4 tips for keeping up with an *active* child (or friend or life-partner).

by

Oh Miz.  I get tired reading about how you play with the Tornado. This makes me terrified to have kids because it looks exhausting!!!  I need motherhood tips now LOL

 

Im not a super young mother.

This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing – it just is.

Because of this, however, I’m confident I spend more time thinking about how I can keep up with my seven-year-old’s boundless energy than my mom-peers in their early 30s.

Right now I’m doing ok.

Tomorrow? I have that covered as well. (3 cheers for the ease of playground play!)

The years to come?

The years where she’ll only get faster, busier & (with any luck) more focused on movement?

You’d better believe I have a plan for staying fit, feisty and fabulous(ly active) as I move toward 50+.  (<—ACRONYM ALERT! ACRONYM ALERT!)

My secret weapon is K.I.D.S

A four-pronged approach applicable for young-at-heart & young-in-age parents alike.

Keep up with interests. The Tornado loves gymnastics & I can still contort into a backbend.  As interests change, I may no longer possess the ‘skills.’  This isn’t important. What is important is staying in touch with her passions. Notice what your child loves.  Learn about the hobby. Talk about what he’s doing/playing. Communication & strong parent/child bond boosts health as much physical activity.

look out 3013 Olympics!

look out 3013 Olympics!

Invest in you. Put yourself first & make time for exercise/healthy living. It can feel as though takes you away from your child, but helps you keep up with them & *able* to active-play later.

I leave this EARLY to snag some me-time.

I exit this EARLY to snag me-time.

Do new things! A large part of staying healthy as we age/playing an active role in children’s lives resides between our ears. Keep your cranium stimulated with new athletic activities. This prong also has added benefit of making you the coolest parent on the cul de sac when you gather the kids for a day of slack lining or pogo stick’ing!

This game tests my brain!

This game tests my brain!

Start or Stay in shape.  Fallen off the workout wagon? Thought of child-chasing all afternoon sound exhausting? Make today the day you start a workout routine. Even something as *seemingly* basic as opening the front door and walking outside ROCKS for increasing energy! Already exercise? Don’t stop. Exercise begets energy and is our best line of defense when it comes to keeping up with our kids.

 

ExerciseEnergy gives LifeEnergy!

ExerciseEnergy gives LifeEnergy!

There you have it.

The K.I.D.S. ACRONYM I lean on during days I feel freakin wiped out less than super-energetic.

Now you.

  • Please to add a letter to my acronym! What do you do to stay ENERGIZED with your child, life-partner or friends?

 

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Comments

  3. Love the KIDS acronym. I workout all the time and this definitely helps me keep up with kids, although I will admit I’ve been lagging a bit lately.

  5. Love the monkey bars video – you rock b/c that is hard!! I have twin 4 year-old boys and they bring new meaning to the word “active!” Although I’m “only” 38 and very active, some days I feel like I can’t keep up…especially after a race or particularly hard workout day! I’ve learned to schedule park days when I have to hit the roads hard and then beach days when I have energy to spare. It’s a game for sure and I also fear the years to come!! Help!!!

  13. I love this post.
    My husband does marathons like they’re nothing and sometimes I feel less than because of it.
    This reminded me it’s ok to take a large interest (I do. I really encourage him) and just do what I can to keep up.

    Annette

  14. Yes, yes, YES!
    When my Kid1 was in preschool, her grandmotherly teacher said to me during a conference, “Kid1 has boundless energy! She has absolutely no trouble keeping up with all of the boys.”
    And Kid2 is exactly the same.
    They never stop moving and they never, ever stop talking. (it’s the later that I struggle with most)
    I get up to run at a ridiculous time of the morning to get some quiet time and bank some energy for later. 🙂

  15. I agree Carla! Putting in the workout time to stay fit makes every activity in life easier.

    It’s the only way to have the endurance for the long run!

  17. LOVE!! Although I’ll second the need for coffee. These days for me it’s not so much keeping up with them, it’s more like driving them everywhere they need to go to keep up with their own interests. I wish my car was like a Flinstones car so I could get in some steps at least and less sitting on my butt time. 😉

  18. I figure everyone already knows this, but I’ve founf that what I eat is really critical too. Cutting out sugar and refined carbs, avoiding processed foods and leaning heavily on the veggies, fruits, and healthy fats has made a huge difference in my energy levels. And hydrating! 🙂

  19. What an easy acronym to remember! You seem to have a home filled with so much love and fun and I love that you share it with us all via your blog. Keep inspiring 🙂

  20. If I had young children I would definitely have to take better care of myself and get more physically fit. Yes, I know I should do that anyway.

  27. No kids, but as a dog-sitter/walker/tugger/tosser, I’ve found my functional exercise really pays off in dog play. My human clients say their dogs always look so disappointed when they come home. 🙂

  30. I’d add R for rest and re-charge. Totally necessary. I have a very active child, at 2 he runs me ragged, I can’t wait to see what 7 brings. I love that he loves the outdoors and I will run around for hours in the hopes that he never loses that love.

  32. Well, i have to add prayer, or i haven’t got a chance in the world, especially when one of mine specializes in going to the creek and catching snakes.

  34. What a great acronym and way to keep up with the young ones!!! I’m trying to do those things so that my boys are poking along beside my walker any time soon!

  36. That’s a great acronym Miz – KIDS. It’s especially true after you get past 50 (believe me). I find that my kids help me stay young, and by exercising regularly and trying to stay ‘down’ with the kids I have more energy, more fun and a greater relationship with my children 🙂

  38. That is brilliant! My children are grown and out of the house but that doesn’t mean we don’t still need to move our bodies!

    In our 50’s we have taken up hiking in the nearby foothills and we have discovered we are pretty darn good at it. We also bought new street bicycles and are exploring new places where we live that only two wheels will allow.

    It’s great fun to learn new hobbies and new ways of staying fit. Oh and our grown children occasionally join us on these new adventures. They have dubbed us “outdoor adventure mom and dad:.

  39. Just sent this post to my best friend who just found out she’s having twins! They already have 2 other beautiful girls and seem to be overwhelming. Janice if you’re reading this… hang in there!

  42. This is so important!! I see so many parents watching from the sidelines as their kids engage in activity, and it’s just so sad. I want to continue to be active so that I can chase my future kids around, and always be up for running around and having fun with them!

  44. Eat Well, Live Well, and Stay Active are the keys for me and with my friends! I think a great way is to sign up for events in different places, so everyone can meet, explore, be challenged, and have fun too.

  45. I eat healthy and get enough sleep! Exercise also helps, but I find that workouts energize me more than cardio, which just tires me out sometimes.

  46. Carla, with 7 grandkids, I am so happy I take care of myself! I am able to play & keep up with them – this past weekend was so fun! I hate to say that the stepkids mom does not take care of herself & I think it made her feel bad that she could not do things with them… there is so much more to be healthy than just the surface stuff! 🙂

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