I Hope You Always

10 Comments February 26, 2013 drworobec

February 26th, 2013

To my dear Casey,

We are now four days away from your first birthday. How did this happen so quickly? One year ago, you were already four days past your due date, and I was grumpy and uncomfortable, impatiently waiting to meet you. You are a testament to the fact that time speeds up exponentially when you have children. You symbolize the best year of my life; the year that our family became complete.

You are growing quickly, my love, and I am cherishing each moment. These are my hopes for you:

I hope you always find excitement in simple things. Today, it’s playing in the basement, being outside, and eating ham. But when tomorrow comes, it will be watching sunsets, hearing your shoes crunch Fall leaves, and the smell of fresh coffee. Enjoy the small things.

I hope you always have an easy smile and a quick laugh. Show your happiness on the outside so that it may rub off on others.

I hope you always explore your environment. You are independent and curious and inquisitive. Spread your wings and fly.

I hope you always look to your big brother for guidance and companionship. Take care of each other.

I hope you always have people to hug and kiss before you go to bed. And before you go for a nap. And before you leave the house. Appreciate those people, take care of those people, remember how lucky you are to have those people and how lucky they are to have you.

But most of all, my sweet girl, I hope you always know how much we love you.

~Mommy

From this…

…to this!
What a difference a year makes!

Running Does That.

6 Comments February 19, 2013 drworobec

I ran 20.5km yesterday. It was the last long run scheduled before my half marathon (21.1km) on March 3rd. From here on in, I’m in taper mode to allow my body to rest and recover from the past 14 weeks of run-specific training I’ve been doing.

I’m taking a completely different approach this time around. I come from a distance-running background, and up until about 5 years ago, I was a run-only kind of runner; 100km weeks were common and strength training was non-existent. I trained with a couple of super-fast chiropractic classmates, chasing them for mile after mile until I became faster too. I ran five full marathons and a couple dozen half marathons this way. I PR’d my half marathon and ran Boston. Running was, and still is, a huge part of who I am.

Enter career. Enter babies. Goals change. Priorities shift.

This time around, I am running once/week. One long run per week, that started with just 6km on November 10th and peaked at 20.5km yesterday. But, I am also going to Crossfit 3-4 times/week and feeling strong. I won’t be setting any personal records on March 3rd, but it will be my first half marathon in 5 years. My first half marathon as a mother. My first half marathon with changed goals and shifted priorities.

My running partner asked me why I chose to sign up for this race now, after a 5-year hiatus from distance-running. I chose to sign up because of my history, my addiction, and my passion for the sport. Running does that. I chose to sign up because I wanted my kids to see their mama be a part of something inspiring. Running does that. I chose to sign up because I wanted to feel that personal sense of accomplishment. Running does that.

Oh, and those chiropractic classmates that I used to chase? They were both in my wedding party and are two of my forever friends. And one of them will be beside me for every step on March 3rd. Running does that too.

“Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you’re young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don’t let worn-out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself.”

~John Bingham

Yes, I Paint my Son’s Fingernails

8 Comments February 12, 2013 drworobec

I had an eye-opening moment yesterday morning.

While his baby sister had her morning nap, my 4-year-old son asked me to paint his fingernails. I thought nothing of it, and grabbed my bag of assorted nail polish and told him to choose some colours. I have painted his fingernails a few times before, usually when I’m painting my own and he wants to be included. But that’s not where the eye-opener happened. It happened later, when we left the house, and his fingernails were on display in front of the public eye.

He was judged. I could see it. I could see it in the raised eyebrows, the questions, and the appeasing smiles and nods. I hope he didn’t see it too. But, then again, I know he didn’t see it. He didn’t see it because he’s too young to understand it. Children are born without negative judgement or criticism, and are filled instead with complete acceptance, pure innocence, and absolute naivety.

It makes me wonder: why is it such a big deal that a 4-year-old boy has painted fingernails? Why is it even questioned? Any parent can tell you that children model behaviours seen at home, including mundane things like fingernail painting. He wanted his fingernails painted because he thought it would be fun. Simple as that. And if he wants to play with dolls and wear pink clothes, then I will let him, because it’s fun. Just like I will let my daughter cut her hair short and play with trucks and wear blue clothes. If she wants to. If it’s fun.

But what about teasing? I wouldn’t want him to be teased by other kids, would I? Well, who would he be teased by? By those who have not yet learned acceptance? You teach them acceptance by accepting them. It starts at home. It starts with me painting his fingernails. It continues with me asking him if anyone at his Nursery School mentioned his fingernails. It ends with me explaining that different people like different things and it’s okay to be unique.

Celebrate differences, don’t judge them.