Self-care is hard. Self-care while being a single parent can be even harder. The idea of training for a half marathon is daunting. The idea of training for a half marathon while being a single parent is even more of a daunting task. But, as I proved yesterday, it can be done.
Training takes support. Training while raising a child on your own takes even more support. So I ask my village for help. I schedule training for when she has her gymnastics classes. I use the treadmill when she's sick. I do what I can to accomplish my goals. When I accomplish my goals I show her that she's capable of those things as well. That's why we need to do self-care.
Parenting is about showing our kids the type of people we want them to become. We show our kids that caring for themselves is just as important as caring for those around you. Just like setting goals and hard work, self-care should be a part of life. A life that makes you and your child just as happy as anything else.
So when I got home from running my 4th half marathon - still surreal to say that - I was tired. My body hurt. So we sat on the couch. She brought me a pillow, a blanket and snuggled me in. When the pizza was delivered, I realized there wasn't any sauce for breadsticks, so she poured marinara in a bowl and brought it to me. I love my child. I love that she is so thoughtful and understanding about my goals.
To me, that's something I've done right. She's amazing and I appreciate it and her. She has an ability to be understanding and know what you need before you know what you need. I needed this half marathon. I needed to know that I could do it without hating myself and the world. So now I'm better and she's better. Goals come and go but love and understanding will stay, hopefully, until the end.
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