Motherhood- the ultimate endurance sport
Posted by Wendy Foster on Wed, August 27th 2008 in Self-care
Mama and Pilates Instructor Wendy Foster makes an insightful connection between the work of mothering and the Olympics!
Watching the Olympics, I can’t help but marvel at the intense, fit and focused athletes. Dara Torres, Michael Phelps, and the 33 year-old mom and gymnast from Germany all inspire me! They exhibit the perfect combination of mental focus and physical strength.
I found myself wondering: what do all these amazing specimens do when they are not training or competing? Surely they must take rest days? All athletes know that days off are essential to peak performance—you cannot push your muscles and your limits every day. That is not good for either the weekend warrior or the professional athlete. Down time is just as important as a grueling workout! It decreases your chance for injury and increases your chance of a winning.
As mothers, how do we train ourselves to go the distance in our mothering lives? Do we choose to be mindful, practice patience and understanding? Or, do we just get up and survive each day? When we push ourselves with no rest, we too become fatigued and depleted and can even feel injured. When do we get rest days and down time? Who are our coaches and where on earth are our personal LMTs and chefs?
We have easier days and harder days. At times, under extreme pressure and with little reserves, we sprint or relay with our partners. We fumble. We get up and shake it off. Our muscles are spent; our backs hurt. We are sleep deprived and stressed yet we have miles to go….
We find our breath again and connect to our moments of gratitude. We switch gears and set a more reasonable pace. We ask for help and support (the athletes do after all!). We find ways to nurture and care for ourselves so that we too can go the distance.
And as with sports, we experience both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Over and over…
As a mountain climber, backcountry skier and runner, I have endured some epic adventures! But birth and mothering humble me. There is nothing more challenging than this important work that we do every day.
Wendy Foster
http://www.divinepilates.com
