Today I laughed, I cried, I got so angry I had to count to 10 in the other room, my heart almost burst from being so full of love, and I adored and fumed over the same person within the same hour. Welcome to my typical day as a parent. I feel as though I have been pushed to my physical/ mental limit without even leaving the house.
As a Professional Obstacle Racer, I'm pushing my body to my physical limits on a daily basis as part of my training. I find myself having to reach inside and find more drive- convince myself to finish one more rep or meet a set time running around a track. Once or twice a month I travel to different parts of the country to see if I can go beyond those limits I once thought far enough. These endeavors are physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. But they pale in comparison to what I go through on an almost daily basis under my own roof.
I have been blessed with 3 healthy, vibrant, active, independent, and strong willed children. They love to run around - especially when they get their second wind right around 8 pm. They eat every 2-3 hours and will like something you cook one week and not the next. They have their own ideas on how their day should go, and if you think you know better then prepare for battle. They know exactly what to say or do to you to push you off the cliff of self control that you are so desperately hanging on to. They do love their toys (which have the ability to multiply) and need lots of room to be able to properly conduct their kid fantasy - They prefer the clean rooms and hallways. They know what is best for themselves and will rightly let you know that.
Compared to this, racing is easy. I've seen it over and over with my friends with their own kiddos. They tend to race stronger and harder after they have been endowed with a few bundles of joy. Want to know the secret? We have all gone completely insane and have to get our crazy out in some way or another. My girlfriends all become progressively faster after each child they birth. Some might say that this is due to more muscle gained/ less fat yada yada yada. They are wrong. Parents just add to their level of crazy and have found racing as a way to release it in controlled amounts.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change one iota of it. As Charles Dickens says ,"It was the best of times, It was the worst of times". I have never been happier in my life, or more full of love for and in awe of my 3 munchkins.
So the next time you see a parent, just give them a knowing wink that you are in on the secret. If you are a parent, just make sure you keep registering for those races.
