Category Archives: All blog posts

Can’t Talk Now Mom, I’m Exercising!

The kids “exercising” on makeshift elliptical machines

“Children learn what they live” is an adage my mom often quotes. It’s a powerful reminder to be careful about the example we as parents set for them in daily life. It’s not what we say that they’ll necessarily remember or take heed of; it’s what we do.


So, the other day I watched as my son overturned one of our kitchen stools, placed his hands on the now upturned legs, and ran his little legs in place as fast as they would go. He was huffing and puffing and fully occupied as I stood nearby wondering what was going on. Before I could ask, he looked up at me, waved and said “Hi Mommy! Can’t play ‘wich’ you right now, I’m exercising.” Then he held up two toddler fingers and said, “I’ve got two more minutes.” He was pretending to be on an elliptical trainer like the one we have in our home gym!

I was unequivocally amused by this exchange until I realized that he was playing back something he’s probably heard from me a time or two (or twenty) if I was wrapping up an early morning workout as he came downstairs with his Daddy to start his day. “Learn what they live”, indeed! I guess he’s taken the good with the bad in this case.

While this particular interchange certainly inflicted a bit of guilt (over making him play alone while I exercise), it also made me happy that my kids are picking up on the notion that exercise is fun. And a priority. And a part of our everyday life. As a result, there are other preschool-isms about exercise that come out from time to time. Ones like:

“I’m soaky sweaty! That’s b’cause I’m exercising!”  or 
“My bones in my body are getting stronger b’cause I’m exercising.” or
“Please I ride my bike too, Daddy?” or
(While playing Barbies)  “Where’s the Mommy?” “Oh! She went to Pilates!”

My kids think exercise is fun; it’s a natural outlet for their energy and an exhilarating way to spend part of their day. I only hope that what they’re observing and mimicking in our household today fuels a lifelong exercise habit for them. 

Children learn what they live. Not surprisingly, Mom was right….again.

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Chinese Chicken Salad


I love a good Chinese Chicken salad, but some of the ones you find on restaurant menus are simply unjustifiable! Huge, loaded down with sugar, nuts, and fried wonton strips or Chinese noodles, they can hardly be considered healthful.

But fear not! This version, adapted from Cook This, Not That has all the flavor without the unwanted health hazards. There are a few critical ingredients, like toasted sesame oil that give this salad its recognizable Asian flavor. Just opening a bottle and smelling it takes you right to the kitchen of your favorite Asian restaurant. I personally like my chicken warm on salads, so that’s how I recommend it in this one. If you put your chicken on to grill or broil when you start the salad, by the time it’s cooked, you’ll be ready to add it to a nearly complete meal. And a delicious one at that.

Pair this with a good crusty bread and a glass of wine and pretend you’re at Spago back in the 80’s where this whole Chinese Chicken Salad craze was born…


Chinese Chicken Salad
adapted from Cook This, Not That
 
serves 4

Salad 
1 head Napa cabbage, shredded
1/2 head red cabbage, shredded
1/2 packet stevia sweetener (like Truvia)
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 c. sliced almonds, toasted
1-2 chicken breasts, grilled or broiled, thinly sliced – ideally still warm!
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped 

Dressing
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 Tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
3 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
3 Tbsp. canola oil
1/2 packet stevia sweetener (like Truvia)
Freshly ground black pepper

1. In a large bowl, combine both cabbages with the sweetener and toss to coat.  Stir in the oranges, green onions, almonds, chicken, and cilantro (reserve 1 Tbsp. of cilantro for garnish) and toss to combine. 
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients. Pour over salad and toss to coat thoroughly. 
3. Portion salad onto four plates and garnish with reserved cilantro.

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Honoring Milestones

My firstborn started kindergarten this week! When that big yellow schoolbus turned the corner, she was literally jumping with joy (really – I have the Flip video to prove it!). She climbed aboard, posed for a quick picture, and then was off. OFF! A big piece of my heart rounded the curve ahead and simply drove away! It took all of 2 minutes from the time we arrived at the bus stop. I barely got the pictures I wanted! And I was emotional enough that I was rendered speechless. 

We’d had a celebration for her that morning – a homemade card, the special pancake breakfast she requested, a thousand family pictures as we sent her off. We had a little parade to the bus stop – the five of us plus my parents – complete with neighbors waving and wishing her good luck as they watered their lawns or walked their dogs. My 3 year old was devastated that he couldn’t ride the bus once it got there, so my parents took him to the park as a consolation prize, leaving my husband and I home alone for a bit with the newborn and our thoughts. I cried. Then I laughed. Then I cried some more. We talked about the day we brought her home from the hospital, and what it was like on her first day of preschool, and how we’d likely feel at her high school graduation, or on her wedding day. We hugged each other…we looked at pictures…we laughed a little more and cried a little more.

I’m not actually SAD that she has started kindergarten – in fact, I’m thrilled for her! I loved school and hope that she’ll have every bit as good of an experience as I had and then some. I’m not even sad for me! It’s exciting to have new adventures to look forward to. Each phase of her life so far has been so fun and I’m confident this one will be no different.
 
So why all the emotion? Because it was a milestone. And because we paused, and dedicated time to honoring it. We’re good at this with kids. Birthdays are a BIG DEAL. Losing a tooth. Starting school. Riding a bike. We cheer and celebrate and hug and high five. There are presents! And cake! And cards! A special meal, a new outfit, whatever the rituals are, THERE ARE RITUALS.


We could all learn a thing or two about properly honoring milestones if we think about how we do it with children. Because sadly, somewhere along life’s journey, we seem to stop honoring milestones. We say things like “We don’t have to go out to dinner on our anniversary this year – we have something else going on.” Or “Don’t buy me a birthday gift, we just got the new washer and dryer.” Or “It’s just a promotion for heaven’s sake – don’t make such a big deal out if it.” We let the milestones slip by until life is just one big blur of soccer games and chicken dinners and trips to Target.  


Life. Is supposed to be punctuated. By milestones.


And when they occur, it’s so important to pause, collect ourselves, and honor them. Buy the gift. Make the cake. Have the special dinner. Raise a glass. And most importantly, hug, cry, or laugh with the ones you love. Because these are the moments you’ll remember. These are your milestones along life’s journey. Stop at them and rest a while. And then get back on the road.

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