Climbing back

I am almost back to normal after a couple weeks of coughing, sneezing, voice-losing, achy, feverish, exhausted ickiness. I spent much of last week in bed, when I wasn't croaking out instructions to my class participants.

I eventually made my way to the doctor when my ear started to hurt, and he put me on antibiotics. Evidently, I had a sinus infection that sort of spread willy nilly. The boys so far seem to be staying fairly healthy. I am just glad to have some energy again. It is so hard to parent when you feel like crap. It makes you miss the days of childlessness when you could just hole up in bed for a week and tune out the world. T was a big help coming home early from work one day and taking Q with him for a few hours another day. Sick single parents have it even worse.

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This last weekend was a fun mix of the past and present. We had a mini-reunion of my high school cross country team. We were a tight-knit group with wacky traditions and warm memories. A motley group met up in the cold this Saturday for a casual run and a little barbecue. I have been in touch with several of these people, more so since I moved back home, but most I haven't seen in at least 11 years. Amazingly, we slipped right back into familiarity, talking about our favorite race courses and reminiscing about high school exploits. I almost felt like I was an eager 17-year-old again until my 18-month-old toddled over, and I was thrust into reality once again.

It felt so uplifting to bond with my old teammates. It made me appreciate being introduced to running at a young age. It is a passion that has stuck with me and served me well. It also made me appreciate good friends and happy memories of high school. At the time, my high school days often seemed full of stress and drama. But in retrospect, I had a rich experience that boosted the rest of my life.

The next morning, a handful of us run a 5K in downtown Milwaukee. I felt good and got a personal record of 23:45. To my great surprise, I got first in my age group of 30-34. What?! I never win. There were only 1,000 entrants, but still I must say I was pretty darn proud of myself.

Back in high school I was an average runner at best, often occupying the last position on varsity or even being edged to JV. But now, more than ten years later, I sped by my once much-faster former teammates and walked away with a quirky little trophy.

Who would have thought.

--MM

Grouch overload

I am tried of people bitching at me. My new classes include several with a lot of older, crotchety people. A few of the classes amazingly have participants who have been taking part for 10 or even 20 years. I find that pretty incredible. A lot of the ladies (and men) are kind and helpful and appreciative. But there are a few grouches who are driving me crazy.

Of course they tend to be right up at the front of the class pointing out what they think I am doing wrong or how they usually do it. Now, intellectually I know I am a good, experienced, knowledgeable instructor. I have been doing this 11 years and am clear and easy to understand. I put a lot of work into my classes and always switch them up. But emotionally, sometimes some of these grouchy women make me feel like crap.

One of my classes in particular has a lot of women in their 60's and 70's. Most of my normal music would not appeal to them, so my supervisor gave me a stack of CDs of music better suited to their taste. On Monday I popped in one of her selections and got my class moving. A couple people were loving it, bobbing happily along to It Had to Be You. But there were a few vocal naysayers. One came up to me during a break and said, "40's music?? We're not that old!"

Another lady came up and said, "Thank you so much for bringing this music. We loved it."

Then after class, a cohort of the first grouchy lady came up and said she didn't like the music and that I should even bring "hip hop and rap." Um, no. Not for this crowd.

I would say a majority of the ladies enjoyed the music, but it is hard to ignore the vocal minority. I don't ever remember approaching an instructor with anything but a compliment and never a comment about their choice of music. I don't think these participants realize the amount of work and preparation I put in for their class for not very much compensation.

It's frustrating of course, but I am trying to be patient and understanding and not defensive. Are these few ladies just particularly grouchy or do we all get outspoken and grumpy as we get older?

--MM

Here we go again

I am sitting in Starbucks between classes this morning. The week is starting off far better than the previous one, though I very nearly overslept again. I have two alarms on my clock, and I caught myself turning off the second one and settling back into my pillow.

"Oh crap!" I thought, and I swung my legs out of bed, realizing I almost embarrassed myself again. But I thankfully I didn't and got out the door in time. That's despite Q waking up with me at 5:00 a.m. and demanding his oatmeal. I left him at the table eating and watching cartoons.

The weekend was nice, but busy. My well-intentioned cleaning schedule has fallen a bit by the wayside, and the house was getting a little gross. So I was determined to clean it from top to bottom. I began Sunday as the laundry was going. I cleaned every inch of the house (with T pitching in to mop the floors). It felt good to have it spotless for once (until the kids woke up of course). And it feels good not to have to clean it all week.

On Saturday, I had a practice session for a new very part-time job. I will be helping in the practical examinations for AFAA. I showed up at the location in Janesville and after a brief tutorial from the certification presenter, the six ladies were ready to test. They each had to wear a number and then were asked to demonstrate various things like a three-minute warm up, a strength and stretch for quadriceps, etc. I had a bubble sheet and walked around to judge how they were doing. If I was up to par, I will actually be paid next time.

It was fun and interesting to see these new and prospective instructors and to interact with the very experienced presenter. The nervous applicants reminded me of my own certification test at the University of Missouri eleven years ago. I was so nervous as the examiners walked around with their clipboards, monitoring our every move. It is strange but very rewarding to be on the other side now.

--MM

Why the Y

Whew. I am worn out this week. I have taught eight classes so far with two more to go till the week is over. My core muscle and hips ache a little. This is going to take some endurance!

Last night I subbed at the last minute for a class at the Y. I haven't taught at the Y in about 10 years or so since I was a lifeguard for the pool. Last night T and the boys came along. T worked out and the boys went in the free child care.

The place was just buzzing. Little boys in their karate outfits with bright orange belts were filing into the gym. Other kids were kicking and splashing in swim lessons. It was crowded, happy, and energetic. The Y is just an incredible place for families.

Truthfully, the YMCA pays horribly and doesn't offer very good incentives, but it is a wonderful place to work. The Y is so family-oriented and passionate about health and wellness and offers so many opportunities. T says he is so happy I work there now so we get a very reduced membership rate. He has a new enthusiasm for working out.

I am off there now to teach a Pilates class and to put the kids in the childcare for 45 minutes. I look forward to taking the boys to future swim classes and sports lessons.

I imagine we will be members for quite some time.

--MM

Celebrating the Wiener

What a weekend! We took part in the 150th birthday celebration for a small town nearby called Waterloo. It's annual festival is called Wiener and Kraut Days and this year they were calling all wieners....dogs that is to take part in their little parade. We happily obliged.

It was quite a sight to see with dozens of dachshunds, a high school band, and even the Brewers racing sausages. Some dogs even came in costume or with impressive props.


We couldn't stop laughing. It was just a neat thing.

The rest of the weekend was relaxing and enjoyable. We went to an art fair, took a long bike ride, and watched the Packer game with pizza ordered in.

I am flustered this morning because I overslept. There is nothing worse! My eyes popped open and fixated on the clock with the numbers 5:52 glowing back at me. I blinked a few times, hoping 45 minutes would roll back. But alas, it was eight minutes to 6, and I was due for my class 25 minutes across town.

Thankfully I had laid out my clothes and planned my class the night before, so I quickly dressed, skipped brushing my teeth, and sped over. I called on my way and asked the front desk to tell my participants to start warming up. I still arrived about 17 minutes late. They were mostly nice though assuredly annoyed. I was embarrassed and mad at myself.

Then I had to speed back home again to brush my teeth and get my music for the next class which I had left behind. That class went better.

Not the best way to start the day and the week even, but I made the best of it.

Next time my alarm is going to be across the room.

--MM

Fearless

R is a daring little 17-month-old. He is constantly on the move and seems to fear nothing. That scares me. He is always trying to keep up with his older brother and that often means scaling the giant play structure at the park and then barreling down the slide headfirst. He pushes his little stool over to the counter or stove in an attempt to check out dangerous things like knives and boiling pots. I am always worriedly chasing him.

At the park today, he was off and running, hiking to the top of a hill and then toddling over to the steep drop off before I whisked him away. Later he quickly climbed the bleachers.


Of course these adventurous exploits often lead to falls. R's head is mottled with goose eggs and his legs are spotted with bruises. He seems far older than his 17 months.

I sure hope this tendency tapers off before his teenage years.

--MM

Normal

It feels like Sunday. I am going to be discombobulated this week. Plus, I start my new schedule of 10 classes, some at 11:15 am some days, 11:30 others. Some Monday and Wednesday, some just Monday. I know something is going to go terribly wrong. I am excited though. I am ready to be busy and productive again.

There are things I miss about my old career and small reasons I would possibly return to it if the right opportunity arose. I like the excitement of it. I like feeling like I am good at something. I like doing a job that is valuable and interesting. But there are a long line of things I didn't like, and one of those was crystal clear today. This is the first time I haven't worked on Labor Day since I started working. It was a refreshing change to just have today off and to do what the rest of the world has been doing all this time: spending time with family. We went over to my parents, stuffed ourselves and watched the boys play.

It was a fun, easy, enjoyable weekend. I think I could get used to this.

--MM