| Mom�s Education I walk, don�t you? I�m an e-dieter, so a�walking I will go. Sometimes my kids come with me but not as much as they should. It�s not as common today for a family to walk together, as our houses and streets aren�t always walker friendly, some without sidewalks, some without much room at all. Do you venture outside your neighborhood to see what�s out there? You might be surprised. I was. I realized just how much my 2 year old learned from a simple walk we took together recently. It was his first adventure on foot instead of a stroller, to the nearby park area. He made noises with his shoes on the pavement. He picked up leaves, rocks, pieces of grass and flowers. Instead of just seeing dogs, birds, and noises, he got to touch a few things with his own hands. It was totally amazing to him. My older boys probably take these fascinating things for granted, but my 2 year old was on an exploration adventure that day. I too, after realizing how much I take for granted, started to pay attention to details of my surroundings, rather than concentrating on my breathing or thinking of how many calories I might be burning. It was fun, again, as it was meant to be. And I learned a little about my son�s curiosity of his world. I took a fast walk with my 8 year old son last weekend, and he chose to bring his bicycle and taunt me as I never could keep up with him. He did little bike tricks, and sang little tunes as he rode. He told me who lives there, and who plays here, and other interesting facts he knows about our neighbors and their streets. It kept my mind occupied for sure, and there was no need for me to turn on my little portable radio with headphones. When we got to the park, he told me some jokes, and I rode his bike for a while. I remembered how fun it used to be to simply have and ride a bike of my own. And I learned a little about my son�s knowledge of his world. I took a walk side by side with my reluctant 15 year old son yesterday morning. He walked too slow at first, and complained as a teenager would do. Who wants to walk around with their mother anyhow? He kept quiet until he realized we were speeding up and it became a small race. Pretty soon we were speed walking, arms all in motion, legs gaining speed as we competed our way around the blocks. And then, for the first time in as long as I could remember, we started to jog. He soon smiled and moved right into a sprint, and ran the rest of the way home, as I laughed and continued my jog for the last 4 blocks. I don�t jog. At least I didn�t. Not until yesterday. It felt great! And I learned what a competitive spirit my son has. It will surely keep him ahead in his world. I took a walk alone this morning and nothing happened at all. I discovered nothing new, except that my legs were still sore from yesterdays� jog. But did I burn some calories? Oh yeah! Written by Cindy Lineberry, February 2002, Do not reproduce in any fashion without her written permission. |