Doodle hits me with the strangest comments sometimes. We were in the car taking the dogs to the softball field to let them run.
“I realized the other day in PE class that I need to lose weight,” she informed me.
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“Well, I couldn’t jump rope very long without breathing heavy,” she explained.
“No dear, that’s an endurance issue — not a weight issue,” I told her.
I went on to explain to her that although she’s as skinny as a rail, that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s in shape. She’s just like I was when I was younger. I feel the need to add here like that old shampoo commercial, “don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” Instead, I’d be saying, “don’t hate me because I’m skinny.”
I was always bony-skinny. I don’t think I broke 100 pounds until I was in high school. I could eat whatever I wanted, which wasn’t much (I’ve always been a picky eater). I never ate a whole lot, but I did eat, and no I didn’t throw it back up. I swear people watched me around food looking for signs of sickness, but honestly people, God just blessed me with a high metabolism. At least until I turned 30 
Doodle doesn’t eat well — she’s picky like me — but her thing is playing video games. We know we need to start making her get out and run or play or do *something* to get some exercise everyday. Lazy parenting has been winning out for me. It’s a lot easier for me to just give in and let her play her games and be entertained.
But, that’s changing. And Doodle’s in for a shock. What do you do to keep your kids active if they would prefer to play video games?
Tough one. I was a “fat kid” who never participated in sports. I’ve gone the opposite with mine. My daughter has been easy. She loves cheerleading. (I? Do not.) So she’s been easy in the fact she loves to do it. The son on the other hand is addicted to video games and while very thin, gets little to no exercise. We have had him in baseball and now work with him all the time to build up his skills in the hope it will re-focus his efforts. The video games are a tough habit to break!
Hope to meet you at Blissdom!
We don’t have video games and very seldom even watch TV. We do a lot of art projects and building with Legos and making blanket forts, we go on nature safaris and collect rocks and leaves, we “skate” on the hardwood floors or kick the soccer ball in the backyard. Of course my kiddo is only five, but I’m going to resist having video games as long as I can. I don’t want to look across the room to see him staring at a box while I’m doing something else. I want to be engaged with him because his childhood will be so very brief, my opportunity to influence him his not more than a blink. (Disclaimer: I have one child.)
When it’s nice, I haul the boys out for a walk. My youngest (almost 14) is all for walking. My oldest (15) usually doesn’t want to. Sometimes I make him go. Other times, I enjoy the time with just one.
Yesterday, we set up the Nordic Track in the garage. Now that hubby’s gotten a lot of cleaning done out there, we have room to set it up. My youngest is also pretty motivated to use it. Which helps me to be motivated. So it’s a good thing.
The other activity we do, although not real often, is letterboxing. Then you’re not just walking for the sake of walking. There’s a goal.