Hello friends~
This is my why. I train so I can keep doing what I love. How about you?
I don’t always enjoy workouts, but admit I like the results of heavy lifting: general quality of life, and that it will improve longevity. I like feeling and looking strong for 72. I like doing long bike rides, challenging rowing workouts, and activities for my own pleasure…
But what I really love about being strong, is being able to spend the best quality time with my grandkids.
It requires strength and stamina to be the grandmother the kids want to babysit for over-nights. They know that their children will be taken great care of, but also they’ll have lots of fun.
For a couple of days we’ve had the second to youngest of the fifteen grandkids, so this issue is going to be short because he’ll be up from his nap any minute. Hope you enjoy the photos!
Quality grandmothering, and mothering requires real strength.
It’s for daily movement around the house. And it’s for all the fun stuff as a bonus!
I love seeing this toddler first thing in the morning or after a nap, and being able to reach down into very low crib (deadlifts!), lift him, lay him down on the floor to change him (squats!), then pick him up again to carry him down 3 flights of stairs, and the deck stairs … only to realize that I forgot the special toy, or the diapers, so … all the way up, down, and back up all those stairs again (hello lunges)!
It’s putting a wiggly child onto the bike seat, balancing him and the bike, ready to ride everywhere we want to go.
It’s playing at an 18-month-old’s level, squatting, kneeling, crawling, getting up, and doing it again, and again.
Picking him up to carry him across the long stretch of sand to the playground, then back on the bike to ride home.
A little boy this age is basically a squishy, squirmy 30 lb kettlebell – and I say this all the time – it was loads of fun while raising my kids, but I think I’m more diligent about safety and wellbeing when I’m caring for my grandkids, than I was with my own six kids. I’m hyper conscious of every movement, bracing my core, and taking each step when picking up and carrying these little people.
After a very full day, climbing those 3 flights of stairs once more, snuggles, story time, and singing him the same goofy song that I sang to my own kids – yawning while leaning over that low crib rubbing his back, I’m ready for bed myself – wait it’s only 7:30?!
Are you strength training? Do you enjoy it? Do you have kids or grandkids?
What’s your why?
I’d love to know, and I’d love to help you achieve it.
xo
Polli
