blissfully unaware and having a blast running and playing at the beach. And being active – which is terrific way to spend a summer day. But soon enough, they will become aware. At what point do their parents intervene for health reasons without crushing the child’s self-esteem? Such a delicate parenting road to be on to help your child.


That is, assuming parents recognise it as a problem. According to yesterday’s article in the Globe and Mail there is an assumption that many parents do not recognise the issue and actually contribute to making the problem worse.


The article poses the question of should obese children be removed from their parents and placed in foster care? The basis for such removal is assuming the obesity is the parent’s fault due to poor food options and lack of exercise.


Really? This is a bigger issue than a chubby kid in a bathing suit at the beach.


Wouldn’t the removal of a kid from their parent’s home be worse for their emotional and mental health? Who’s going to police the food and activity level in the foster home?  Isn’t education and awareness a better option? Instead of a government funded initiative to take kids away how about a government sponsored education plan to help families learn about fresh food choices, ensure there is MORE physical education and athletic opportunities in schools and communities and more support for local farmers!?


Lack of education is the issue all-round and any government that makes a claim to remove the kids should look at its own systems first before ripping apart families in the name of health.


Taking kids away from their parents because they are too chubby just sounds utterly ridiculous to me. Yet, according to today’s poll on the Globe’s website, 23% of people think kids should be taken away and 48% agree kids should be removed in the most extreme cases. Wow. 


What do you think? Should parents and families be reprimanded and punished for their child’s obesity? Should children be taken from their home assuming it’s their home environment that is causing their health issues???


What’s next, will someone call Children’s Aid when they see an overweight kid eating an ice cream cone??

Posted by momstown mama on 07/14/2011 - 10:58
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Essential Packing List for Summer Travel with Baby

traveling with a babyThe idea of jet setting with the baby came from my retiree mother who thought well, since we all have the time, why not. It did not take much convincing on my part, I was all over it.


My first thought – traveling with a baby will be interesting. As a first time mother I knew I had some research to do. After soliciting ideas from the momstown message board I managed to pull together a pretty hefty packing list for my little one.

Now that we’ve returned, I thought I would share what I found to be useful while traveling with a 6 month old and what turned out to be excess pounds in my suitcase.


First, the useful stuff:


A good quality umbrella stroller, I heard mixed reviews on this one in my pre vacation research, some people said go cheap, I totally disagree, we spent a bit more for options like a generous sun canopy and nearly flat recline and our baby was a happy little camper on our outings and around the resort.

Infant carrier and wrap - rated very high on my list and turned out to be my saving grace, when fussy time struck into the wrap she went, here my daughter felt safe and secure and I was able to continue my evening festivities knowing that she was OK. On excursions the baby carrier which is more structured came in very handy.

A variety of toys on teethers – this one speaks for itself, to keep baby entertained and your piece of mind that their entertainment won’t constantly be hitting the ground.


Portable fan, battery operated (and extra batteries) – great last minute buy for $10 it was heaven sent for keeping baby cool in the hot, sticky weather and played double duty by blowing away annoying flying insects. It was mainly clipped to the stroller.

Portable high chair - made meal time so much easier, she had just started solids 

 

Leave at home: the items that didn’t make it out of the suitcase:

Baby monitor – my intentions were good on this one but the reality was we all turned in early. A useful tool for the cottage or overnight family visits however.

Bumbo – don’t ask I honestly thought it was a good idea.

Beach Towel – just use the resorts towels, and you can exchange for a clean one whenever necessary.


Way too much baby clothes - the reality is you won’t use them all and you will reuse items because you can. I averaged 3 outfits per day, reality I only needed 2.

Hope this overview on baby travel tips helps, if you have anything to add I’d love to hear them!

 

Great tips from first time mom of a 6 month old, Natasha DeSouza, who is also our momstown Markham owner. Natasha didn't just go overnight but all the way to Jamaica to research these tips! :)

Posted by momstown team on 07/13/2011 - 10:03
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My Half-Ironman is THIS Sunday!

Race week is finally here and as you can only imagine, I am FREAKING out – just a little. On Sunday starting at 7:20am, I will swim 2km, bike 90km (just read that the course is actually closer to 93km .. like I really need those extra kms??) and then just a short 21km run --- why did this sound like such a great idea in January??

 

Must breathe deeply and remember:  I am prepared for this 6.5 hour exercise journey. I started with a fabulous training plan, haAfter my Olympic finishve the best coaches and training partners that will be right there with me this weekend. And as my hubby said,  “YOU CAN DO THIS, plus the kids are watching babe!!!"

 

In June I raced the Olympic distance triathlon 1.5km swim, 40km bike & 10km run, where the swim was a mass start (picture 500 swimmers entering the choppy waters all at once) – I equate this experience with childbirth, while you are actually in it, you think not a chance of doing this again but once finished it is only a foggy memory of fear and pain. My only clear memory is of the joy of finishing. 

 

The Olympic bike felt good, even with strong winds but the run, oh that endless  10km run was a challenge for me.  Fast forward to Canada day, where instead of a fireworks and sparklers – I did a race “simulation” of 2km swim, 60km bike and 12km run .. anyone remember how hot and sunny Canada day was?

 

But I did it .. not quite near race distance but after these 2 events, I believe I CAN DO THIS and I am so excited to have my daughters there to cheer me on! My goal is to cross that finish line with a smile and if you hear a loud screams of joy around 2pm on Sunday ... that is me, finishing this crazy triathlon journey!!

Posted by Krista running mama on 07/12/2011 - 07:37
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