I believe that everyone, especially mothers, and even most especially "stay-at-home" mothers should have an outlet- something that she looks forward to that she can call her own. The outlet should stroke the alter ego a bit; it should remind her of all that she is capable of, beyond a very tidy and punctual carpool schedule. The little escape from all that is mothering should give her a little abandon; a feeling of "yes I can!". This activity should have preferably nothing to do with her children, her husband, or anyone under her care. She should feel like "Yes, at this moment, my needs are on the top of the list!"
Of course, I have the very biased opinion that mothers are most deserving of such an activity, as they give, give and give some more to others all day long, with little thanks, no pay and certainly no accolades, promotions or three-day two-night excursions for doing the most dishes in a single month. The activity of choice for me is the gym.
When I share with people how often I workout, (which is about 3-5 days per week), they often respond "Oh not me, no way, I don't want to walk a mile much less run on a treadmill for an hour." But what they don't know is this is my secret alter ego. As a former ballet dancer, my hour of glee every Monday morning is step aerobics with uber instructer Debbie Martinez at Premiere Fitness. Doing step is like another world for me. I can go back to my old glory days, albeit just for a moment, and recreate and incorporate as many piroettes as possible into the routine. I think at first it may have been confusing to people, "Why is this girl trying to turn this step class into a ballet routine...??" But now, I think my co-steppers are used to it, and may even understand the heights of happiness I reach when I think, I can still do this...
But sometimes the reality of life and all that we can escape from comes back in a flash, smacking us back to the present. Sometimes even step cannot save us from ourselves and the reality that the ballet career is long past, and will never ever return. And that day did come for me, when in the middle of a cross-over back turn-kick my footed slipped from under me and I landed on my back, splade out in middle of the floor. Yes, the reality of the present was there, for all to witness.
However, stepping on Monday mornings, is a bit like life. Sometimes, just when you are going, in your groove with all the hope and possibilities of the future ahead of you, you trip, and life comes crashing down upon you. It seems lately I have witnessed this quite frequently and many times, I have seen people languish on the floor, wincing and flustered from their momentary failure. And still others seem to get up, right away, as though it never happened. Of course, for me, the next part of the routine was coming up, so a quick recovery was required. I believe it probably will not be the last time I fall, but I will always always get up without a thought because step, like life, is too gleeful to miss.
You can read more of Colleen's blogs and see her videos at TheMomtastics.com.
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