Deborah
Last updated: August 22, 2017
My 8 (almost 9!) year-old son is not a team sports kind of guy. In fact, he’s not really a sports kind of guy at all. A bit like me, he’d prefer to sit and read a book for an hour or two, or play lego, or (his top pick) play computer or video games. Just to be clear, I like reading books, the lego and video games are just not my style!
He takes swimming lessons, and I have persuaded him to join the track and field team at school, but other than that, I struggle to find rigorous exercise for him to do. He briefly did gymnastics. He gave zumba a try. But peer pressure ruled both of those out pretty quickly.
I have found myself harping on him about the importance of being fit: better mental ability, better sleep, more positive thoughts and feelings, etc. But he didn’t know know any more than I how he could get this exercise – go run around in circles in the street?
So, to keep him fit, I have started taking him out on runs with me. (Who I am kidding? I actually jog. There is a huge difference.) It’s often a struggle to get him out the door, but he usually agrees when I press him.
As I don’t tend to get much time one on one with my kids, it has become a lovely time for us to spend together. I do need to temper my expectations of mother and child bonding, as he is, after all, an 8 year old boy. However, he chats to me about what he’s interested in (StarWars, the aforementioned video games, school) and I listen and try to understand what’s happening in his head. Sometimes I ask him questions. Sometimes we talk about feelings. But mostly, we just jibber jabber, and enjoy a little time together.
At first I felt a little put out that my son’s lack of fitness should impinge on “my” time, but I have come to appreciate our time together. And I hope that I am doing all I can to help him develop a life long healthy habit. Don’t get me wrong – I will continue to look for a sport he can engage in. But for now, I am enjoying the runs.
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