Motherhood & Perpetual Pursuits of Balance

 

Let me start by saying I never intended this as a blog post.  It started as a reflection paper for my college health class I am taking for my degree.  But this information about the human body, energy systems, and all the intricate facets and fibers of wellness, speaks to my soul.  And I want to share my journey, especially if I think it can help others.  Time is an illusion that slips through my fingers, so even as I write this, and my kids are asleep, I am constantly shifting priorities to accomplish tasks.  I am challenged daily.

So to kill two birds with one stone, instead of writing out an entirely new blog post, I thought I would share my final reflection paper for my “Health and Fitness for Life" class.

This year is the first year I have been in school full time, since high school.  And it seems like the most inopportune time, as a devoted mother and wife, to divide my time between school and family.  But life has an ironic way of derailing dreams.  It is my obligation to show my kids how to be hopeful and strong in our pursuits of passion and love, despite any circumstance. 

Perpetual Pursuits of Balance

“Give me the wisdom to know what must be done, and the courage to do it.

-Author unknown.

This Health and Fitness class has been a Catch 22 for me.  Our bodies are one of the greatest tools we will ever possess, and I am constantly seeking the best ways to live a health filled life for myself and my family.  Especially now as a mother, I have been the vessel for creating humans and will forever be giving my love and knowledge to my children.  Seeking optimal health for my babies is my responsibility.  I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to learn more science behind health and wellness from a passionate and knowledgeable teacher.

And yet at the same time, this class has brought me stress.  Getting hours in the gym, when I could be using that time to enjoy the little sunshine we get with my children, or teaching them to layer properly for the rain, has been tough.  I understand that it would be very challenging to establish verification that other exercises have been accomplished, but my children will only be little once, and I believe it is best to either be active with them, or show them I am active.

One of the last chapters we read was on stress management.  This is an area most Americans, and I have struggled in.  Clear communication is one of the suggested techniques for managing stress, and I wish I could better communicate how this class has brought me both joy and stress at the same time.

I have been active my whole life.  I joined swim team when I was six, have played soccer, basketball, volleyball, track, dance; I currently hike, rock climb, go for runs with my kids in our stroller, have dance parties in the living room, and do Beachbody workouts when the kids are napping (when I don't have homework, chores, etc).  I don’t want to focus solely on the physical wellness element of health, but this is in relation to my lack of hours in the gym.

Currently I am a member of two adult volleyball teams, and we play at least twice a week.  I also sub once a month for another team. This has been one of my greatest stress relievers, as I have been playing volleyball for eighteen years, and love it so.  After learning about our energy systems, I have found my passion for volleyball grow even more.  We are using our ATP-CP source of energy for immediate, high intensity moves like spiking or diving.  But our games usually last an hour+, so we are definitely tapping into our oxidative, aerobic energy system.  I am a sucker for any activity that engages my mind, with my body in harmony, and requires me to be fully present to complete the task at hand.  Working with a group of people to win games also fills my interpersonal wellness bucket.  I actually struggled in school for a while because I hated sitting.  It was challenging for me to sit still for extended periods of time when there is so much adventure to be had.  Our bodies were made to move.  This is also why I am so grateful to be a part of the Wilderness Leadership Experiential Education program.  I have climbed mountains and rock walls and backpacked through canyons.  Life presents new challenges as a mother, but I still believe I can lead others to love the outdoors and our biological machines in harmony.

One of my favorite lessons in our class was learning about the dimensions of wellness.  While it seems like it should be common sense, I have so easily been caught up in filling up one element of wellness, I forget to fill my other buckets.  As a mother it can be beyond draining when I am trying to dip into empty buckets to give my children their optimal wellness.  Even aspects like financial, occupational, and cultural wellness are often overlooked.  I loved the diagram of the elements of wellness interwoven together like rope fibers.  When we neglect one dimension, the fray in that fiber can get bigger and cause my entire "rope of wellness" to be insecure, and can have harmful effects on my life.  My kids are like little mirrors of my wellness, so it's vital for me to be filled with harmony so that I can dip into brimming wellness buckets, and never run dry.

I remember getting a prenatal massage before delivering my second baby, and I had to sign some papers to ensure I have no issues.  There were around four pages with different problems women can have while pregnant.  Even our book talks about cardiovascular diseases and congestive heart problems.  While there are some problems we may have no control over, we know now more than ever before, that certain foods and sedentary lifestyles significantly contribute to our risks of poor cardiovascular health.  I want to do everything in my power to choose healthy life options to live a happy and fulfilled life, for myself and my family.

Learning about the different macro and micronutrients has also been very refreshing.  Though I may have never believed it, I have heard over and over again that "carbs are bad!"  Or "fat is bad."  And now the latest trend is "sugar is bad!"  This class has broken down the science behind nutrients and each system's need for protein, essential fat, sugar, vitamins, minerals, water, and learning that carbohydrates are literally carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, that help me to see them as a necessary part of our world, and less as a potential for stored fat.  But balance is the key to everything.  And listening to our bodies, and teaching them how to store these nutrients is imperative for optimal health.

I know men face many cultural challenges, but I can't speak for them.  As a woman, I have felt constantly bombarded, my entire life, with ideals of what a woman should be.  With TV, the internet, and media in general, images of unrealistic and photo shopped bodies are practically shoved down our throats daily.  It can be so discouraging.  But learning about health in a scientific and holistic fashion can empower us to love our bodies and use them to promote health in humanity and in our Earth.