Passing the love of outdoors to the next generation
Some of you may remember my social media post a month or 2 ago when I shared a short story about taking my son out for a training run. He was cold, he didn’t want to be there, and he was whiney. He’s nine. We were out there for just under an hour and it entailed a crash whereupon he scraped his knee and tore his (my) running leggings, got a piggy back, took some pictures and discussed all the random things running through his little head. The point of the post, and my coercing him into this race in the first place, was that he learn how to push through the unpleasantness to get to the good stuff. That release of endorphins, discovering positive ways to deal with stress, learn how to push your body and finish what you start...and just get to hang out together and bond.
Every time. Every. Single. Time. When we would get outside together, no matter how whiney the start, things always ended with a wide smile on his face, the satisfaction of accomplishment, and me getting to hear what’s going on inside of his head! He’s only 9 and has already developed the ability shut down and trap the stress, hurts, and negativity within his soul. As his mom, I’ve discovered that I can’t just force him to tell me what’s happening inside him. I have to invest the time, maintain the positivity, and create the right environment for him to feel safe and open enough to confide in me. How someone hurt his feelings by rejecting a gift he brought them. The massive creative block on the Lego project he’s been working on all month. The businesses he’d like to start. His thoughts on God, life, and fort building - vital parts of his life mixed in with the trivial.
There are days when the sheer volume of Lego information overwhelms my capacity to care - almost. And then I am reminded that if it's something he cares about, that's how I get to know him.
Training for Badger Mountain created the space and opportunity for me to have the privilege of getting to hear his heart. The mixing of the mundane and the meaningful can get a little tiring but what a treasure to get to hear his heart!
Race Day - As race day arrived, I found myself feeling a little intrepid about how he would do. We DID train! (I say a little defensively) But not much.
But as he got going, started experiencing what it felt like to pass someone, he started to push himself. As the miles ticked by, I realized he was going to exceed my expectations! At around the 6 mile mark, I started feeling a little sick but watched proudly as Fenley took off. He finished strong! I love getting to watch him grow as a person and getting to know who he is developing into. Bring on the miles and the long discussions. I can't wait!