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momstown is thanking our moms for all the world to see, right here on momstown moments for Mother's Day. For six weeks leading up to Mother's Day we're connecting our moms and their lessons with our six program pillars, because we realize how our moms were our first early educators.
This week we're highlighting Fitness & Adventure. Share your 'moment of thanks' for your mom right here, and there's a $100 Chapters-Indigo gift card up for grabs for one lucky commenter. All you need to do is comment on this blog and check back next Sunday to see if the winner is you! There is one gift card up for grab each week!
Congratulations to Annabel Gills, our second week's winner! She shared her memories of her mom instilling a love of reading in her as a young child. Please contact us to claim your prize.
This week, Krista, momstown's running mama, gives thanks to her mom this week as she recalls her early experience with fitness and adventure.
When I was 10 years old, people called me FISH – if I could have, I would have lived in the lake or pool, not much could get me out of the water. We didn’t even have a pool in our backyard, I grew up swimming in Lake Huron and our summers were spent at our trailer where pools were my first stop on arrival.
I still love to swim, I'm not 100% sure if it is because in the water I still feel like that 10 year old FISH with not a care in the world, however I think it is more likely mixed in with my need to exercise. When I am swimming, it doesn’t feel like a workout or hurt like a 16km run does – heck, I have even crazy enough to race in the open water to feed my competitive spirit!
But I didn’t always feel like a strong swimmer, like most kids my mom dutifully enrolled me in swimming lessons each summer at the town pool. She would line up on an early Saturday in June to secure my spot at the only pool in my small town (no online registration system back then!). My mom is not a swimmer, oh she can doggie paddle effortlessly, but she is the type of person who refuses to step into a boat without a life jacket on! My mom loves being around the water and it was a priority for her that both my sister and I would to learn to swim.
I can remember it clearly, I had mastered the “water bob” – no fear of putting my face in the water. I could jump in, no problem and I could happily shriek the motor boat song with my other 5 year old swimmers in class – but you could NOT get me to backwards float. Nope, I wasn’t trusting the water to hold me up, frontwards floating was not an issue, but I was sure on my back I would sink. This meant I wasn’t going to pass, graduating from lessons on the stairs to where my big sister had her lessons wasn’t even enough of a motivator to get me to back float.
It was my non-swimming mom that convinced me just to try, she brought me to the pool everyday, there was no discussion of failing or quitting, never did she pressure me or compare me to other kids ... all she focused on was getting me keep trying on my own and practicing what I was learning. I figured it out finally the day before my last summer lesson, I was so very proud of myself – I happily surprised my swim instructor on the last day and passed my class! My mom taught me some important lessons growing up and this was a lesson in the importance of keeping trying and practicing. However, I think it was building confidence that I could figure out how to do it on my own that was the most important thing she taught me that summer – I think that is truly one of the amazing gifts participating in sports can give a young child still today.
Fast forward 30 years, my youngest loves the water but you think I can get her to back float? This summer, I just need to apply what my own mom taught me - believe in her, keep giving her the opportunity to try and most importantly, the space to figure it out on her own!
Thank you mom, for both the life lessons you taught me (look forward to passing on to next generation) and for allowing me to find the joy of swimming!
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 21:10 My sister and I were always forced to go to swimming lessons and I hated every moment of it...the cold water, getting my hair wet, standing on the deck waiting my turn to jump it, having to shower and then blowdry my hair..EVERYTHING about it seemed so icky. But no matter how much we complained we were always enrolled for the next session--eventually I became a certified swim instructor and lifeguard which allowed me to get my first job and I couldn't thank my parents enough. Now as my lil guy turns one --he's been in the water since two months old at our cottage and guess what he'll be enrolled in this fall...but I have to admit...I'm still dreading getting into that bathing suit and jumping into the cold pool!
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 19:31 CONGRATULATIONS to Krystene, our third week's winner! Please contact us to claim your prize. Visit http://momstown-moments.momstown.ca/node/435 for this week's (until April 29) contest!
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 12:25 My mom always encouraged us to run around and play outside. We always participated in one sport every season and we were always encouraged to try new things. My parents traveled a ton when we were young and lived in different countries which has definitely instilled a love of travel and adventure in me.
Sat, 04/21/2012 - 14:46 It brings tears to my eyes how creative, athletic and adverturous our moms were with us - it is inspiring me to get creative with my own! I really love the idea of a nightly bike ride around the neighbourhood with park play reward - thanks for sharing your stories.
Sat, 04/21/2012 - 08:45 I can remember trying to do step aerobics with my mom, I was trying so hard to be just like her. My dad eventually made me my own step out of wood, so I could follow along. My daughter now tried to do yoga with me so I'm constantly reminded of myself and my mom!
Fri, 04/20/2012 - 17:49 My mom always encouraged us to do active things. She encouraged us to sign up for sports activities with the caveat that there was no quitting part way through the year. I was in soccer, gymnastics, bowling, and basketball at different times. We were most often outside playing for hours and hours. We went for bike rides as a family. We did outdoorsy things every summer (fishing, camping-the real kind!, hiking, berry picking in the mountains...). She helped to foster a love of the outdoors that I am so thankful for.
Thu, 04/19/2012 - 23:25 OOPS: Posted as Anonymous... I will repost under my name! My mom always had us outside playing... we very rarely sat in front of the tv.. we always had friends over and would play until dark! My parents also enrolled us in Tae Kwon Do... we were very active kids! =)
Thu, 04/19/2012 - 23:22 My mom always had us outside playing... we very rarely sat in front of the tv.. we always had friends over and would play until dark! My parents also enrolled us in Tae Kwon Do... we were very active kids! =)
Thu, 04/19/2012 - 16:08 Love this post and it is so true - its so important to encourage outdoor play and getting excersise. As a child my Mom always encouraged us to get outside, play with friends, learn to ride a bike and simply enjoy being outside. I remember the day I learned the ride my bike without training wheels and my Mom standing at the end of the road beaming with pride with her camera all ready to capture that moment! Many fun bike rides after that with the family. I have tried to instill the same values in our kids and as a family we spend a ton of time hiking, paddling, skiing and playing by the lake.
Thu, 04/19/2012 - 15:20 I was a free range kid and explored a lot. My mom introduced me to tons of stuff like ballet and swimming, but nothing stuck like the alpine skiing we did as a family. I have lovely memories of my mom helping me "lace" up my skii boots. My uncle yodeling down the hill, bright Alberta blue sky days,home packed lunches and bought hot cocoa, trying to skii backwards before they invented twin-tips, schusshing down the hill believing I was going really fast, finally while my mom or dad drove home sleeping in the car with my three sisters enroute from Banff and dreaming I was still on skiis. I can't imagine the work it took in the "day" to get four little girls outfitted and on the hill. Ahhh good times.