Running has taught me to speed up many things in life, a tired friend, a tempo run, heck even healing an injury. But, it has not taught me the art of speeding my kids out the door when school starts again! Oh, the glorious back to school smell of August, glue sticks and crayons? check. My well worn Nike's? Ready to go. All i need is a few willing participants to get to school on time so that i can go for that long awaited run.
i have a dream, a recurring dream, the kids wake up happy, they crawl into my bed to say good morning, they get themselves dressed and politely ask for breakfast (sometimes they make me a latte). They brush their teeth and comb their hair, they get their own backpacks and open the garage door. Our first day of school has begun and it is bliss. They wave and smile and bring apples to their teachers. They tell me to have a good run and they skip into school. Then I wake up.
Reality? Today is the day they decide to sleep in! The little farmers haven't slept past 6 am for 2 months and the one day I need them up, they are all sweet and dreamy in bed. I make my first mistake of the day and let them stay "just 5 more minutes" this 5 minutes will cost me 2 happy kids, 1 packed snack and a mouth full of clean teeth. By the time we get out the door, take the pictures, load up the car, go to the bathroom 1 last time and remember where the hell it is i am going... my run has gotten off on the wrong foot. The kids are upset, my shoes aren't tied and this is just not how i pictured the first day of school.
What I noticed while wiping the tears from the boys faces (that i am sure i caused), is that in front of the camera it was all about the kids in their new clothes and nervous smiles but behind the camera, it was about my long forgotten nike's, running shorts and ipod raring to go. Turn the camera around to all the moms waving goodbye and you will see the same thing. Maybe not running, but flip flops signaling a pedicure, glasses still on because the bed will still be warm, or even a hot cup of coffee in a ceramic mug knowing she can finish it in peace. The first day of school is not reserved for kids.
Maybe my running lesson at the beginning of school should be how to slow things down. I realize one day, they will drive themselves to school, there will be no happy "good mornings" (not even in my dreams) and instead of worrying about the new clothes, i should make sure we slowly enjoy this process. Them getting back into learning at school and me remembering how to learn on the run. Really, what's 5 more minutes in the grand scheme of things? I'm sure my neglected summer thighs won't mind me taking it down a notch on today, this first day of school.
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